Bulls head coach Billy Donovan is rumored to be making significant changes to the club’s starting lineup, a source informs Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic. Veteran Tomáš Satoranský could replace second-year point guard Coby White, and veteran forward Thaddeus Young could be moved in to start ahead of third-year center Wendell Carter Jr. as soon as tonight, in time for the team’s game against the Raptors.
Slow starts have impeded the Bulls lately, losers of four of their last five contests. Mayberry notes that Chicago’s traditional starters have been struggling. The team’s starting five of White, Carter, All-Star Zach LaVine, Patrick Williams, and Lauri Markkanen is averaging a lackluster minus-17.6 net rating. K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago details what the changes – should they transpire – mean for the Bulls.
There’s more out of the Central Division:
- The 14-23 Cavaliers have not had been able to field a fully healthy roster for most of the season, but with Kevin Love and Larry Nance Jr. back in the lineup, the team has some rotation decisions to make, Chris Fedor of Cleveland.com writes. “I don’t know the last time we had a full, available roster,” Cleveland head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “Been frustrating for us as coaches because it’s been different positions as we’ve moved through it.” Before they returned Friday, Love had been unavailable for 33 games, while Nance had missed the preceding 12.
- Athletic Pistons swingman Hamidou Diallo, arriving fresh from the Thunder after a deal yesterday, will serve as an exciting addition to Detroit, thanks in large part to his exceptional defensive upside, writes Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press.
- Pistons general manager Troy Weaver may not be done reshaping Detroit’s roster, according to Rod Beard of the Detroit News. After adding Diallo this weekend and waiving Blake Griffin earlier this month, it’s become clear that Weaver is prioritizing a younger, more athletic future.
Third best team in Pacific Division
Clipper 25-14
Central division
Bucks 24-14
Pacers 17-20
Bulls 16-20
Cavs and Pistons want Cade
Pretty sure almost every team that’s picking in the top 10 will want Cade. OKC, Detroit, Cavs, Minnesota, Houston, Orlando, Washington. Cade is the best or 2nd best player on all 7 of those teams.
“Mayberry notes that Chicago’s traditional starters have been struggling.”
Andy, Barney, Floyd and Goober don’t even follow Chicago’s NBA basketball team….
I don’t find young, long, athletic guys any exciting at all!
Athleticism is just a very overrated skill… you see I will take talent over athleticism any day of the week & twice on Sundays!
Just look at Luka or Jokic they are the best players in the league without an ounce of athleticism in their bodies!
Guys who need to rely on it is ’cause they have no talent whatsoever, right?
i agree Don… i just still trying to figure out what sillyman is trying to say… lolol…
Without an ounce of athleticism in their bodies? That is so wrong.
Maybe a pound or two!
About time for Thaddeus starting and Coby not.
About time the coach looked at on-offs, if that’s the case… the starters of Lavine, White, Williams, Markkanon & Carter ALL have ninus on-offs, some significantly so… combined: Minus 53!
Meanwhile the second stringers, next 5 in minutes except ever-injured Porter, being Sator, Young, Temple, Valentine & Gafford, are a plus 45 in on-off! Arci beats Porter by 20, and Kornet beats Gafford by 15, though by now we are including garbage-time in the stats.
Not much of most games are affected by the disinterest of garbage-time considering how many players loaf or defer anyway, but the point is, Donovan hasn’t been putting his best foot forward.
Donovan is doing a good job. Donovan stepped up and changed the starting lineup. This season is a transition season anyway for AK, Eversley and Donovan. They were stuck for this season with a full roster of contracts left behind by GarPax. AK, Eversley and Donovan deserve a few seasons before their work can be judged.