A year ago, the Chicago Bulls made their biggest free-agent splash by signing former Indiana Pacer Jalen Smith to a three-year, $27 million deal, fresh off a career-best season in which he shot 59.2 percent from the field and 42.4 percent from three.
On top of his impressive efficiency metrics, Smith averaged 9.9 points and 5.4 rebounds in just 17.2 minutes per game. The former lottery pick showed he could make a real impact in limited action, cementing his case as an ideal reserve five.
Yet Smith didn’t resemble the player he’d been in Indiana once he got to Chicago.