Seventh-year wing Kevin Huerter got off to a poor start after being traded to the Bulls, but he’s been playing much better since the All-Star break, writes Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. Huerter admits he initially struggled to adjust after being traded mid-season for the first time in his career.
“Yeah, I didn’t feel like myself, either,” Huerter said. “The break was big for me; a mental refresh was big for me. I came out of it ready to get going, to turn the page and start things going with this organization. The rest was just playing with confidence, and I’m confident in who I am.”
According to Cowley, Huerter is one of several Bulls who are essentially auditioning for jobs beyond 2024/25. While Huerter will earn a guaranteed $18MM in ’25/26, he’s certainly not a lock to stick with Chicago after posting career lows in most statistical categories this season.
“He’s obviously been a proven player in the league and certainly had moments in Atlanta and Sacramento, where he’s been really, really good,” head coach Billy Donovan said of Huerter. “I think anytime you come to a new team there’s going to be a period of adjustment, but I don’t think he was necessarily shooting the ball as well in Sacramento but for him maybe something new and fresh (was needed), trying to get him to take shots when they’re there.”
Here are a few more notes from Chicago:
- Due to injuries to Nikola Vucevic and Jalen Smith, Zach Collins has started the past two games at center and filled in admirably. On Wednesday, he notched season highs of 22 points, 17 rebounds and seven assists, with the Bulls outscoring the Clippers by six points in his 38 minutes during the five-point loss. “I’ve been in and out of lineups all year, so now I get all the minutes I want,” Collins said, per Kyle Williams of The Chicago Sun-Times. “Our team is not as good without those guys in the lineup, so it’s not just me. We all have to pick it up. There are a lot of points and rebounds left out there on the floor without [Vucevic], so we all have to pick up the slack.”
- In addition to Huerter and Collins, the Bulls also acquired Tre Jones in the trade that sent Zach LaVine to Sacramento and De’Aaron Fox to San Antonio. Collins says his familiarity with Jones has helped both players get acclimated to their new surroundings, according to Williams. “To come over with a guy that I played with for four years now and gotten close to made the whole thing that much more comfortable,” Collins said. “We took the same car to the airport, same flights, the same time for media, for medical, for extra reps after practice, learning, learning plays and everything.”
- Jones, who will be an unrestricted free agent this summer, also had a strong outing Wednesday, notes Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune. The fifth-year point guard recorded 16 points (on 7-of-9 shooting), two rebounds, two assists, one steal and no turnovers and was plus-six in 18 minutes off the bench.
- Smith has cleared the NBA’s concussion protocol, and if today’s workout goes well, he’ll be active tomorrow against Toronto, tweets K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network. Ayo Dosunmu, who has missed the past three games with a shoulder injury, was doing “light individual work” Thursday but his status for Friday is uncertain. Vucevic will be sidelined again Friday as he continues to deal with right calf injury, Johnson adds.
Double sided tank game with major implications for us tomorrow night. Portland and Brooklyn along with Chicago and Toronto. Hoping the result is better than what happened last night. SMH.
It’s even more perplexing when you consider that Donovan obviously had no intention of playing Collins until Vujevic and Smith went down with injuries. I still find it even more perplexing how anyone in that organization keeps their jobs when you see how it has been totally mismanaged. It just goes to show that they wouldn’t even have known what they had even though it was on their team, And they didn’t even notice. The first thing I thought of when the deal was made was the Bulls got a PF and a Wing that shoots 3’s. I guess the Bulls just saw 3 guys who’s salaries matched up. What were they going to do? Let them rot on the bench for 2 years. Unreal.
Mike,
That’s LITERALLY our problem. We either draft guys and play them out of position and they do not fit the “system” and then flourish elsewhere. It’s happened since GarPax. Does Tyson Chandler/JR Smith ring a bell? Both were “mid” until they left for greener pastures ended up havung difference making careers elsewhere and won titles. Kyle Korver? I can go and on and about the last 20 years lol. As for your point about Collins, yes he should have been given PT regardless if Vu and Smith were hurt or not. He is still skilled as a big man and looks more polished than when he first came into the league. Also, it helped him being around winning coaches like Pop (Get well soon Pop!). This should not have been a subject or topic when they first acquired him. He gives us a legitimate 7 footer who is skilled and can contribute on offense and won’t have the ego like Vu to hoist up bad shots. If i’m AKME I would keep him because his expiring contract and his age (only 27) will be an attractive bargaining chip for either the summer or next winter. Then again, with this front office running the show…I would assume he gets traded for the 13th man on most NBA rosters, rather than a legitimate future asset.
Raz- I know what the problem is. But the problem with the problem is the people who should fire the people who are the problem think they are doing a good job. Unless you can fire the owner well……………………. You have this.
Raz and Mike , agree with everything completely …
Billy: ah, PF – u mean point forward ? Lol