Torrey Craig had a career year for the Phoenix Suns last season, averaging 7.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game on 45.6/39.5/71.1 separate shooting in 79 games played, including 60 departures. Craig’s emergence as a knockdown shooter in the regular season was particularly notable, as he always had a reputation as a solid defender but a fragile shooter.
He continued his solid year of shooting in the playoffs, knocking down 44% of his threes as teams often chose to challenge anyone other than Devin Booker and Kevin Durant to beat them, with him the recipient of a few open looks. As such, heading into this offseason, it was expected that the Suns, with few options to upgrade their roster with outside additions, would push hard to re-sign Craig in free agency being given their weak roster entering the league’s start to the year.
However, Phoenix moved quickly in other directions, making seven signings in the first few days of free agency, many of whom came on the wing at the position Craig held for the Suns last year. As such, Craig had to go in search of a new team and ended up landing with the Chicago Bulls.
Free agent F Torrey Craig has agreed to a two-year contract with the Chicago Bulls, sources have told ESPN. The offer includes a player option. Craig averaged 7.4 points and 5.4 rebounds in 24 minutes for the Suns last season.
— Adrien Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 3, 2023
The Bulls have now added Craig and Jevon Carter at two points from need, bolstering their playmaking and wing depth with a pair of players coming off of career-best shooting seasons. For a team that needs ground spacing, taking a swing on these two, who also have solid defensive reputations, makes sense, but they hope to avoid regression of one or both beyond the bow.