For this exercise let’s use the trade framework given to us by Bleacher Report’s Jake Fischer which involves: Nikola Vucevic, Patrick Williams and the 18th pick in the 2022 NBA draft being sent to Utah while the Jazz only send Gobert to Chicago.

DEFENSIVELY:

Gobert would immediately slot into the starting lineup as the new center for the 2023 Bulls. He would likely remain in the role of guarding the opposing team’s best center and primarily roaming inside the paint, protecting the rim.

It would be a similar role we have seen Gobert play before in Utah. Despite the Jazz defense having a down year due to defensive personnel, Gobert still authored a strong defensive season and is still the league’s best rim protector. When opponents drove into the paint and went at Gobert, their field goal percentage went down by -13.39%, AT THE RIM!

Gobert would be an instant upgrade on defense. Factoring in elite point-of-attack defenders such as Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso, you have the recipe for one of the best defenses in the league.

In addition, Gobert is also a fantastic defensive rebounder. He is still the vacuum on the boards that people expect him to be and has continued his dominance there. He would provide an immediate upgrade on the Bull’s defensive rebounding stats, ranked 22nd in 2022.

Schematically, Gobert would likely continue to play in a drop coverage role since letting him contest and guard near the basket is what he excels at. While many fans on social media lambast Gobert for dropping so far back in pick and rolls, the fault does not solely lie with him. That is a product of the Jazz defensive scheme and on former head coach Quin Snyder for not moving him up closer to the screen. It is important to note that when you move him up to the level to contain, the other defenders need to be able to guard the ensuing 4v3 advantage the offense has, something the Jazz defenders were not prepared to do with their personnel.

In addition, Gobert has also made strides (albeit smaller ones) into becoming a better switch and more versatile defender. Asking any center to contain small quicker penetrative guards on the perimeter is always difficult but Gobert has great recovery length and can somewhat contain switches.

Finally, should he be switched and forced into a weak side help defender role, I feel comfortable in him playing there as well. While there is less film on this because of the Jazz playing drop coverage most of the time, his length can allow him to rotate over and contest any shot near the rim.

Adding Gobert to this current Bulls team would 100% improve our overall defensive rankings and rebounding stats. Still, defense is still only one side of the game, so how would a potential offense involving the Bulls and Rudy Gobert look?

OFFENSIVELY:

While Gobert is an incredible defensive player, his offense is not at that level. Still, some of his best traits on offense would help the Bulls.

First, he is an excellent screener in pick-and-roll scenarios. The word, “Screen assists” has been thrown out a lot in Utah but it is real. Gobert is an excellent screener when he makes contact and his large frame makes him difficult to navigate around. Further, he is also a downhill lob threat and would provide a new dimension for this offense. The Bulls do not have a lob threat outside of Zach Lavine and leaving someone in the dunker’s spot providing a verticality threat would add a new wrinkle to Billy Donovan’s offense.

It is important to note that the Bull’s only reliable lob thrower is Ball. He is a great passer but is not someone who can force help and open up that lob by himself. The two players that can bend defenses are Lavine and Demar DeRozan but their ability to throw that lob isn’t a strong part of their passing repertoire. While it may open up something new for this offense, the personnel we have to execute this new wrinkle is far from adequate.

In addition, Gobert is one of the best offensive rebounders in the league and would aid in the Bull’s 29th ranked offensive rebounding. While this is partially because of Donovan choosing to prioritize transition defense instead of hunting the offensive rebound, Gobert would still help in this department.

While his strengths would help the Bulls, there are holes in his offensive game that would also hinder this offense.

Primary is Gobert’s inability to beat switches. He is not a post-up threat on switches and can only take advantage of the mismatch when he has deep seals. The film of this is not pretty from their most recent playoff series loss against Dallas. Concurrently, it is also a problem that has stretched back for years as well, with the Clippers electing to soft switch and making him a non-threat on offense in their series against the Jazz in 2021.

Unless he makes a remarkable improvement, this problem would likely remain a way to target Gobert and the Bull’s offense to slow them down in the playoffs.

Another issue in Gobert’s offensive game is his short roll playmaking and it’s been a problem for some time. He made marginal improvements in this category this season and this issue will invite teams to play aggressive defensive coverages knowing that we don’t have the personnel to beat it.

The ability to make the correct decision on short rolls is a major factor in the playoffs. Despite playing different roles for their respective teams, players such as Bam Adebayo, Draymond Green and Vucevic can all affect the game with their short roll playmaking. If you play aggressive defensive coverage against any three of these aforementioned players, then you’re giving up a 4v3 situation to a player that can always make the correct play. It completely takes off blitzing, soft hedging, hard hedging and being at the level in pick and roll defense. It may seem small but in the modern NBA’s ball screen-centric game, it’s a massive problem.

Finally is how Gobert’s offense looks with worse spacing.

It’s quite clear that Gobert does not space the floor. He only attempted four shots from behind the arc and missed all four. The bigger worry is that Gobert has always played in a spaced-out environment in Utah, constantly seeing the floor with average to great shooters.

Should he be traded to Chicago, he would not have that luxury. In my opinion, the Bulls have two great shooters. Outside of Ball and Lavine, none of the other Bulls are elite floor spacers and are inconsistent at best. How would Gobert adapt to finding more pressure around the rim with the opposing team helping off bad shooters such as DeRozan or Javonte Green? It’s a hypothetical question but with Gobert’s lack of individual shot creation and poor passing stats, it could be a major thorn in his already limited offensive production.

