Category: Bulls News

Should Coby White be centerpiece of next Bulls rebuild?

Should the Chicago Bulls have Coby White as the centerpiece of their next rebuild?

Ever since Zach LaVine went down with an injury, the Chicago Bulls have been soaring. They are 5-13 with LaVine in the lineup and 10-6 without him – a run that’s pushed them all the way up to 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings. But now, they have some decisions to make about their future.

When the team was struggling, it seemed pretty clear that they should tear things down and rebuild. A small stint of success shouldn’t change that overall mindset. Unless they re-sign him, DeMar DeRozan should get traded, and the same goes for players like Nikola Vucevic, Alex Caruso, and Andre Drummond, all of whom are veterans.

But then there’s Coby White. The fifth-year point guard has been amazing for the Bulls, leading the way for their recent surge. However, should he be the centerpiece of their impending rebuild?

White was already one of the faces of a rebuilding-era Bulls squad. He and Lauri Markkanen were the centerpieces of a failed, albeit rushed, Bulls rebuild.

That said, the 23-year-old has taken major steps forward this year. He’s averaging 17.7 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 4.8 assists while shooting 44.2% from the field and 39.1% from behind the three-point line.

Unfortunately, it feels as though the Bulls could run into a Dejounte Murray-San Antonio Spurs situation with White. He’ll be good enough to lead the way, but the team won’t be good enough by the time he’s ready to compete.

So, while the Bulls shouldn’t trade him with the wave of moves they’re likely slated to make this year, it seems a bit unreasonable to think they’ll be ready to push for the playoffs within the first few years of their rebuild.

They should have trusted the process and allowed White to keep leading his last rebuild in Chicago, but now, it’s too late. He should be the face of the new one, but only for a brief period of time.

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Bulls’ star DeMar DeRozan unveils strategies to save rest

Chicago Bulls star DeMar DeRozan recently discussed some ways he tries to steal rest in games.

The Chicago Bulls have completely turned their season around. They began 5-14 on the year, but since then, they’ve gone 10-5 since, catapulting them up to 10th place in the Eastern Conference. Chicago went from a sure-fire lottery squad to a team looking to fight for a spot in the Play-In Tournament.

Coby White and DeMar DeRozan have been the biggest contributors in the Bulls’ surge up the standings. However, while they’ve been great, they’ve also been playing a ton of minutes this season. White leads the league in total minutes at 1,190, and DeRozan is fourth at 1,173 this season. Nikola Vucevic is the next-highest on the team in 28th in the NBA at 1,054.

With Zach LaVine out, White and DeRozan have been carrying a heavy burden. DeRozan recently spoke about how he deals with the minutes, describing some ways he’s learned to steal rest throughout the course of games.

“Me just knowing when a TV timeout is coming,” DeRozan said via NBC Sports Chicago. “Me knowing a foul is going to happen at some point. Me understanding if you need to tie your shoe, it’s a lot of little things that go into it. If you’re not in the penalty, you can take a foul. Playing so long, you kind of understand when a stoppage is going to come and take advantage of those moments. When a timeout comes, sit there until that 2 minutes, 30 seconds is up. Just take advantage of the little gaps when you can because you know you want to be out there.”

DeRozan is in the final year of his contract, so the Bulls could look to trade him (if they don’t extend him), but until then, he’ll continue to be one of the most valuable pieces in Chicago’s lineup.

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Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr. tattoo includes interesting Michael Jordan mistake

Real Madrid football star Vinicius Jr. recently got a tattoo that includes Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan, but there’s a small mistake.

During his time with the Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan became a worldwide phenomenon. The shooting guard not only dominated other teams on the basketball court, but his fame extended far beyond the walls of the NBA. Millions of people from all over the world turned into Bulls fans because of Michael Jordan. He’s one of the most well-known names in sports today.

Real Madrid football star Vinicius Jr. recently traveled to Los Angeles to visit famous tattoo artist Ganga. He got a huge back piece depicting a bunch of different famous athletes, including Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Pele, and Muhammad Ali.

However, fans quickly noticed a mistake with the Jordan portion of the tattoo – he is shooting left-handed.

In the tattoo, Jordan is taking a free throw, but he’s taking his left-handed even though he’s a righty.

Some were quick to point out that this could be a nod to the time Jordan shot lefty for a game as a method of showing up the Atlanta Hawks. However, he is more well-known for his eyes-closed free throws than his left shooting.

Regardless, the images of Jordan, Bryant, and others came together beautifully to form an amazing collage of sports greats on Vinicius Jr.’s back, and he should be thrilled with the outcome.

Vinicius Jr. is from Brazil, but he clearly has knowledge of Jordan and the other athletes in his tattoo, proving just how famous the Bulls star became worldwide.

