Jalen Smith's Job: Space the Floor at the Four or Five

The role. Smith is the Bulls' stretch big, fighting for minutes behind Nic Claxton and Zach Collins at center while sliding to the four in small lineups. At 26 and in his sixth season, he is no longer a project — he is a specific tool: floor-spacing.

Last season's line. Smith averaged 10.2 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.2 assists in 20.7 minutes across 53 games last season, shooting 48.3 percent from the field and 37.3 percent from three on 4.2 attempts a night — real volume for a big man.

What stands out. The three-point rate is the number. A 6-10 big taking 4.2 threes a game and hitting 37.3 percent of them is rare on this roster, and it is why his true shooting reached 60.8 percent last season despite a modest 18.3 usage rate.

The efficiency numbers. Smith's advanced marks back the shooting: a 116.4 offensive rating against a 113.0 defensive rating for a net rating of plus-3.4, with a 15.2 rebound percentage. He does not create — his assist rate sat at 8.1 percent — he finishes what others start.

The contract. Smith is set to make $9.4 million in 2026-27, a mid-rotation price on a roster that sits at $164.3 million total, well under the $200.4 million luxury tax line. He is not an albatross; he is a role player paid like one.

Health and lineups. Smith is not on the injury report. Last season his best stretch came in a lineup with Nikola Vucevic, Coby White, Isaac Okoro and Matas Buzelis, outscoring opponents by plus-7.9 over 52 minutes — Vucevic and White are gone now, traded away in February, so Smith needs new combinations that work.

Preseason answer. In Wednesday's preseason win over Milwaukee, Smith scored 15 points on 4-for-10 shooting, going 3-for-5 from three in 21 minutes as the Bulls won 125-104. The Sun-Times wrote this week that the Bulls want to see him keep spacing the floor — that is exactly the job in front of him.