In all, Gobert would certainly help this team in some aspects, that much is clear. While the positives may outweigh the negatives, the negatives are major red areas that could slow down the Bulls. This also doesn’t mention the cap situation. Is it worth losing cap flexibility and a young piece like Williams for a 30-year-old Gobert and the remaining four years of his supermax contract? There’s no right answer, only our thoughts at this time but what the Bulls do in the 2022 offseason will certainly be something to watch.

Special thanks to: bball-index.com for stats and every other linked tweet or article.*

*NOTE: Not all clips are reflective of every given possession but provide a summary of his strengths and weaknesses on the court.

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According to a recent report from Darnell Mayberry for The Athletic, Ball is still feeling “not right” almost six months since his surgery. An injury that he was originally targeting to return from in the playoffs has now cast doubt upon his availability for the beginning of next season.

The Bulls enter the 2022 offseason with many items on their to-do list. First of course being to re-sign Zach Lavine in unrestricted free agency, where he has made it known that he expects to be offered his maximum allowable salary and will be open to offers from other teams. Next, the Bulls will likely look to add wing depth and front court depth.

Now, a new concern has emerged for Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley: the potential absence of Lonzo Ball. Without Ball’s defense, shooting, and full-court playmaking, the Bulls often found themselves outmatched on the perimeter and going for long stretches of cold, stagnant offense. With the knowledge that he might not be available to begin next season, the Bulls might look to add a veteran point guard to hold down the fort while Ball continues his rehab.

Veteran Point Guards Entering Free Agency

The Chicago Bulls are facing an uphill battle against the cap this offseason. Zach Lavine’s likely max contract extension will put the Bulls back into the luxury tax, and prevent the team from spending big in free agency. The team’s best bet is to work within the margins and look for veterans willing to play for less money or low-risk high-reward players looking to boost their value for their next contract.

Some veteran point guards entering NBA free agency that the Chicago Bulls should consider include Ricky Rubio, Avery Bradley, and Austin Rivers. A tier below them includes some familiar names, too, like Rajon Rondo, D.J. Augustin, and Goran Dragic. These are all players with over a decade in the league and have recently bounced from team to team. They likely will be looking to sign with a contender for a low price. Why not the Bulls?

There are also some players entering free agency that could realistically get paid more elsewhere, but might be willing to take a pay cut to come to Chicago for a season to boost the value for their next contract. Those names include Dennis Schroder and Jevon Carter.

Schroder and Dragic were linked to the Bulls in trade talks leading up to the 2022 NBA Trade Deadline. Schroder’s brand of point of attack defense specifically could be a good fit to help mitigate the loss of Lonzo Ball, while the playmaking and veteran presence of a player like Ricky Rubio makes him an enticing option. Rubio, unfortunately, is recovering from his own knee injury, so he doesn’t make much sense as a Ball replacement, but could still be a low-risk signing worth taking a look at.

Is Lonzo Ball’s Career In Jeopardy?

Lonzo Ball has played five seasons in the NBA so far in his career. Of those, there have only been three seasons in which he played in at least 50 games. The most games he’s played in a single season was 63 in his first year with the Pelicans. Ball has unfortunately been tagged as an “injury-prone player” at this point.

Is there a reason for concern surrounding Lonzo Ball’s knee? Sadly, yes. He has yet to play a full season in the league and it seems that his body does not respond well to rehab. His recovery timeline has been pushed back numerous times, which is a huge concern for a player that the Bulls just invested a lot of money into.

Now, there’s no telling how the rest of his career will pan out. Ball could come back from this and remain injury-free for years to come, we’ve already seen Zach Lavine do something similar from his ACL tear in 2017. But the Bulls would be foolish not to consider the possibility that Ball will simply need to be treated differently in regards to his availability. He might need to be a “load management” guy, with frequent breaks throughout the regular season.

Ultimately, the goal is to get the Chicago Bulls back to the playoffs at full health. In order to do that, Lonzo Ball needs to make it through an entire NBA season. If the Bulls want to accomplish those goals, they will need to be realistic about Ball’s minutes and create a plan centered around keeping his legs fresh deep into March, April, and beyond. On nights when Ball won’t be available, the Bulls will also need a viable replacement who can provide skills similar to his.

We already had a pretty good idea of what will be on the wish list for the Bulls front office this offseason. Lonzo Ball’s injury has added a new challenge to the mix. It’s now on AK and Marc Eversley to navigate the cap and find a way to make their wishes come true.

The post How Does Lonzo Ball’s Injury Affect The Chicago Bulls This Offseason? appeared first on Bulls Don't Lie.

Is Zach LaVine Worth a Max Contract?

Many fans and experts have argued that Zach LaVine should not receive max-contract money. This concern stems primarily stems from his recent knee injury. LaVine has been bothered by his surgically-repaired left knee since mid-January this season. This discomfort led LaVine to miss 13 games while looking like a shell of his usual self in others. Some have used this decline in play to justify not giving LaVine a new contract. Others argue that the nagging knee injury is too much of a risk for a max player.

First of all, using injured play to bash LaVine — or any player, for that matter — is a bad idea. Plenty of players have struggled while dealing with injuries just to return to their prior form when healthy. LaVine, like many other players, has already come back (and even improved) since a big knee injury. In addition, despite some fans having durability concerns, LaVine has only missed an average of 13.5 regular season games/year since his injury-shortened 2017-18 season. Numerous stars who aren’t generally considered “injury-prone” — including LeBron James, Jrue Holiday, Jimmy Butler, and Kyle Lowry — have missed more time than LaVine over the past four years.

