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Bulls Notes: Rondo, MCW, Mirotic

March 27th, 2017 at 4:51pm CST by ChrisCrouse

Rajon Rondo‘s first season with the Bulls didn’t get off to a great start. The point guard clashed with coach Fred Hoiberg and the team benched him for five games as a result.

“I tried to stay away from milking what was going on. I didn’t want anybody to feel sorry for me,” Rondo said (via K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune). “It didn’t break me down. I didn’t need sympathy calls. People did call and care and send texts. But if you know me, it’s going to be hard to break me.”

Rondo has since re-joined the rotation and he’s been starting over the last eight games. The point guard said he and Hoiberg talk more now than they did earlier in the season. “He’s telling me a lot of positive things. Fred’s a great guy,” Rondo said. “We didn’t talk much when I wasn’t playing. But I was still studying him as a coach. I was watching his moves, when he called timeout, his substitution patterns. I wanted to continue to stay positive and learn a different aspect of the game versus sitting there feeling sorry for myself.”

Here’s more from Chicago:

Rondo’s salary for the 2017/18 campaign, which is worth slightly under $13.4MM, will become guaranteed if he remains on the roster on July 1. Only $3MM of that amount is guaranteed should the Bulls decide to waive him before that date. Rondo isn’t paying attention to the financial situation, but instead, he’s focusing on getting the Bulls to the postseason, as Johnson relays in the same piece. “I can’t worry about next season,” Rondo said. “I just want to do what I can for this team this season, lead the young guys and make a push.”
Michael Carter-Williams, who will be a free agent this offseason, wants to remain with the Bulls, according to Gery Woelfel of the Racine Journal Times (Twitter link). Woelfel adds that MCW hasn’t ruled out returning to the Bucks.
Nikola Mirotic will be a restricted free agent this summer and it’s not out of the question that he re-signs with the Bulls, Johnson writes in a separate piece. Earlier in the month, Mirotic found himself out of the rotation, but he’s played well since earning more minutes.

Central Notes: Bogut, Portis, Carter-Williams

March 5th, 2017 at 8:20pm CST by Austin Kent

The Cavaliers bench is as deep as its been in 47 years of franchise history, Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com writes. The addition of Andrew Bogut, who signed Thursday and is scheduled to play Monday, gives the club an impressively qualified 11th man.

Though Vardon acknowledges that many coaches reduce their rotation to seven or eight players in the postseason, Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue will have every opportunity to keep his at nine or ten.

“You never know what can happen and now you always got those guys on the bench that are ready to play,” Lue said of the new Cavaliers. “They are veteran guys that can step up, been in big positions and are capable of making good plays in the playoffs. So, that’s always a luxury to have.”

There’s more from the Central Division:

He didn’t demote Reggie Jackson to the bench but Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy did tweak the minute distribution at the point guard position, MLive’s Aaron McMann reports. “The only thing we told [Jackson] was, he was going to go in shorter bursts and really pace himself,” Van Gundy said. “Push himself defensively and try and get the pace of the game up on offense. That’s all we talked about.”
Head coach Fred Hoiberg spoke about some of the miscommunication issues he’s had with Bulls players like Bobby Portis and Michael Carter-Williams. Mark Strotman of CSN Chicago reports that Hoiberg sounded frustrated when questioned about the reported incidents.
Released by the Heat mid-season, Derrick Williams has already found himself in a “perfect situation” in Cleveland, Marla Ridenour of the Akron Beacon Journal writes. Williams’ confidence is surging thanks to the support of his Cavaliers teammates. “When you’ve got guys like [LeBron James] telling you to shoot, the confidence just goes through the roof,” Williams said.

Bulls Likely To Waive Guard

February 27th, 2017 at 3:30pm CST by Luke Adams

Early indications are that the Bulls will release one of their guards to address the logjam at the point guard position, reports K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune (Twitter link). As Johnson notes, making a move by March 1 (Wednesday) would allow that player to retain his playoff eligibility for another club.

