Chicago Bulls: Jalen Smith eager to win back No. 2 center role

Jalen Smith is getting a second chance with the Chicago Bulls.

A year ago, Smith seemed set for one of the most straightforward jobs in the NBA. He signed a three-year, $27 million deal to play behind starting center Nikola Vučević , joining the roster as a rare summer addition.

For the first half of the season, Smith’s job was simple. He logged 8.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 15 minutes per game. It wasn’t flashy, but Smith was a steady and reliable backup who could keep up with the heightened pace of the Bulls offense.

But things changed at the trade deadline. On Feb. 3, the Bulls finally sent Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings in a three-team deal that included center Zach Collins , a longtime backup in San Antonio and Portland. Two weeks later, Smith went into concus