Finally, some believe that LaVine isn’t good enough for a max contract, but that simply isn’t true. Plenty of teams give max contracts to players at or below Zach’s level of play. Tobias Harris, Michael Porter Jr., Andrew Wiggins, CJ McCollum, Brandon Ingram, Jamal Murray, and De’Aaron Fox have all recently signed maximum contracts. Can you confidently say any of those players are better than Zach? In my opinion, they are, at best, at the same level as LaVine, and thus, he should be compensated similarly.

However, the big question isn’t if the Bulls should re-sign Zach, it’s if they will. Let’s look at this from both the player/agent and front office sides.

The Zach LaVine Side

The primary reason Zach LaVine — and agent Rich Paul — should want to stay in Chicago is simple: Money. The Bulls hold Zach’s Bird Rights, which means that they can offer him more money than any other team. It also means that they can go over the salary cap to re-sign him, a luxury not afforded to any other team competing for his services. Basically, if LaVine’s contract decision is all about money, the Bulls are his best landing spot.

Moreover, the Bulls’ recent success should incentivize Zach LaVine to stay in Chicago. Thanks to the team’s recent roster additions, the Bulls made the playoffs this season for the first time during his Bulls tenure. Though the team crumbled after the All-Star break, the team’s play in the early months of the season offers a glimpse into its upside. Out of the teams that both have the ability to bring in LaVine and would want to add him, not many offer the same success as the Bulls. The Bulls’ recent additions show a commitment to winning, and if Zach values that, he’ll seriously consider staying in Chicago.

The Front Office Side

The Bulls’ recent roster moves don’t just show a commitment to winning — they show a commitment to Zach LaVine. The roster is, in theory, built around Zach LaVine. This Bulls team, when healthy, is able to maximize his strengths while hiding his weaknesses. Alex Caruso and Lonzo Ball, the team’s two most important perimeter defenders, missed significant time this season. When they’re on the court with LaVine, they hide his defensive weaknesses. We saw this earlier this season before Ball went down with an eventually season-ending knee injury. Meanwhile, veteran scorers DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic help take the scoring load off of LaVine. (Well, Vucevic wasn’t very effect this season, but hopefully that changes next year.) If the Bulls didn’t believe in Zach LaVine long-term, they wouldn’t have invested money and draft capital into these players.

The Bulls’ front office continues to emphasize that they are committed to Zach LaVine long-term. Asked about LaVine on Friday, president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas expressed confidence in the 27-year-old guard, saying, “I hope he’s here for a long time.” Though interviews don’t always mean much, the front office has never indicated anything other than wanting LaVine in a Bulls uniform for the foreseeable future.

Final Thoughts

Though Zach LaVine is likely to test the free-agent waters, a return to Chicago is beneficial to both sides. He’s part of the Bulls’ long-term plans, and at only 27 years old, he still has a long playing career ahead of him. So, in all likelihood, Zach LaVine has not played his last game in a Chicago Bulls uniform.

The post Has Zach LaVine Played His Last Game for the Bulls? appeared first on Bulls Don't Lie.

Starter-Like Minutes

Four players — Lonzo Ball, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic — should consistently play 30-34 minutes per game on a healthy Bulls team. Currently, all four are averaging at least 33.9 min/game. This number should decrease once the team is fully healthy.

Once the Chicago Bulls’ rotation is back to what it was meant to be, I wouldn’t be surprised if LaVine and DeRozan see slight minutes decreases. LaVine is dealing with a lingering knee injury, so he may need more rest down the stretch. DeRozan, who averaged 38.5 minutes/game in February, could also use a break

Furthermore, Ball and Vucevic may get more time on the bench than originally planned for this season. The surprise emergence of rookie Ayo Dosunmu as a strong defender and capable facilitator will force Billy Donovan to give him minutes (more on that later). This should, in turn, take out a small chunk of Ball’s workload. In addition, the Bulls recently brought in veteran big man Tristan Thompson. This could lead to a slight minutes reduction for Vucevic, who averaged over 35 minutes/game in February. The team may want to give Vucevic, 31, some much-needed rest before (hopefully) embarking on a deep playoff run.

Consistent Playing Time

This is where things start to get interesting. The Bulls have three bench guards — Alex Caruso, Coby White, and Ayo Dosunmu — who should all get a good share of minutes during any given game. This will likely force Billy Donovan to use three guard lineups at some point. This strategy worked very well for Donovan in his last year in Oklahoma City. There, he utilized lineups featuring a three-headed-monster of Chris Paul, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Dennis Schroder.

Patrick Williams will, when healthy, start for the Bulls. But how many minutes does he get, especially if he struggles early on? He’s a talented player, but he’s also a second-year player coming off an injury. Last year’s iteration of the team could afford to give Williams crucial minutes for development’s sake. However, as a team with championship aspirations, the Bulls may give Williams a short leash with other options waiting.

The Bulls have several starting options if Williams struggles. Though Derrick Jones Jr. and Javonte Green haven’t exactly been superstars in Williams’ absence, they’ve filled in admirably. Defense and athleticism have been Williams’ calling card in the NBA, as his shooting has yet to become consistent. Green and Jones provide similar skillsets, which bodes well for lineup versatility. Ideally, Williams looks like his pre-injury self (or perhaps an even better version of that player). In that case, this logjam at the 4 becomes a much better problem to have. An improved Patrick Williams could be the missing piece for this Bulls team.

