Chicago Bulls set to add veteran guard Temple
The Bulls weren't planning to be major players in free agency, but they agreed to a one-year deal worth $5 million with veteran guard Garrett Temple, according to an ESPN report.
How long has Temple been playing in the NBA? Well, he was a college teammate of former Bulls forward Tyrus Thomas on LSU's 2006 Final Four team.
The 6-foot-5 Temple, 34, has played 10 seasons in the NBA with nine different teams. He also spent one season playing in Italy. Like Thomas, he's a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
His career high in scoring arrived last season with Brooklyn when he averaged 10.3 points. He got some good opportunity with both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant injured, and he also gives the Bulls a player who participated in the Orlando bubble.
Temple has been more of a scorer than playmaker over his career. He career 3-point percentage is .347, while his career assist average is 1.7. He has appeared in 30 playoff games.
Temple's father, Collis, was the first African American to play varsity basketball at LSU in 1971. Collis played briefly in the ABA and is a member of the LSU athletic Hall of Fame.
It's possible this will be the Bulls' only free-agent addition of the shortened NBA off-season. Including first-round draft pick Patrick Williams, the Bulls have 14 players under contract, and if they re-sign Denzel Valentine to a one-year deal, they'll be at the limit of 15.
The Bulls have no cap space this year and are gearing up to be able to make significant moves in 2021. They'll likely use the midlevel exception to sign Temple.