The frustration for the Bulls and new head coach Billy Donovan is mounting over their penchant for blowing big leads. Chicago squandered a 10-point cushion in the final two minutes of regulation and lost in overtime on Friday to the Thunder, prompting Donovan to make some pointed comments about his team’s psyche.
“This is a hard-working group. It’s a good group of guys. They want to win,” the Bulls’ coach said, per Royce Young of ESPN. “They don’t know how to. They are learning how to.
The Bulls have committed a league-worst 18.3 turnovers per game and Donovan believes that’s the crux of their problem. “We’ve gotten destroyed in the turnover battle the whole entire year,” he said.
We have more from the Central Division:
- New Pistons GM Troy Weaver engineered a number of draft-night trades and wound up with four rookies on the roster. He’s thrilled with all of them, even though lottery pick Killian Hayes struggled as a starter before suffering a hip injury, Keith Langlois of Pistons.com writes. Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart have jumped into the rotation and second-rounder Saben Lee is getting some spot time with Hayes sidelined. “We can debate the player all day long, but we’re not going to debate the person,” Weaver said. “These are high-character guys who work and are selfless. Extremely excited about them.”
- Jarrett Allen appears to be the Cavaliers’ main man in the middle after they acquired the restricted free agent from the Nets this week, but they shouldn’t be so quick to give away Andre Drummond, Chris Fedor of the Cleveland Plain Dealer opines. Drummond has been highly productive this season, as his 33-point, 23-rebound outing against the Knicks demonstrates. Trading Drummond, an unrestricted free agent after the season, could wind up making the team less competitive.
- The Pacers are replacing Victor Oladipo with Caris LeVert in their impending trade with the Rockets. While those guards have similar stats, their skill sets vary greatly. J. Michael of the Indianapolis Star provides a breakdown of their strengths and weaknesses.
“Trading Drummond could make the team less competitive”. Don’t they want to be less competitive?
If Cleveland gets a good pick in the draft next year they might actually be halfway good. No point in going for it this year with a guy like Drummond.
100% get rid of Drummond and look to hopefully get a top 5 pick.
@Curtisrowe I was about to post the exact same quote. What are the Cavs competing for?
Remember the chances of landing a top by tanking have been reduced this year. So the Cavs will be far better served trying to win and still slightly missing the playoffs rather than straight out tank.
They traded for Allen because they couldn’t swing an extension with Drummond since they traded for him. Allen is the 5 of the future.
Imo
LeVert for Oladipo trade is complete
Rockets can trade Oladipo at any time before TD
Oladipo has not reported to Rockets yet
He wants Rockets to send him to Heat
Old rule
Oladipo needs to pass physical test
Old rule
Rockets need to hold Oladipo for two months then he is available for trade
This is what I guess
I don’t know the rules
Cavs are set with Allen and McGee at center. Allen is young like their guards and Okoro. Makes sense to move Love and Drummond at TD. And just load up for this draft. They do this and in two yrs they will be challenging for 8th seed. With a very bright future. They can even sign a young vet in FA. This is the draft to bet on.
Larry Nance IS their best trade piece … Love the hardest