Finally, Tristan Thompson should see the floor for a consistent amount of time each night. Though he likely won’t dig too far into Nikola Vucevic’s minutes, his only real competition for backup reps is Tony Bradley. Bradley, in the few games Thompson has played for the Bulls, has seemingly exited the rotation.

Out of the Rotation

There are three players who have played significant minutes at one point or another this season who I expect to become reserves once the team is healthy: Troy Brown Jr., Matt Thomas, and Tony Bradley.

Tony Bradley has caught a lot of negative attention from Bulls fans as an ineffective backup to Nikola Vucevic, but he actually performed well defensively at times. Opposing players shot 17% worse within 6 feet of the rim when Bradley was on the floor. Though Bradley’s sample size is obviously much smaller, that mark is better than some of the league’s best defenders, including Jarrett Allen (-15%), Jaren Jackson Jr. (-13.7%), and Rudy Gobert (-11.1%). However, barring an injury to Vucevic or Tristan Thompson, Bradley lacks a clear path to playing time on the Bulls this season.

Entering this season, Troy Brown Jr. had the potential to be a key bench player for Chicago. Despite flashes of quality play, Brown has been inconsistent this season. Like Tony Bradley, barring injury, he just doesn’t have a place on a team with hopes of making a deep playoff run, especially one with as deep of a roster as the Bulls have.

Lastly, we have Matt Thomas, arguably the most-hated player on the Bulls this season. Despite shooting 38% from beyond the arc, Thomas’s season has been marred by poor, almost Denzel Valentine-esque shot selection and sub-turnstile-level defense. Hopefully, once this Bulls team is healthy, Thomas won’t see the floor outside of 20+ point blowouts. As a 6’4″ guard, he doesn’t even fit a positional need depth-wise, since, as I stated earlier, the Bulls already have a lot of mouths to feed at guard.

Final Thoughts

Overall, the return of the Bulls’ injured players should provide a much-needed spark down the stretch. Not only will they solve some of the team’s defensive woes, but they should also help highlight the Bulls’ strong depth.

The post Predicting the Chicago Bulls’ Late-Season Rotation appeared first on Bulls Don't Lie.

This season during the trade deadline, the Bulls didn’t make any trades so getting Thompson from the buyout market was a huge move. The Bulls released forward Alfonzo Mckinnie to make the Thompson signing. 

What does Tristan Thompson bring to the Bulls? 

Thompson brings rebounding, defense, size, toughness and playoff experience to the Bulls. Thompson isn’t the same player he was in Cleveland but he still plays hard and always plays with toughness and an aggressive big has been one of the Bulls’ biggest needs. According to Cleaning the Glass, Thompson’s defensive rebounding rate ranks in the 73rd percentile with his offensive rebounding rate in the 96th percentile.

While Vucevic isn’t on the floor, Thompson will give the Bulls rebounding, size and defense which is very much needed. Another thing Thompson brings to the Bulls is his playoff experience. The Bulls haven’t made the playoffs since the 2017 season, and many players on the roster have no playoff experience. Meanwhile, Thompson has played in 83 playoff games in his career including multiple games in the NBA Finals. Now that the signing is official, Alex Caruso and Tristan Thompson will be the only players on the Bulls roster who have won championships.

It’s always good to have players on your team that have won a championship and adding Thompson means the Bulls will have 2 of those players. Thompson is a good backup center to have and instantly improves the Bulls bench. This was a great signing by the Bulls, Thompson checks all the boxes you want in a backup center, and he makes your team better. 

The Bulls’ record is 38-21 which is tied for first place in the East during the All-Star Break; with the addition of Thompson and the Bulls getting key players back from injuries the Bulls are in a good position to have a huge second half of the season and make a run to win a championship. 

The post What Does Tristan Thompson Bring to the Chicago Bulls? appeared first on Bulls Don't Lie.

With the Bulls bench being as great as it has been, where do you see Coby fitting into the lineup when he’s healthy? (@DieHardSosa/Twitter)

Wrigley – I think Coby still has a key role coming off the bench once he’s healthy. As great as the bench has been defensively, they haven’t been very good on the offensive end. That’s where Coby fits in. Last season, he averaged 15 PPG while making 36% of his threes. Without the responsibilities of being a starting point guard, he’ll be able to focus almost solely on scoring, which should be beneficial. He’ll provide the second-unit scoring punch the Bulls need.

 Davi – I think Coby White will be the player that provides scoring in the second unit. When Demar is in with the second unit Coby can take some heat off him. Ayo, Caruso and Troy bring a lot of energy and hustle but they aren’t high volume scorers like Coby can be. With Lonzo and Caruso being the PGs, the Coby White at PG experiment is likely over, so he can now focus on just getting the ball in the basket instead of trying to facilitate the offense. He might also be able to help out in crunch time if the Bulls need a ball handler. 

Riley – From watching the Bulls first 4 games this season, we can tell the bench needs one thing: scoring. Coby White brings scoring to this second unit. We’ve seen many times where Demar DeRozan will have to play in the second unit, just because they need some offense. Add Coby White to the mix, and you have a nice one two punch in that unit. 

