As free agency opened last summer, the Chicago Bulls signed behemoth Brazilian big man Cristiano Felicio to a four-year, $32 million contract extension.
Nine months later, and The Ringer writer Danny Chau is bestowing Felicio with the title of “the most valuable tanker in the league.”
Life comes at you fast.
Felicio—every bit of the 6-foot-9, 280 pounds he’s listed at—seems to have been built in the mold of Cleatus, the dancing animated robot on Fox’s NFL Sunday broadcasts. He sets bone-breaking screens seemingly by accident. He has a soft touch on his midrange jumper, which might be his best weapon on offense.