While it’s not clear yet which player the Bulls will waive, Johnson tweets that Michael Carter-Williams and Isaiah Canaan are candidates. Both players are essentially on expiring contracts — Carter-Williams will be eligible for restricted free agency this summer, while Canaan only has a small partial guarantee ($200K) on his salary for 2017/18.

Rajon Rondo is also on an expiring deal of sorts, as his $13.4MM salary for next season is only guaranteed for $3MM until June 30. However, GM Gar Forman has said Rondo will finish the season with the Bulls. As Johnson notes, Rondo is also a decent fit with the club’s second unit and his contract could be a trade chip around the time of the draft.

The Bulls were already fairly deep at point guard prior to the trade deadline, with Carter-Williams, Canaan, Rondo, and Jerian Grant among their options. Chicago added Cameron Payne to that mix last week in a trade with the Thunder, and given how much the team gave up to land Payne, he’ll likely be given an opportunity to play significant minutes down the stretch.

Bulls Notes: Hoiberg, Rondo, Mirotic, Forman

January 27th, 2017 at 11:10am CST by Arthur Hill

Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg will eventually have to pick a side in the ongoing verbal battle involving Rajon Rondo, Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler, writes Vincent Goodwill of CSNChicago. The team has seen verbal sniping this week, with Wade and Butler questioning the effort some of the players and Rondo responding on social media by saying his former Celtics teammates wouldn’t criticize players in the media. Goodwill states that Hoiberg faces a “defining moment” in trying to diffuse the situation.

There’s more today out of Chicago:

Nikola Mirotic and Michael Carter-Williams have been the main sources of frustration for Wade and Butler, according to K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Tribune. Johnson adds that both addressed the players privately before speaking to the media. “I’m very expressive. I want good for these guys. I try to help these guys,” Wade said. “But there also comes a time [when] I can’t want it for you. It’s not every person on this team. But guys know who they are if they want to be real with themselves, if they’re doing enough.”
GM Gar Forman is expected to make a statement to the media at this afternoon’s shootaround, Johnson tweets. Rondo will also reportedly answer questions (Twitter link).
Waiving Rondo would be the easy way out for the Bulls, says Bobby Marks of The Vertical on a podcast with Chris Mannix. Marks suggests a team meeting where all the players can discuss their grievances and says Rondo shouldn’t be made a scapegoat for exposing the problems in the Bulls’ locker room. The former Nets executive also criticizes the Bulls’ roster, which he says is poorly formed outside of Butler and Wade.

Central Notes: Rondo, Hoiberg, McRae, Jefferson

January 2nd, 2017 at 2:31pm CST by Luke Adams

A Sunday report indicated that Rajon Rondo would likely seek a trade from the Bulls if he remains on the bench going forward, and it doesn’t appear the team intends to insert him back into the starting lineup. As Vincent Goodwill of CSNChicago.com details, head coach Fred Hoiberg hedged a little during his conversation with reporters today, but it sounds like Michael Carter-Williams and Jerian Grant will handle point guard duties for now, with Rondo on the bench.

Hoiberg gave Rondo credit for handling his demotion with professionalism, and the head coach suggested he’s open to changing his plans depending on how things play out. Still, unless Rondo gets a regular spot in the rotation back within the next few days, it seems as if the Bulls and the veteran point guard may be heading for a separation. Rondo is already a trade candidate, and if Chicago can’t find a taker, there’s a chance he’ll become a release candidate later in the season as well — his salary for 2017/18 is only partially guaranteed for $3MM, and that cap hit could be spread out over multiple seasons.

Here’s more from around the Central division:

The Bulls haven’t yet engaged in buyout talks or trade talks for Rondo, but the former All-Star is unlikely to stay upbeat if he rides the pine for long, says Goodwill in another CSNChicago.com piece. As Goodwill writes, the Rondo situation is just one of many potential problems in Chicago, as the team finds itself at a crossroads.
In the wake of last week’s report that Hoiberg’s seat is getting hotter, Tom Ziller of SBNation.com argues that firing the head coach would be a short-sighted and ill-advised move for the Bulls.
Jordan McRae, one of two Cavaliers players on a non-guaranteed contract, had played sparingly for the team this season and hadn’t scored double-digit points in a game until Saturday, when he got a rare start and went off for 20 points. Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com has the details on McRae’s performance, which the Cavs will have to take into account as they decide whether to keep the 25-year-old on the roster.
Al Jefferson, who signed a three-year deal with the Pacers in July, viewed Indiana as an ideal fit and has been proven right so far, according to Jordan J. Wilson of The Indianapolis Star.