Ricky –  When Coby returns from his injury I believe he’ll be a really important part of this team, mainly for his scoring abilities within a second unit that has struggled to score the ball. He also will help Demar out tremendously with his ability to catch and shoot the ball, a type of player that Demar needs next to him to succeed. I also think without the responsibilities of being a starting point guard he will improve greatly because he’ll only need to focus on his scoring.

I know it’s way early but at some point AK will have to add some size to the front court – who might be some realistic trade deadline candidates? (@AntonioBelisle/Twitter)

Wrigley – When looking for trade candidates for the Bulls, I looked at some of the teams I expect to be toward the bottom of the NBA when the trade deadline comes around. Three teams that come to mind are the Raptors, Magic, and Thunder. Toronto could move Khem Birch, who I wanted the Bulls to sign this offseason, if they continue to struggle without Kyle Lowry (traded to the Heat) and Pascal Siakam (shoulder injury, expected to return around Thanksgiving). Barring some miracle, Orlando will be a seller at the deadline, and former Bull Robin Lopez could become available. A reunion with the veteran center and Benny the Bull enthusiast could be an ideal scenario for Chicago. Finally, the Thunder are likely to move Derrick Favors before the deadline, whether that’s via trade or a buyout. Though the Bulls probably can’t afford him at his current salary (he’s making almost $10M this year and has a player option next year), they could sign him for a much lower price if he’s bought out.

Davi – A player I see the Bulls most likely going for, if anyone, is Thaddeus Young. Young was apart of the package to the Spurs for Demar Derozan and with him being a fan favorite, it was hard to see him go. The first few games of this season Young hasn’t seen the floor much and it’s very surprising given that he averaged 12 points a game last year. The reason he is not playing is unknown, but the Spurs may be looking to trade him and we could be a good candidate, making him have a reunion in Chicago. Another player that could be acquired is Brandon Clarke from the Memphis Grizzlies. Clarke has been a solid player so far in his young career, but last year he didn’t get many minutes behind a stacked frontcourt of Jaren Jackson Jr., Desmond Bane, Kyle Anderson and Xavier Tillman. Now with the recent acquisitions of Steven Adams and Ziaire Williams they may be looking to move him. Although, recently he has been getting more minutes so that may not be the case anymore.

Riley – With as little of assets that the Bulls currently have, it is definitely possible they are still in a position to make a trade yet this season. If we’re talking realistic acquisitions, the first person who comes to mind is Marvin Bagley III. The former 2nd overall pick is in the need of a fresh start. He has fallen out of Sacramentos rotation averaging 2 ppg, and 4 rebounds(at the time of writing this). Bagley still has a ton of upside, especially off the bench for this team. If AK can give up a second round pick on a risky player like Bagley, the Bulls could definitely benefit.

Another player who would be a great fit for the Bulls is Thaddeus Young. Thadgic Johnson was moved to the Spurs this offseason as apart of the DeMar DeRozan deal. Thad was a top player on the Bulls last season, and it was sad to see him go. He brought energy and hustle to a team that was definitely lacking it last year. Its likely the Spurs would like to move him for more assets so could a reunion be in store? 

Ricky –  I think who the candidates are will be changing over the course of the year, based on both where the Bulls are in the rankings and where the rest of the league appears to be buying/selling wise. I think if the Bulls exceed expectations and are looking to make a deep playoff run a player like Jakob Poeltl would be someone worth giving up assets for. He’s an elite defensive big which is exactly what the Bulls would need off the bench. I’m not sure exactly how realistic the Spurs letting him go would be, unless they massively underperformed. I also could see Chicago not wanting to give up any more assets than they already have, and go with free agent big Ed Davis. Last time he played it was less than expected, but he’s not far removed from his days as Rudy Gobert’s backup who was able to make a positive impact even though he is undersized for the center position.

Why isn’t Billy moving P. Will to the bench so he can get some looks on offense and up his usage rate? We have plenty of guys who fit as a 5th option on a starting unit. (@Cheeseinmytummy/Twitter)

Wrigley – With Patrick Williams somewhat struggling out of the gate and the emergence of Javonte Green, this has been talked about a lot. I think the main thing that’s keeping The Paw in the starting lineup right now, besides his draft pedigree, is his defense, which continues to not be talked about enough. Additionally, he’s a very versatile, team-first player, which is a great thing to have in a starting lineup that has three, arguably four All-Star caliber players. Part of his struggles may stem from the injuries he’s been dealing with — Williams suffered a severe ankle sprain over the offseason and strained his shoulder on opening night. As he recovers from these injuries, specifically the shoulder, look for P. Will to get back on track.

Davi – I think this early in the season Billy Donovan is trying out lineups to help the development of Patrick Williams and improve the defense. Patrick is one of the best defenders on the team so having him in the starting lineup is key in the frontcourt especially with Vucevic and Derozan lacking a little bit. Also, benching Williams now may not be good for his development. It’s good for him to get lots of experience playing with all star caliber players.

Riley – I believe that Pat is in the starting lineup to help him further develop. Playing along playmakers like Lonzo Ball and DeMar DeRozan can definitely help him out as a player. The starting lineup is in need of defense and Pat is the second best defender out of the starters. Taking him out of the lineup may not only mess with his development, but mess with the defense of the first unit. The second unit is stacked with defense minded players, and they don’t need another one in Patrick. Patrick Williams has star potential and Billy Donovan realizes it. Benching him wouldn’t necessarily be the right move. 