He’s transcended the fame that players get from playing in the NBA, and his global brand will survive forever.

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Bulls assign Zach LaVine to Windy City Bulls for ‘practice’ in rehab process

The Chicago Bulls have assigned Zach LaVine to the Windy City Bulls in what is the next step in his injury rehab process.

Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine has been assigned to the Windy City Bulls, the team’s G League affiliate, per Bulls PR. LaVine’s assignment is listed as “practice” but is likely a part of his return-from-injury plan. The star shooting guard hasn’t appeared in a game for the Bulls since November 28.

At the time LaVine went out with his foot injury, the Bulls were 5-13, but since he’s been out, the Bulls have turned things around. With LaVine sidelined, the Bulls are 10-6. They’ve propelled themselves back into the Play-In Tournament race, currently sitting in 10th place in the Eastern Conference, all without LaVine.

But now, it’s looking like LaVine is inching his way back to the court.

That said, before LaVine went down, he was one of the biggest names in trade rumors, and the Bulls were reportedly focused on finding a trade for him.

LaVine has been linked to teams like the Los Angeles Lakers and Toronto Raptors, the latter of which just recently made a big-time move, sending OG Anunoby to the New York Knicks for RJ Barrett, Immanuel Quickley, and a second-round pick.

With LaVine making his way back into the lineup, the Bulls will have a chance to show off his skills in hopes of getting a deal done before this year’s trade deadline.

Plus, with Chicago turning their season around, there are some serious questions to be had as to whether or not the Bulls are better off without LaVine in the lineup.

But none of that can be answered until LaVine gets back out there.

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Coby White discusses Bulls season turnaround after win over 76ers

After the Chicago Bulls’ win over the Philadelphia 76ers, Coby White discussed their impressive season turnaround.

In the early stages of the season, the Chicago Bulls were one of the biggest stories in the league. Unfortunately, it was because they were one of the most disappointing teams in the NBA, limping out to a 5-14 start to the year. Since then, however, they’ve turned things around in a big way, and they are now 15-19, which is good for 10th place in the Eastern Conference.

On Saturday night, they bounced back from a loss, taking down the Joel Embiid-less Philadelphia 76ers by a score of 105-92. DeMar DeRozan, Coby White, and Andre Drummond (who pulled down 23 rebounds) led the way.

After the contest, White discussed the Bulls’ wild season turnaround.

“The season didn’t start how we wanted it to start,” White said via ESPN. “Everybody’s ready to contribute when the opportunity presents itself.”

With Zach LaVine out, White has been one of the driving forces of Chicago’s massive turnaround. The fifth-year point guard signed an extension with the Bulls this past summer and has been exceeding expectations.

Against the 76ers, White finished the game with 20 points, eight rebounds, and two assists while shooting 7-of-15 from the field and 1-of-5 from behind the three-point line.

Meanwhile, DeRozan put up 24 points, six rebounds, and five assists, and Drummond added 15 points to go along with his 23 boards.

Regardless of Embiid’s absence, this was still a solid victory for the Bulls, as they were able to get back in the win column after a tough loss to the Indiana Pacers. They get to face the 76ers once again on Tuesday.

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Joel Embiid will miss game against Bulls with ankle injury

Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid will miss Saturday night’s game against the Chicago Bulls.

The Chicago Bulls have picked up the pace after their rough 5-14 start to the season, but injuries have hit them hard. Zach LaVine has been out for a while, and Nikola Vucevic is now set to miss some time. They’ve been rolling with Andre Drummond as their starting center.

On Saturday night, they have a matchup against the Philadelphia 76ers, home to one of the best big men in all of basketball. However, he won’t be playing. Joel Embiid is slated to miss the game against Chicago with an ankle issue. It will mark his fourth missed game in a row.

Just because Embiid is out doesn’t mean the game will be a walk in the park, though. Tyrese Maxey has been playing at an All-Star level this season, and Tobias Harris has picked up his game as well.

As for the Bulls, they have a long injury report heading into the game against Philadelphia. LaVine and Vucevic remain out, and Torrey Craig will also miss the contest. Patrick Williams and Jevon Carter are both probable to play.

Chicago will be looking to get back on track on Saturday after losing to the Indiana Pacers on Thursday night. They’ve lost two of their last three games after going 8-3 in their previous 11.

That said, they have successfully climbed their way back into the Play-In Tournament mix. Early in the season, it looked as though they could be headed for a rebuild, and while that still may be in the cards, they now have a chance to compete for something more, should they choose that route.

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Lonzo Ball’s knee pain ‘eliminated,’ will start running in January

The pain in Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball’s knee has been reportedly “eliminated,” and he is set to return to running in January.

