The Chicago Bulls didn’t stop making moves after the draft. They picked up the $2.4 million team option on Leonard Miller Friday, according to Keith Smith of Spotrac. The deal is temporarily non-guaranteed and becomes fully guaranteed June 30.
If the Bulls had declined the option, Miller would have been eligible for a three-year, $52.4 million contract, per Smith. Chicago can clear up to $63.5 million in cap space this summer. So declining that option and letting him hit restricted free agency would have been risky and expensive. Instead, they kept him on a cheap deal with control.
A bigger role than Minnesota ever gave him
Miller came to Chicago in February via trade from the Timberwolves. In Minnesota, he played 179 total minutes across two and a half seasons. That’s it. In Chicago, he played 378 minutes over 19 games. He started 12 of those. The difference was night and day.
Miller averaged 11.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game with the Bulls, shooting 55.5% from the field and 35.6% from three. That’s legit production for a guy who barely saw the floor in Minnesota. The Bulls gave him real minutes and he delivered.
The obvious question now is whether Miller can keep that role with Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain joining the rotation. Wilson is a lottery pick. Swain was a second-rounder but brings energy. Miller’s path to consistent minutes isn’t automatic anymore.
But the Bulls clearly see something. They could have let him walk or pushed for a trade. Instead, they used the option to keep him on a team-friendly deal and see what he does with a full season.
Miller’s contract structure gives Chicago flexibility. If he proves himself early, they can talk extension. If he struggles, they’re not stuck with a huge number. It’s a low-risk bet on a guy who looked like a rotation player down the stretch.
One thing worth watching: Miller’s shooting. He hit 35.6% from three in Chicago, which is respectable for a forward his size. If that holds up over a full season, he becomes a real weapon. If it dips, teams will sag off him and make the offense harder.
The Bulls are betting Miller keeps improving. The option move gives them time to find out for sure.
Leave a Comment