Ricky – I think that one of the biggest reasons to keep Pat in the starting lineup is so he can learn how to play with these guys. AK has made it obvious that his plan for the future, (at least the next 4 years) is to try and win with this current group of players. The only possibility that happens is the emergence of Pat as a star player, and Billy likely wants him to learn how to be a star while playing with the guys he’s currently playing with. I think most of his struggles this year root from his shoulder injury which is affecting him greatly. I also think these struggles are coming from a place of learning what his offensive role on this team is, and we’ve seen the same struggles from Lavine and Vucevic. The Javonte starting crowd has a good point about the present, but in my opinion it’s better to let Pat struggle now than in the future.

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Lonzo Ball was given a deal north of $20 million dollars a season, which many may think is a lot of money for a player of his caliber, and I’m here to prove that idea wrong.

What Does Lonzo Ball Bring to the Bulls?

Lonzo is the point guard that the Bulls have needed ever since the departure of Derrick Rose. The Bulls have truly not had an actual point guard in quite some time now, and Lonzo is the answer to that. He’s a pass first guard that is also an excellent defense. You know what the Bulls struggled with this season? Playmaking and Defense. Defensively, the Bulls struggled to guard the opposing teams best guard every night. It would often be Zach LaVine having to guard players like Damian Lillard, Luka Doncic, and Stephen Curry. As we all know, Zach LaVine isn’t exactly known for his defense. As he has greatly improved defensively, he should not be the guy to guard players like Curry. That’s where Lonzo Ball comes in. Known for his defense, Ball can come in and lock down some of the best scorers in todays game. With Lonzo having the use all his energy to guard some of the better players, Zach LaVine will have a lot more energy offensively and I think we’d all love to see that.

In a team that has its concerns defensively, Ball can come in and become an instant presence on the defensive end. With guys like Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic, and DeMar Derozan in the starting lineup, many believe that there isn’t much defense to be played, and that’s far from the truth. With the combination of Lonzo and P-Will, defense shouldn’t be a concern.

Why was Lonzo Worth the Contract he got?

There’s no debating that Lonzo Ball was given a massive contract, but let’s take a further look into it from a Bulls perspective.

The Chicago Bulls have been in a need of a true point guard since Derrick Rose. Some of the recent point guards that the Bulls have had are Kris Dunn, Ryan Arcidiacono, Jerian Grant, and the tank commander himself, Cameron Payne. So if you can’t tell, its been a long time since we’ve had a point guard here.

Lonzo Ball has been proven to make players around him better. I mean there’s a reason why Zion really wanted the Pelicans to resign him this offseason.

With Lonzo Ball at pg, we can expect to see Patrick Williams potentially take a big leap this season. Last season, Williams didn’t have a true playmaker. This season with Ball, it could make a big difference, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him break out in a big way this season.

We’ve seen just how many teams have been interested in Lonzo in the past year or so because he makes every team better and fits into just about every team. I believe that’s worth the contract that he got.

Overview

Lonzo Ball was brought in within the first few minutes of free agency from a sign-and-trade with the New Orleans Pelicans. The Bulls have been heavily linked to Lonzo ever since he got to New Orleans.

With the addition of Ball, many players on this team (Patrick Williams especially), are gonna take big leaps this season. Many players have not played with a playmaker the caliber of Lonzo.

Lonzo is the perfect combo guard to Zach LaVine. He has all the assets that LaVine is missing from his game, and will compliment each other nicely.

Lonzo Ball was paid a 4 year, $81 million dollar deal from the Chicago Bulls, which on paper sounds like a lot of money. Given the Bulls recent struggles at the point guard position, they had no choice but to throw the bag at a free agent point guard this offseason and it just so happened to be Lonzo Ball.

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On the second day of NBA free agency, Arturas Karnisovas and the Chicago Bulls continued to make moves, agreeing to a sign-and-trade with the San Antonio Spurs for four-time All-Star DeMar DeRozan. The Bulls not only handed DeRozan a hefty contract but gave up significant assets to acquire him. Let’s break down the contract, the trade, and what this move means for the Bulls going forward.

The Contract

DeMar DeRozan will make $28M/year with the Bulls, putting him on par with players like De’Aaron Fox, Bam Adebayo, Donovan Mitchell, and Jayson Tatum. On an annual basis, he’ll be the highest-paid player on the Bulls roster (unless Zach LaVine signs a maximum contract extension). Those numbers can seem scary, especially when considering the fact that DeRozan will be 34 by the time the contract ends. However, he hasn’t shown any signs of decline, and his 6.9 assists per game was a career high, which shows that he may be aging gracefully. The deal may seem like an overpay, but in the NBA, teams often have to overpay for talent, and DeRozan is definitely a talented player.

The Trade

Two things that Shams didn’t note: (1) The Bulls also sent the Spurs Al-Farouq Aminu, and (2) the first-round pick is reportedly top-10 protected in 2025. That makes the trade a little more palatable. Still, giving up multiple picks and Thaddeus Young is a LOT for DeMar DeRozan. Young was one of the Bulls’ best players last season, and he was expected to be a major contributor for the Bulls off the bench. If the Bulls are good (which it looks like they will be), the picks won’t be all too valuable, but it’s still a lot of assets for a sign-and-trade.

Getting rid of Aminu’s contract is huge for the Bulls, however. Aminu and Young combined for a $24M cap hit this season, so with DeRozan’s cap hit at $27M this season, the Bulls are only adding $3M against the cap. Those savings are huge for a team that still needs to fill out the roster (6 open roster spots) despite being over the salary cap. Young’s abilities as a facilitator and defender will be sorely missed on the Bulls, but his contract expires after this season and, with the contracts currently on the books, it would’ve been hard to retain him anyway. The trade was an overpay, but it’s not the end of the world.

