It appears to be another member of the Utah Jazz from last season has found a new place to live for the upcoming NBA season.
According to Shams Charania of The AthleticTHE The Chicago Bulls have opted to sign forward Kenneth Lofton Jr. to a one-year deal as he will now compete for a spot on their 15-man roster heading into next year.
Free agent Kenny Lofton Jr. signs one-year deal with Chicago Bulls, sources say @TheAthletic @StadiumLofton will compete for a roster spot in training camp. He has played 45 games in two NBA seasons. pic.twitter.com/2OXh9831ZI
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) August 16, 2024
Lofton Jr. was a late-season addition to the Jazz last season, appearing in four regular-season games during their 2023-24 campaign. After rebounding since the The Philadelphia 76ers And Memphis Grizzlies and having been in and out of the G-League earlier in the year, he made the most of his short, but impactful, stint in Utah.
In his four games with the Jazz, he averaged an impressive 13.8 points, 5.0 rebounds and 4.8 assists on 60.0% shooting and 33.3% from three-point range. While he doesn’t have a long-term future in store with Utah, it allowed the 22-year-old to be given a chance to take a step toward a little more stability elsewhere.
In terms of implications for the Jazz, it removes a body from their forward rotation for next season, but there are plenty of solid candidates available to take those minutes, whether it’s Taylor Hendricks, Brice Sensabaugh or even rookies Cody Williams and Kyle Filipowski.
As for the former Jazzman, expect Lofton Jr. to be a compelling case for a spot with the Bulls next season as a depth forward as the Jazz continue to prioritize their emerging young core.
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