Third-year guard Ayo Dosunmu gave the Bulls a much-needed lift during Sunday’s victory over Detroit, according to Kyle Williams of The Chicago Sun-Times. After a sluggish first quarter that saw the Bulls down nine points, Dosunmu helped swing the momentum in their favor in the second period, spearheading a 22-4 run with his energy and defense.
“First thing I told him coming out was, ‘That quarter was because of you,’” forward DeMar DeRozan said. “The energy he brought, getting out in transition, the layups and getting those steals. I let him know that without him, that quarter would not have happened.”
Dosunmu finished with 13 points (on 6-of-7 shooting), three assists and three steals and was a game-high plus-19 in 27 minutes on the court, which was a season high. As Williams writes, Dosunmu also helped limit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham — Detroit’s leading scorer — to just 10 points on 4-of-15 shooting.
“I closed with [Dosunmu] today,” head coach Billy Donovan said. “You could have closed with Torrey [Craig]; you could have closed with Patrick [Williams]. I just elected to go with him because I thought he was playing really well on both ends of the floor. He was playing well defensively, in particular guarding Cunningham.”
Here’s more on the Bulls:
- Alex Caruso, who missed Sunday’s game, is considered day-to-day due to a toe injury he sustained in practice, Williams adds in another story. As K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago tweets, Caruso is doubtful for Monday’s contest vs. Milwaukee, while Bucks star Damian Lillard, who has missed the past two games with calf soreness, is probable.
- Pistons head coach Monty Williams spoke glowingly of Craig prior to Sunday’s matchup, Kyle Williams of The Sun-Times notes. Craig, who signed with Chicago as a free agent in the offseason, played under Monty Williams in Phoenix. “He’s just an everyday guy and has a great attitude,” he said of Craig. “You could coach him; you could talk to him about other stuff outside of basketball. He just became one of my favorite players. You can play him at any wing spot, and you can play a number of defenses with him, whether it’s switching, zone or man coverage.”
- After 10 games, the Bulls sit at 4-6. That prompted Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic to list 10 observations from the early portion of the 2023/24 season. After the team brought back most of the same group, many of the same issues from last season are still present, according to Mayberry, including a sluggish offense and the poor fit of Chicago’s “big three.” Jevon Carter, who signed with his hometown team as a free agent over the summer, has been a bright spot. But the Bulls need to shake things up and trades should be coming at some point, says Mayberry.
- Yossi Gozlan of HoopsHype projects the trade values of DeRozan, Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic, Patrick Williams and Caruso, writing that Caruso might fetch the most in return due to his “elite defense” and “relatively small annual salary.” Caruso is under contract for $19.4MM over the next two seasons.
Fire Billy,bring Budenholzer,you will see different team with the same players
Feel like Demar and Vuc don’t have enough value for the team to trade them, Reinsdorf won’t give up a single ticket sale, Zach and Caruso probably get traded and then Demar will get extended and the Bulls will be the exact same next year
I’ll give it until January 15th or the trade deadline but I will blow this team up to the studs.
DeM DeR >>>> to Knickerbockers ….
DeM DeR
HoopsHype …….
Salary: $28,600,000
Remaining Contract: one year, $28.6 million
Trade Value: Medium
Trade-eligible: Yes
Extension-eligible: Yes
The acquisition of DeMar DeRozan has worked much better than perhaps they expected after making the All-NBA 3rd Team in 2021-22. He is still playing at a higher level than many expected him to at this point in his career and should still hold positive trade value. DeRozan is currently extension-eligible with the Bulls but both sides are reportedly far apart in negotiations. At 34 years old, it might be time for the Bulls to trade him and get something for him, even if they don’t plan on tearing the team down.
>>>>>>>>>>>>> to Knicks
The GM and HC are set on competing and trying to win not interested in a rebuild. That said this team won’t win enough games for these guys to keep their jobs if they don’t do something about it sooner rather than later.
Looking at the roster and their contracts, DeRozan is the obviously person to leave. He’s old, he’s on an expiring deal, he doesn’t exactly fit well with LaVine and he could still get you back something half decent. Alex Caruso same with him. He’s got a great contract and many contenders would love to have him and as your currently constructed you have bigger holes to fill and could do with the assets.
I think you have to plan that Lonzo Ball is still your franchise point guard and for now Coby White is filling that job as best he can. Zach is the SG, then everything after that is up for grabs.
For me personally I’d trade DeRozan and Williams for Bagley, Wiseman and Burks.
Pistons get themselves a solid vet wing in DeMare, they lack wings but have a bunch of forwards. Dwayne Casey and DeMare previously worked in Toronto together and apparently have a great relationship still. He’d be huge for developing guys like Cade, Ivey and Ausar. Plus I think Pat Williams could also do well as a 3 and D forward for them.
Chicago freshens up with 2 new athletic bigs and back up shooter. Bagley is a Chicago kid, with heaps of potential. Think he’s a very good fit with Lonzo, Zach and Vuce. Then there’s Wiseman who has so much upside and you want to develop him into your future starting centre. Then lastly Burks is just good depth another SG that will come in and let it fly.
After that, I think what you need to do next is cash in on Caruso. Looking at teams that want to be winning with terrible defences the Utah Jazz really standout and they have 4 first round picks in 2017, they could easily give away 1 of those for Caruso and instantly be a much better side.
The deal Caruso and Drummond for THT, Sensabough and a first round pick.
Bulls are left needing a SF badly and I’d cut Dalen Terry for TJ Warren. Leaving you to line up
White LaVine Warren Bagley Vuce
Ayo Burks Craig Phillips Wiseman
Knowing also that Lonzo will return and you have grabbed a 2027 first via Utah for the future.
That starting lineup is a defensive nightmare. I agree abt trading demar but not for that pistons package, the team u outlined at the end is worse than their team rn
Delusional. Lonzo will be lucky if he can walk straight again. He ain’t playing NBA basketball ever again.
He’s already able to walk straight ….
Demar to the Spurs. Lavine to the Magic and Carusso to the Pacers.
Pacers could use a defensive minded wing