New starting Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball anticipates that he will operate more as a “traditional” point guard within Chicago’s offense, writes Rob Schaefer of NBC Sports Chicago. Ball suggested that with his prior team, the Pelicans, he served more as a wing who sought openings for jump shots and defended across a variety of positions than a true point guard.
“Just getting back to being more of a traditional point guard where I’m comfortable at,” Ball said during the Bulls’ Media Day. “Last year was different for me, but whatever coach asks me, I’m going to do to the best of my abilities. This year, it’s looking like I’m going to be playing point guard a lot, so that’s what I’m trying to do.”
Bulls team president Arturas Karnisovas spoke about hoping that Ball, 6’6″ and athletic could help speed up and diversify the Bulls’ offense. “He likes to play fast,” Karnisovas said. “He likes to advance the ball, to guard. He can be a primary ballhandler, or he can play as a secondary ballhandler.”
There’s more out of the Windy City:
- Karnisovas opined that Chicago’s 2021 trade deadline moves, primarily the addition of All-Star center Nikola Vucevic, signaled that the team was serious about improving the talent around All-Star shooting guard Zach LaVine, per K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago (Twitter link). Karnisovas also noted that Chicago’s newfound commitment to creating a winning culture helped draw some of the team’s top free agent targets.
- The Bulls’ NBA G League affiliate, the Windy City Bulls, have promoted Henry Domercant, an assistant coach on the club since 2018, to become the team’s fourth head coach, per a team press release. Domercant hails from Naperville, Illinois, a suburb about 30 miles away from Chicago — and roughly 30 miles away from the Windy City Bulls’ home arena in Hoffman Estates. “As a lifelong Chicagoland guy, the Chicago Bulls franchise has always been special to me and I’m grateful to the organization for the opportunity to lead the Windy City Bulls,” Domercant said. “Over the last five years, the Windy City Bulls have brought a high level of basketball to the Northwest Suburbs, and I am excited to build upon that success.”
- New Bulls reserve center Tony Bradley appears to be fully aware of his role heading into his first year in Chicago, writes K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. “I feel like I play to the best of my ability on defense, the pick-and-roll defense, to protect the rim,” Bradley, 23, said after the team’s first training camp session of the new NBA year. “I know I’m no high-flyer. But I do know how to get shots before they leave the hand instead of all the way up top. So I think I’m pretty good at it, pretty solid.”
Bulls have a nice starting 5.
Depth might be a problem.
They seem fairly deep on paper, with the exception of the traditional PF
This is exactly my primary concern. Lauri Markkanen would have actually fit in extremely well, instead it looks like they’ll either try to have Derrick Jones Jr. or Stanley Johnson, two natural 3’s or rookie Marko Simonovic all try to backup Patrick Williams, who honestly might be best suited as a 3 hisself..
With Ball, LaVine, Derozan, Williams, and Vucevic starting, I’d guess their primary depth would come from Colby White, Caruso, Troy Brown, Jones Jr./S.Johnson/Simonovic, and Bradley with Javonte Green, Alize Johnson, Tyler Cook, and Ayo a quality 2nd round combo guard on their bench as well..
It’ll definitely be interesting to see how they’re able to fill out their bench, and which guys fill certain roles. I, for one, just don’t think they have enough depth at the four, nor any quality sized wings that they can rely on to score when the starters are out.
Markkanen would have been perfect as a second unit scorer, and he and Colby White could have lead the bench squad offensively. As it stands now, it’s basically Colby White, Caruso, a rookie or two, a defensive minded Center, and a bunch of fairly good defensive minded, athletic 2s and 3s..
Also, just as a whole, if they face a team with some good size like the Bucks, I can easily see them having alot of trouble guarding the paint..
Markkanen was on the team for 4 years and it didn’t work. That ship sailed. Stop dreaming. You called Coby White “Colby” 3 times too. The Braves are pretty good man, maybe stick to them.
Size matters to a degree..as far as length and shot blocking. That’s what they are missing. Hard to fix all the holes in the roster in one offseason and the previous trade for Vucevic. Massive upgrades and definitely a playoff team.
Maybe the Bulls can keep two of the three between Simonovic, Tyler Cook and Daniel Oturu. Two of these three in addition to Vucevic and Tony Bradley. Would help with that lack of size inside.
Either way though, they are still a MAJOR IMPROVEMENT over last year’s squad, and they’ll at least be fun to watch for the first time in a long time!! Plus, for once, I actually trust Karn to make some moves at the deadline, if the Bulls remain in the hunt!!