Central Notes: Dellavedova, Irving, Carter-Williams, Pistons

December 25th, 2016 at 8:45pm CST by Arthur Hill

Warriors coach Steve Kerr believes the loss of backup guard Matthew Dellavedova has been the biggest change in the defending champion Cavaliers, relays Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. Dellavedova was involved in a sign-and-trade deal with the Bucks this summer after agreeing to a four-year, $38MM contract with Milwaukee. Cleveland has yet to find a dependable reserve point guard to play behind Kyrie Irving. “Dellavedova’s absence jumps out,” Kerr said. “I think he’s been a big part of their team in the last couple years, so it’s a different look.”

There’s more from the Central Division:

Irving says he is “naturally an Alpha,” but is willing to continue the current arrangement with LeBron James for as long as possible, according to ESPN’s Dave McMenamin. The pairing has worked out well for the sixth-year point guard as he and James joined Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen as the only players to win an NBA title and Olympic gold medals in the same year. “I just got to be great in the space I’m in for as long as I’m in it until there’s a change,” Irving said. “We all understand that as basketball fans, we want to see LeBron play for 10 more years and I would love to see that. I would love to play with Bron for 10 more years.”
After missing nearly two full months with left knee and left wrist problems, Bulls guard Michael Carter-Williams is expected to return Monday, writes Nick Friedell of ESPN. Carter-Williams has only played in three games since being acquired from the Bucks in a preseason trade. He was projected to miss four to six weeks after hurting the wrist October 31st, but had to have a cast put on it to help with healing.
Tobias Harris and Marcus Morris may alternate starts for the Pistons depending on the opponent, writes Keith Langlois of NBA.com. Coach Stan Van Gundy has designated Jon Leuer as one starter at forward because of his defensive capabilities. Van Gundy apparently plans to use Morris as a starter when he needs better defense and Harris when he needs more offense. The coach had a talk with Harris after telling him he was coming off the bench just before shootaround Friday. “Tobias is a good man,” Van Gundy said. “He’s only 24; he seems older. He’s a mature man you can have honest conversations with and he’ll evaluate what you’re saying. There’s not a lot of excuses or anything. If you say something, he’s the kind of guy who’s going to think about it. May not always agree with you, but going to think about it and look in the mirror and try to get better. I appreciate that and I thought his character showed in his play.”

Bulls Executive John Paxson Discusses Roster

December 25th, 2016 at 12:59pm CST by Arthur Hill

Bulls vice president of basketball operations John Paxson says “athleticism” is the team’s most important roster issue, relays the Chicago Tribune. In a radio interview this morning on WSCR-AM 670, Paxson praised coach Fred Hoiberg and offseason addition Dwyane Wade, while asking for more out of Doug McDermott and Nikola Mirotic. Here are a few highlights:

On the need for more athletic players to keep up with the rest of the league:

“We’ve got some vets who know how to play and can score. But when you look around the league and the way the game is now, that’s an area we have to address. That is a part of the plan. We’ll try to do that obviously through the draft and free agency if we can. You always have the trade option. Right now, our roster is what it is.”

On Michael Carter-Williams, who has been sidelined by injuries since October 31st:

“You kind of forget that he’s even on the roster because we traded for him so late in camp and then three games in, he took a fall and hurt himself. The coaching staff was just getting acclimated to him and he was doing very well for us. We’re excited to get him back. I think he will help our depth and our rotation as well.”

On Mirotic, who is headed toward free agency but seems to have regressed during his third season, shooting just 38% from the field:

“Niko has a tendency to get down on himself to be honest with you. Sometimes as player, you have to say to yourself, ‘Enough is enough. I’m going to go out and compete and work on my game.’ A lot of this is on the individual. Niko is a great guy. He has the ability to get better.”