DeMar DeRozan’s Fit with the Bulls: The Negatives

DeRozan’s primary purpose in the NBA has always been scoring. Over the past 8 seasons, he’s averaged 22.8 points per game. That’s not really something the Bulls need, as Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic 23 or more PPG this season. LaVine and DeRozan are both relatively ball-dominant, so head coach Billy Donovan will have to find a balance between the two that maximizes scoring efficiency.

In addition, DeRozan, LaVine, and Vucevic are all liabilities defensively, which could make the Bulls hard to watch when they don’t have possession of the ball. The Bulls’ defensive burden will have to be shouldered by Lonzo Ball and the 20-year-old Patrick Williams, which is far from an ideal situation.

DeMar DeRozan’s Fit with the Bulls: The Positives

DeRozan’s fit on the Bulls may be a little questionable, but despite the myriad of scorers already on the roster, it’s never a bad thing to have several players who can drop 20 points on any given night, especially if one of the Bulls’ “big three” gets hurt. As I said earlier, DeRozan averaged a career-high 6.9 assists per game last season, and he did that while only turning the ball over twice per game (that’s tied for the fourth-best mark of his career).

Ball movement was a big need for the Bulls last season, and this move further remedies that problem. Another big problem for the Bulls last season was an inability to get to the free-throw line, and DeRozan’s always been good at that, averaging 6.4 free throw attempts per game during his career. His 7.2 FTAs per game last season would’ve easily led the Bulls last season (LaVine was first on the team with 5.1 per game, and no other player currently on the roster averaged more than 2.1 attempts per game).

DeRozan took advantage of his free throws, shooting 88% from the charity stripe last season. The only current Bull who shot better than that last season was Coby White, who made 90% of his free throw attempts (weird, random fact: Denzel Valentine made 94% of his free throws last season!). DeMar’s positional versatility (he’s played SG, SF, and PF during his career) should let him fit easily into whatever lineups Billy Donovan uses.

DeRozan’s career 28% mark from three is, to be frank, atrocious. But the Bulls’ starting lineup has four good shooters. The other four projected starters for the Bulls (Lonzo Ball, Zach LaVine, Patrick Williams, and Nikola Vucevic) shot 37.8% or better from deep last season. The Bulls’ outside shooting should be able to create enough space for DeRozan to operate inside. While he won’t have the usage he’s had in Toronto and San Antonio, the Bulls are one of the best offensive situations DeRozan could have ended up in, as his strengths and weaknesses match up nicely with the rest of the roster.

Final Thoughts

Though the deal may seem like an overpay, DeMar DeRozan should be a valuable contributor to the Chicago Bulls. Besides his stats, he brings loads of playoff experience to the team, which is extremely valuable, especially when taking into consideration the fact that Nikola Vucevic is the only other Bulls starter who has logged playoff minutes. Finally, the DeRozan signing further signals that the new Bulls front office isn’t afraid to spend or make big moves, which is a welcome change from the previous regime. In all likelihood, the Bulls aren’t done making moves, and that’s something we can all be excited about.

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Basketball is back! After a hiatus that felt much longer than 19 days, NBA basketball is being played once again. Well, Summer League basketball. For basketball fans, the Summer League is a chance to see some of the league’s exciting young talent play for the first time at the professional level. For coaches and front offices, it’s a chance to evaluate young talent and younger players on the roster bubble. As one of the NBA’s most beloved traditions begins, here’s my guide to the Chicago Bulls’ Summer League experience.

Important Dates

Sunday 8/8 – Summer league begins in Las Vegas

Monday 8/9 – Bulls vs. Pelicans

Tuesday 8/10 – Bulls @ Spurs

Thursday 8/12 – Bulls @ Timberwolves

Sunday 8/15 – Bulls vs. Grizzlies

5th Bulls game TBD

Tuesday 8/17 – Summer League Championship Game (two teams with the best records face off)

Key Players

The Bulls didn’t have a first-round pick this year, so, unlike most teams, there’s not a clear-cut player to be on the lookout for this year. However, Chicago’s Summer League roster has several exciting young players who could (or should) end up making a difference this season.

Patrick Williams, SF/PF – After a promising rookie season, Williams is expected to take a leap in his second NBA season. While he showed promise on both ends of the floor, he sometimes disappeared and lacked aggressiveness. Finding himself as the forgotten member of the new-look Bulls’ starting lineup, he’ll have to assert himself if he wants to keep up with Chicago’s new firepower. If “the Paw” can continue to improve on defense and as a playmaker, he can become a valuable asset to a Bulls lineup that is still somewhat weak defensively. Look for him to become more aggressive on offense and continue to make life hard for the other team’s best player defensively.

Marko Simonovic, PF/C – Simonovic was drafted in the 2nd round last year but played in Europe this past season, so Summer League will be his first NBA action. Overseas, he averaged 15.7 points and 9.1 rebounds per game while shooting 35% from 3. Assuming Lauri Markkanen isn’t on Chicago’s roster by the time the season starts, Simonovic will be tasked with being the team’s backup 4. Summer League will be crucial for Marko’s development and acclimation to NBA-style basketball. The front office, meanwhile, will likely focus on Simonovic’s comfort level and ability in Summer League. If he struggles, look for the team to bring in a veteran 4 and for Simonovic to be relegated to more of a developmental/bench role.

