Chandler Hutchison‘s right shoulder contusion will keep him out through next week, the Bulls announced on their website. The wing suffered the injury in Tuesday’s contest against Golden State and there was fear that he suffered a dislocation or labrum tear.
Here’s more from Chicago:
- While Jim Boylen has clashed with Zach LaVine more than any other Bulls’ player, the coach knows just how much the team needs the shooting guard to stay in the playoff race in the Eastern Conference, Sam Smith of NBA.com writes. LaVine has been Chicago’s best player this season and several other players have taken turns going through rough stretches.
- The Bulls shouldn’t give up on Lauri Markkanen yet, Smith contends in the same piece. While putting him on the table in a trade offer for someone like San Antonio’s LaMarcus Aldridge or Indiana’s Domantas Sabonis may solve a short-term problem, Markkanen has too much talent and untapped upside to sell low on.
- Kris Dunn has been a pleasant surprise for the Bulls this season, Smith adds in the same piece. Dunn was the subject of trade chatter over the summer with the team adding point guard talent, but the former No. 5 overall pick has settled into a productive bench role with the team. Smith argues that Chicago should roll out more three-guard lineups with Dunn in them.
How does LMA help them? Sabonis is taking a lot more shots this year inflating those stats. Markkanen’s % will come around eventually. Only problem comes when you go to pay him.
The idea that the Bulls would consider Aldridge in a trade for Markkanan is just outright crazy
Agree. Remember Bulls had Aldridge yet traded him away for Tyrus T and Viktor K. That move was definition of crazy and nothing has changed…
I hate the phrase “giving up on” when describing a trade candidate. In the situations described, the Bulls would be using him as an asset to get better as a team, not as a salary dump or a change of scenery trade hoping to get lucky. You might be giving them up, but that doesn’t mean you are giving up on them.
Who knows what the Gar/Pac tandem is doing and might do? Reinsdorf needs to get out of the basketball business. They lucked out getting MJ at #2. That luck has long run out.
#3, not #2