On the surprise addition of Wade, who left Miami to sign with the Bulls this summer:

“It’s rare when a guy like that becomes available. Dwyane was one of those players you would think would’ve been with Miami his entire career just the way it had gone. He had been through good times, He had been through rebuilding. He’s professional with his approach and his attitude. He knows how to prepare himself. At this stage of his career, he knows what he can and can’t do. We’re trying to watch him carefully to make sure he doesn’t break down. But he takes very good care of himself. He’s right around that 30-minute mark a game for us, which is what he had intended for him hoping to keep him fresh. I think he has taken some of the pressure off of Jimmy [Butler] just in terms of having to speak all the time and be the voice. They’ve formed a very nice bond together.”

On the roster overhaul that began with the trade of Derrick Rose to the Knicks:

“We rode out Derrick’s injury for a long time. We had our team built at that point. Derrick’s injury obviously was a huge blow to us. He never really got back to where he was for us. We had just paid him. We tried to plug holes. But in the meantime, you’re drafting kind of middle of the pack all the time. You’re good enough to make the playoffs but you’re picking anywhere between 14, 15 and 22. It’s difficult to get impact players unless you’re lucky like we were with Jimmy years ago. There aren’t any excuses from us. We can point back to we thought we had it going but Derrick blows out his knee and all of a sudden, that changed our fortune a little bit. Had he not gotten hurt, who knows what would’ve happened. But that’s not our reality. We have to continue to try to find a way to put better players and a better team out there on the floor. That’s what we’re trying to do. At some point this year, we may have to give our young guys opportunities that they may need to see if they can develop into players.”

Central Notes: Mirotic, Carter-Williams, Pistons

December 17th, 2016 at 10:55am CST by Austin Kent

Nikola Mirotic‘s standing with the Bulls has been called to question after consecutive DNP-CDs suggest he could be falling out of the rotation. Mirotic failed to get off the bench on Thursday, then missed the team’s Friday walk-through, leaving head coach Fred Hoiberg little choice but to sit him for that game as well. Though Mirotic claims he simply forgot about the walk-through, he’s still subject to a fine, says K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune. The 25-year-old admitted to being surprised about Thursday’s lack of playing time, but insists his absence from practice was unrelated.

“No, I’m not that kind of guy. Even if things are not like how I would like them to be, I’m very professional,” the Bulls big man told ESPN’s Nick Friedell. “It’s not my first year here. Those guys respect me and I respect them. I would never do that, something like that.”

In 22.4 minutes per game this season, Mirotic has logged 8.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game. That offensive output and his corresponding .381 field-goal percentage mark the lowest figures of his career.

There’s more from the Central Division.

Michael Carter-Williams had his cast removed Friday and the backup Bulls point guard believes that he’ll be able to play by the end of next week, reports Friedell. A return to the court on Christmas Day, therefore, is realistic.
The Pistons have the assets to make a major trade, a testament to the work that head coach Stan Van Gundy and general manager Jeff Bower have done over the years, writes Keith Langlois for the team’s official website. The team has been aggressive in the trade market in recent memory, too, having acquired Reggie Jackson and Tobias Harris mid-season in 2015 and 2016, respectively.
Pistons sophomore Stanley Johnson appears to be working his way back into the rotation, says Rod Beard of The Detroit News. In three contests this week, Johnson has played 26, 14 and 16 minutes. Prior to that span, the last time he had seen more than 10 minutes in a game was on November 23.

Central Notes: Liggins, MCW, Bucks, Stuckey

December 12th, 2016 at 9:47pm CST by Austin Kent

Cavaliers shooting guard DeAndre Liggins has long been heralded as a scrappy, defensive stopper, but a recent stint in Cleveland’s rotation has pushed the 28-year-old journeyman into the spotlight. After winning the D-League Defensive Player of the Year award last season, Liggins has thrived with the defending champions, especially now that he’s seeing more time with the first unit.

“The biggest difference now,” Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue tells ESPN’s Dave McMenamin, “[Is that] he’s playing with the starters and now he doesn’t have to handle the ball as much. He doesn’t have to make plays. So now he can just do what he does, and that’s defend, maul people on defense.”

