Bulls Expected to be 'Circling with Offer Sheet' for Jalen Duren

The Chicago Bulls will be heading into the NBA offseason with potentially up to $68 million or so in salary cap space. The potentially massive figure makes the Bulls one of the more powerful teams on the free agent and trade market in terms of raw spending power, a rare position for the franchise. 

There are many avenues towards positive team-building when you wield such an impressive amount of salary cap space.

You can take on "bad" contracts from teams, receiving draft compensation for taking on their problem. You can re-sign your own players who are hitting free agency, or sign early extensions for young up-and-coming talent--like a potential long-term extension for Leonard Miller that could save money in the long-run--but the old fashioned way of using cap space is, of course, signing free agents to help put your squad over the top. 

According to John Hollinger of The Athletic, Chicago reportedly has big plans with their cap space, with Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren setting up to be a major target for new Bulls Executive VP of Basketball Operations Bryson Graham.

Duren is 22 year old, coming off an impressive All-NBA Third Team season, albeit one with an unimpressive ending. He averaged a 19.5 PPG-10.5 RPG double-double, to go along with 2.0 APG and 74% from the free throw line on a career-high 6.1 FTA per game.

The season ended especially poorly for Duren. He saw his scoring average drop to 10.2 PPG, his rebounding averaged dropped to 8.5 RPG, and he averaged more turnovers (2.3) than assists (2.1). This was a stark contrast from his dominant regular season, and a major reason why the Pistons lost in seven games to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Semifinals. 

Despite the poor postseason, it's tough to diminish the major improvements Duren made in his game this season. His improved touch around the basket and newfound aggressiveness as a scorer (11.5 FGAs per game) contributed directly to the career-best 24.9 points per 36 minutes. 

Duren isn't a big-time shot-blocker or defensive playmaker, but his combination of quickness and strength allows him to switch onto smaller players for stretches. His strong rebounding obviously lends itself well to ending possessions, and unlike lumbering bigs, Duren can take advantage of space on offense despite not being a shooter.

Despite this, Duren isn't someone you want to depend on to consistenly create their own shot, which is why his pairing with Cade Cunningham works so well in Detroit. Josh Giddey very obviously isn't Cunningham, but he is a big guard who uses his height to see passing angles that aren't available to others. I don't think it's crazy to say Giddey is a better passer than Cunningham, and a Giddey-Duren pick-and-roll has some obvious intrigue as Duren progresses into more of a dominant lob threat.

Some Bulls fans may roll their eyes at the idea of the franchise laying a $40 million-plus offer sheet for Duren, but Chicago will need to solidify their core at some point.

The Bulls have a glaring hole at the center spot. Regardless of how you feel about Duren in the present day, it's clear that--on paper--he is the most talented center that Chicago could sign on the (restricted) free agent market.