Keeping It Heel
Fansided

UNC Alumni in the NBA: Looking at a few Tar Heel free agents

By Trevor Marks

TORONTO, ON - MAY 07: Danny Green #14 of the Toronto Raptors reacts after sinking a 3 pointer during Game Five of the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers at Scotiabank Arena on May 7, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - MAY 07: Danny Green #14 of the Toronto Raptors reacts after sinking a 3 pointer during Game Five of the second round of the 2019 NBA Playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers at Scotiabank Arena on May 7, 2019 in Toronto, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 9
Next
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 21: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets is guarded by Reggie Bullock #35 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a 111-106 Laker win at Staples Center on February 21, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – FEBRUARY 21: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets is guarded by Reggie Bullock #35 of the Los Angeles Lakers during a 111-106 Laker win at Staples Center on February 21, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Reggie Bullock 

2018-19 Stats (63 GP): 11.3 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.0 apg on .412/.377/.859

After getting dealt from the Detroit Pistons to the Los Angeles Lakers at the trade deadline for Svi Mykhailiuk and a draft pick, Reggie Bullock is set to enter the 2019 free agent class as one of the better wing shooters, something that should garner considerable interest.

Let’s say that he does want to remain a Laker — this isn’t an unlikely assumption, given that he’s still working out in Laker gear in Los Angeles at the Lakers practice facility (you get the point). As is, the Lakers possess approximately $32 million in cap space, which is just shy of the max contract that can be offered to players with 7-9 years of experience. As in, they’re a hair short of offering a max deal to someone like Kawhi Leonard, a perennial all-star and defensive stalwart who just led the Toronto Raptors to its first NBA championship. Coughing up money for a star leaves the Lakers brass with only the room exception, bi-annual exception, and vet minimum contracts to offer to free agents, which doesn’t exactly bode well for Bullock’s reunion with LA on a better contract. However, he could get a wink-wink deal with LA at the minimum so that they’ll have his Bird rights, which would open up the avenue for him getting a raise next summer.

But, three-point shooting is in demand, as are wings of his skill set, so it may be in his best interest to leave for greener pastures and get his money now considering that the market favors players like him.

Plenty of teams want shooting: Listing teams that could have interest in Bullock’s services would be a fruitless endeavor, since most teams could use him, although the likes of Golden State, Houston, Los Angeles (both teams), Philadelphia, and other contenders are franchises that could benefit the most from picking up a shooter of his caliber.

Coming off of a two-year, $5 million contract that he signed with the Pistons a couple of years ago, he’s in line to receive a pay raise that could potentially range from the room exception (~$4.7) to the mid-level exception (~$9) depending on what playoff teams choose to offer him. A minimum offer could be in store for him, too, although that seems unlikely unless it’s the aforementioned wink-wink return to LA.

Home/Tar Heels in the Pros