The wing, who models his game after fellow Chicago native Tony Allen played over 20 minutes three times last week while filling in for the injured J.R. Smith. Smith returned to the Cavaliers’ starting lineup on Saturday night, but it appears likely that Liggins will continue to see more action than he had been seeing prior to the opportunity.

You can read more of McMenamin’s in-depth discussion with Liggins – one that touches on his personal history and the domestic assault charges that nearly derailed his career – at ESPN. Here’s more from around the Central:

Fred Hoiberg is uncertain when the Bulls will be able to welcome reserve point guard Michael Carter-Williams back to the lineup, says ESPN’s Nick Friedell. Asked if a return by the end of the month was possible, Hoiberg suggested that the team will have a better idea when the guard removes his soft cast. Out since October 31, Carter-Williams only switched into his soft cast last week.
If the Bucks have decided to locate their recently announced D-League affiliate in nearby Racine, Wisconsin, official word hasn’t yet trickled over to the mayor of the city. As Patrick Leary reports for The Journal Times, the franchise has not made it clear whether or not it will occupy the forthcoming $46MM Racine Event Center and the delay has impacted the publication of a facility financing package. For a while now, the Bucks have been in the process of choosing a location for an affiliate, but the timetable been pushed back on multiple occasions. Other possible Wisconsin locations include Oshkosh and Sheboygan.
Bucks veteran Jason Terry has impressed coaches and opponents around the league, says Chase Hughes of CSN. At 39 years and 85 days old, Terry is the third oldest player in the NBA. Recently Wizards head coach Scott Brooks cited the guard’s willingness to prepare every day and to maintain his body as the keys to his longevity.
The Pacers have several options at the two down the stretch, but recently head coach Nate McMillan has shown a proclivity to role with 10-year veteran Rodney Stuckey instead of starter Monta Ellis. As Nate Taylor writes at the Indy Star, McMillan has played Stuckey with the rest of the starting unit in the final minutes of each of Indiana’s past three games. Taylor reports that it’s Stuckey’s ability to contribute on both ends of the floor that has earned him the extra playing time.

Central Notes: Chalmers, McRae, Robinson, MCW

November 26th, 2016 at 8:41pm CST by Arthur Hill

Signing Mario Chalmers could be an option if the Cavaliers are desperate for a backup point guard in January, writes Joe Vardon of Cleveland.com. Vardon stresses that the team would prefer to trade for someone in December, but if that doesn’t happen, Chalmers could become an attractive option. The 30-year-old is still recovering from an Achilles injury. He has been working out since August, but hasn’t been medically cleared for full basketball activities. Because the Cavs are well over the salary cap, Chalmers would have to accept the league minimum to come to Cleveland.

There’s more from the Central Division:

Jordan McRae‘s increased playing time probably means the Cavaliers are showcasing him for a possible trade, Vardon contends in the same piece. McRae, who joined the team in March, has seen at least 10 minutes per night over the past five games. That has meant reduced playing time for offseason acquisition Mike Dunleavy Jr., although Vardon says it’s possible that coach Tyronn Lue is just resting the 36-year-old.
Injuries have given Glenn Robinson III a chance to play and he’s taking advantage of it, writes Nate Taylor of The Indianapolis Star. The third-year forward has turned in two impressive games as he fills in for Paul George and C.J. Miles. “I didn’t want him to worry about trying to replace Paul’s points,” said Pacers coach Nate McMillan. “You can’t do that. I wanted him to relax and offensively not put any pressure on himself. I did want to see him pick up his pace on the defensive end of the floor and that’s where I really wanted him to focus and work hard.”
A bone chip in his left wrist is the latest health setback for Michael Carter-Williams, according to Nick Friedell of ESPN.com. The Bulls had hoped to get the fourth-year guard back as early as next week from a bone bruise on his knee that has kept him out since October 31st. Carter-Williams, who has played just three games for Chicago since being acquired in an offseason trade, will have the wrist re-evaluated in two weeks.