According to Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan, the pain in Lonzo Ball’s knee has been completely “eliminated,” and he is slated to return to running at some point in January. Before the season, Ball, who has not appeared in a game since January of 2022, was set to miss the entirety of the season.

Per Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune, who posted Donovan’s comments to Twitter, Ball is still not expected to make a return to action this year. That said, the fact that he’s no longer feeling pain in his knee is a great sign for the future of the Bulls and, more specifically, Ball’s future in the NBA.

When Ball was healthy, the Bulls were one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference, but ever since he went down, they’ve struggled to maintain a spot in the Play-In race.

That said, they’ve found their footing as of late. The emergence of Coby White as one of the better point guards in the league has helped them climb all the way back into the Play-In picture, and after a 5-14 start to the year, that’s a huge improvement.

Add in all the trade rumblings surrounding Zach LaVine (and the rest of the roster), and this year has been quite an intriguing one for the Bulls. And now, Ball’s potential return to running has added yet another storyline to watch.

If Ball can get back out on the court for the Bulls sometime next season, it would be absolutely huge for the organization.

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Andre Drummond makes strong statement after etching name in Bulls history books

After his monster rebounding night, Chicago Bulls big man Andre Drummond made a strong statement.

For the past few weeks, the Chicago Bulls have been one of the more intriguing stories in basketball. Following an ugly start, they’ve managed to turn things around in a big way, surging back into the Play-In Tournament race. And in their most recent win, big man Andre Drummond took center stage.

With Nikola Vucevic out (dealing with a groin strain that could keep him out for over a week), Drummond earned a place in the starting lineup against the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night. He finished the game with an absurd 25 rebounds, which is the most since Ben Wallace had 27 in 2006 and the second-most since 1988.

After the performance, Drummond gave some insight into the mindset he constantly plays with.

“My mentality is that I’m not a backup,” Drummond said via Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic. “I still believe I’m a starter in this league. But the position I’m in now, I take it and play it to the best of my ability.”

When asked about what allows him to dominate the glass, Drummond pointed toward his relentless determination.

“I just want it more,” Drummond said. “I go after each and every one of them. If I can’t get it, I still make the attempt. Sometimes they fall my way and sometimes they don’t. But the more times I go, the more times I’ll get it.”

With Drummond in the starting lineup, the Bulls should get a huge boost in the rebounding department, and based on their showing against the Hawks, it went pretty well.

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Billy Donovan provides injury update on Bulls star Zach LaVine

Head coach Billy Donovan recently provided an injury update on Chicago Bulls star Zach LaVine.

The Chicago Bulls have been rolling lately. After a 5-14 start to the season, they’ve gone 9-4, pushing them back into the Play-In Tournament picture. However, the most interesting part of their success has been the absence of Zach LaVine. Chicago is just 5-13 this season with LaVine, but without him, they are 9-5.

Those two records may not be directly related, but the fact is, the Bulls have played better without LaVine than with him. LaVine has quickly turned into one of the most common names on the trade block, but before a trade occurs, he’ll likely have to get healthy (or at least close to it).

Bulls head coach Billy Donovan recently provided an injury update on LaVine.

“I think there’s going to be a steady increase on what he’s doing,” Donovan said via NBC Sports Chicago. “Everything up to this point that he’s had to go through, he’s done a great job and the medical guys have done a great job. It feels like he’s progressing at the right state.”

That said, despite LaVine’s progress still comes with the next step of a planned out return-to-action process.

“Even if he passes that part of it—and I’m not sure how many days of cutting it will be—it’s going to be more loads and more intensity,” Donovan said. “A lot of it for him right now is going to be structured, where it’s ‘cut here and cut here.’ The next step after that would be to have him start randomly cutting and moving without it being a directional workout.”

The Bulls’ success without LaVine isn’t a coincidence, and as he returns to health, it will be interesting to see how the trade market takes shape.

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Bulls get encouraging timetable for Nikola Vucevic’s return

The Chicago Bulls have been given a timeline for Nikola Vucevic’s return to action.

The Chicago Bulls have received a potential timeframe for when Nikola Vucevic will return to the court. The veteran big man missed his team’s last game against the Atlanta Hawks due to a groin strain. According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Vucevic will be out of action for between 7-10 days as he continues his recovery.

Vucevic has been enjoying a strong season, averaging 16.7 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 3.4 assists per game, shooting 45.2% from the field and 28.1% from 3-point range. He has also been part of the rotation that has won nine of their last 13 games, which has predominantly coincided with the absence of Zach LaVine.

The veteran big man is in the first year of his new three-year contract worth $60 million. He joined the Bulls midway through the 2020-21 season via a trade with the Orlando Magic.

Given his recent performances, there’s no telling whether the Bulls’ front office would look to move on from Vucevic should they choose to enter a rebuild before the February trade deadline.

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