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Torrey Craig says he'll bring "a little bit more edge" to the Chicago Bulls

Torrey Craig will bring aggression to the Chicago Bulls.

Harvey Glassbrook

© Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
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Throughout his basketball career, Torrey Craig has always had to scrap and claw for every opportunity. After going undrafted from the University of South Carolina Upstate in 2014, the 6-foot-7 forward played overseas before getting his break with the Denver Nuggets in 2017. Craig understands the virtue of competing each and every night, and it is something that the Chicago Bulls will now benefit from.

More toughness

Craig knows what he brings to the table and believes his mentality and skillset could mesh well with the Bulls. He signed a two-year pact with Chicago, and he hopes to inject the team with his toughness.

"I was telling Coach (Billy Donovan) one day, just watching the games and seeing how much talent they had and some of the games they would lose and seeing how I could contribute and bring a little bit more toughness, a little bit more edge, a little bit more competitiveness to some of those games to be more consistent," Craig said. "That definitely played a factor in my decision to come here."

Craig also brings several tangibles, such as his three-point shooting. He shot 39 percent from three-point land last season, providing the Suns' stars Kevin Durant and Devin Booker a reliable release valve every time the defense collapsed on them. He played that role perfectly in the Suns' first-round series against the Los Angeles Clippers, making ten triples in the first three games of the showdown.

Hard-nosed squad

This isn't the first time Craig and Bulls vice president Arturas Karnisovas have worked together. The two first linked up in Denver, where Karnisovas previously served as general manager. Craig revealed that Karnisovas tried to recruit him in years past but couldn't get any traction on a deal. Now that he's finally with the Bulls, Craig is confident he can make an impact, given his competitive spirit.

"Actually, the last couple free agencies, me and AK have been talking. And we just couldn't get it done," Craig said. "We kind of knew what kind of pieces he wanted and what (Carter and I) could bring and what kind of team we had the potential to be, especially with the guys who are already here. We want to be one of those tough, hard-nosed, defensive-minded, competitive teams all year round."

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Harvey Glassbrook
HARVEY GLASSBROOK

Chicago Bulls fan ever since “the shrug.” Meeting Jud Buechler at the Berto Center before the Last Dance season is one of my GOAT NBA moments, followed by watching two games at the United Center during that campaign. Virginia Military Institute graduate and a recovering sneakerhead. 

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