Bulls sign free-agent guard Garrett Temple

With limited cap space and a need for depth at guard, the Bulls landed Temple with a one-year, $5 million deal.

By Joe Cowley

The Bulls entered free agency Friday with needs at guard and very little cap space.

They filled the need at an affordable price with veteran two guard Garrett Temple.

The Sun-Times confirmed an ESPN report that Temple signed a one-year, $5 million deal after a solid season in Brooklyn. Starting 35 of 62 games for the Nets, the 6-5 Temple averaged a career-best 10.4 points per game while handing out 2.5 assists and grabbing 3.5 rebounds.

Temple, 34, is expected to give new coach Billy Donovan some experience behind Zach LaVine with 11 NBA seasons on the résumé.

He’s also a 34.7% three-point shooter and has 30 playoff games under his belt.

The Bulls thinned out at guard this week, as executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas & Co. allowed Kris Dunn and Shaquille Harrison to test the free-agent market.

Dunn was more of a point guard, but both have seen minutes off the ball, as well. The Bulls did not address the guard spot on draft night, so the expectation was they would do some shopping on the cheap. Temple fits what they needed perfectly.

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Bulls hit free-agent market, sign veteran guard Garrett Temple

With limited cap space and a need for depth at guard, the Bulls landed Temple with a one-year, $5 million deal.