Devon Dotson, PG – After going undrafted in 2020, Dotson signed a 2-way contract with the Bulls. Despite the team being plagued by injuries during the season and the lack of depth at point guard, Dotson saw very limited time with the Bulls. When he did play, he showed flashes, but that was in an extremely small sample size. With the Bulls adding Ayo Dosunmu, Alex Caruso, and Lonzo Ball, as well as the return of Coby White, Zach LaVine, and Javonte Green, Dotson suddenly finds himself on a team that’s deep at both guard positions. If he wants to make the 15-man roster, he’ll have to show out this summer.

Ayo Dosunmu, PG/SG – The former Illinois star was drafted by the Bulls in the second round this year, making him the first Chicago native drafted by the team since Derrick Rose. Ayo was a jack-of-all-trades in college, so it’ll be interesting to see which of his skills best translate to the NBA level. Dosunmu and Devon Dotson will likely compete for a roster spot this season (I don’t see the Bulls rostering 7 guards), so Dosunmu will need to outplay Doston to earn said roster spot. Look for the Bulls Summer League team to experiment with Dosunmu as they try to figure out his fit on the roster. Though he was a good playmaker for the Illini, Ayo’s scoring was his calling card, and he has the potential to become a capable NBA scorer. Both Dotson and Dosunmu will need to take advantage of their Summer League minutes to prove to the coaching staff that they deserve playing time during the regular season.

Simi Shittu, PF/C – Shittu is a familiar name to Bulls fans who watched the preseason last year, as he looked like he could make the final 15-man roster. Shittu didn’t end up on Chicago’s roster and instead played for the G League’s Westchester Knicks, where he averaged 14.5 points and 10 rebounds per game. Shittu’s more of a traditional big man, offering rim protection and inside scoring. The Bulls lack big man depth, as well as quality rim protection, so if Shittu can show improvement from last season, he has an outside shot at making the final roster. At the very least, he can earn a 2-way contract, either with the Bulls or elsewhere.

What to Watch For

One important thing to remember when watching Summer League games is to not overreact. Players like Serge Ibaka, Danny Green, and Nicolas Batum all struggled in Summer League but wound up being quality players. On the other hand, Denzel Valentine looked like a future star en route to a Bulls Summer League championship win in 2016. Anyone who watched the Bulls last season knows how that turned out.

So, what should we look for in Summer League games? The answer’s simple: Flashes. For players who are basically roster locks, like Patrick Williams and Marko Simonovic, we should look for signs of improvement from last season. For the fringe roster players, fans and coaches will be looking for what these players could contribute to the 15-man roster.

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Wow, the first couple days of free agency have been crazy. The Bulls have greatly upgraded their roster. Let’s take a deeper look into the Lonzo Ball signing, and what it means for Chicago.

The Contract

Lonzo Ball received a 4-year, $85 million dollar deal from the Bulls within the first minute of free agency. As Lonzo was a restricted free agent, the Bulls and Pelicans agreed on a sign-and-trade deal.

The Bulls sent Tomas Satoransky, Garrett Temple, and a future second round pick to the Pelicans for Lonzo. This is a great deal for the Bulls. It brings them their point guard solution, without exactly giving up any important assets or assets the Bulls planned on keeping.

The contract that Lonzo received is a big contract for a player like him. Some have believed for it to be an overpay, but that’s just not the case. Lonzo Ball has improved in every single year that he has been in the league, and if he keeps it up this will look like a great deal for the Bulls.

What Does Lonzo Bring to the Team?

Lonzo Ball is a young point guard(23), who still has a ton of potential. Last year he averaged 14.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg, and 5.7 apg. Lonzo Ball has greatly improved on his shooting stats every year that he has been in the league. Last year he shot 41.4%, 37.8% from three, and 78.1% from the free throw line. If we look at his shooting stats from his rookie year (36%, 30.5%, and 45.1%), we can see just how much he has improved on his shot. Lonzo is going to bring the playmaking as well as some shooting to this team.

Let’s take a further look into the backcourt of Lonzo Ball, and Zach LaVine.

As us Bulls fans know, Zach LaVine needs the ball in his hands and does not play off ball that much. LaVine is a very flashy scorer, with the ability to drive and hit threes at a great percentage. What Zach LaVine does not currently possess is a great defensive game, as well as great playmaking.

You know who happens to be a great defender and playmaker? Lonzo Ball.

Lonzo Ball also has the ability to play off the ball when it’s in LaVine’s hand. Their games just compliment each other so nicely.

Overview

The Bulls acquired Lonzo Ball via a sign-and-trade with the Pelicans. His contract, which may seem a little expensive, is perfect if he continues to progress the way he has. If he ends up not performing well in Chicago, we may very well look at his contract as an overpay but it seems unlikely.

At the time of this article being written, the Bulls have a projected starting lineup of: Lonzo Ball, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Patrick Williams, and Nikola Vucevic. With an elite playmaker like Ball, this may positively benefit everyone else in this lineup and the whole team. Zach LaVine has not played with a playmaker like Ball, so imagine the benefits that it would bring him. Lonzo would likely be guarding the opposing team’s best guard so LaVine wouldn’t have to, and he could use a lot more of his energy on the offensive end while still providing solid defense.

Lonzo Ball will not be the savior of the Chicago Bulls, but he will definitely elevate this team to the next level.

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