Former Chicago Bulls: JaKarr Sampson now on the Lakers’ radar
Not many notable former members of the Chicago Bulls are still available on the free agent market. But one that is creeping into the limelight of late is the former Bulls and Indiana Pacers forward JaKarr Sampson.
According to a report from Marc Stein on Aug. 20, the Lakers are interested in filling two the remaining spots on the roster with Sampson and former Memphis Grizzlies and New Orleans Pelicans point guard Tim Frazier. These would be two interesting choices for the Lakers to fill remaining roster spots.
Former Chicago Bulls F JaKarr Sampson getting reported interest from the Lakers
But filling third unit roles is something that Sampson and Frazier have done at multiple stops in the past five or six years. Frazier has now played for seven different teams over the course of his seven-year-long NBA career. Meanwhile, Sampson has played for five different teams over the course of six years in the NBA.
One of those six seasons that Sampson played in the NBA came with the Bulls. But he only got to play in four games during the 2018-19 regular season, none of which he started in. During those four games, Sampson did average 20 points per game, when former head coach Jim Boylen was leading the way for the Bulls.
That insane points per game average for Sampson with the Bulls a couple of years ago came largely thanks to a 22-point outing in a loss to the New York Knicks and 29 points in a loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. Granted, Sampson hasn’t produced like that at any other stop in his career.
Adding Sampson and Frazier could get the Lakers one step closer to rounding out the rotation. That would put the Lakers closer than the Bulls to finish out the rotation heading into Training Camp and the preseason.
3 underrated wings still available in free agency. dark. Next
Head coach Billy Donovan and the Bulls are set to open up the preseason slate at home at the United Center on Oct. 5 against the divisional foe Cleveland Cavaliers. And then, the Bulls open up the regular season slate on Oct. 20 on the road against the Detroit Pistons.