This wasn’t just your run-of-the-mill, under-the-radar Bulls transaction on a slow news day.
The Bulls announced Thursday that they signed 6-5 swingman Javonte Green for the rest of the season and waived reserve Terry Taylor.
The move was expected and also sorely needed.
It gives Billy Donovan a versatile player he’s familiar with after having coached him several seasons and indicates the way the Bulls will have to play if they want to get out of the play-in portion of the postseason and reach a playoff round: a choking defense with Green in the mix.
The numbers don’t lie when it comes to Green. Since signing him to a 10-day contract in late March, the Bulls are 2-1 in the three games Green has played in, he’s third in defensive efficiency (113.6) and he’s a plus-22.
It’s a small sample size, but Green always has been a difference-maker for Donovan since coming over in a trade with the Celtics in 2020-21. He was a plus-20 in 65 games in 2021-22 and was a plus-48 until a knee injury sidelined him last season.
He was third-best on the team in defensive efficiency in 2022-23 at 108.9.
The Bulls had to get him off the 10-day contract and onto a regular deal to make him eligible for postseason play, and the move shows just how concerned the front office and coaching staff are with the team’s depth.
Guard Jevon Carter has fallen out of favor as a bench option, getting four DNP-CDs (did not play-coach’s decision), short minutes or mop-up duty in the last seven games.
Executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas doesn’t like to admit his mistakes, but signing Carter to a two-year deal is playing out like another error. Carter, who made $6.1 million this season and will make a guaranteed $6.5 million next season, also has the player option for the 2025-26 season at $6.8 million.
That’s a lot of money for a veteran being treated like a deep-bench towel waver.
