The Bulls’ starting lineup seems set but there will be a couple of key position battles in training camp, Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times notes. Justin Holiday and Denzel Valentine will be angling for playing time at small forward behind Jabari Parker, while Cameron Payne could have an unexpectedly tough battle with Ryan Arcidiacono as the main backup at point guard. Cristiano Felicio also needs to carve out a role and earn some of his $8,470,980 salary, Cowley adds. ‘‘The thing I’m excited about with training camp is it’s going to be open competition,’’ coach Fred Hoiberg said.
We have more from the Central Division:
- The Pacers needed to extend coach Nate McMillan to prevent a lame-duck situation next season, J. Michael of the Indianapolis Star explains. McMillan agreed to an extension through the 2020/21 season. It was also necessary for a franchise that preaches culture and loyalty to reward its coach for a job well-done last season, Michael continues. The Pacers overcame the lack of true stretch four as well as a shooter at the backup shooting guard spot. Their wings were also somewhat limited offensively and they were undersized in the backcourt, Michael adds.
- If Jaylen Morris can improve his perimeter shooting, the Bucks will be rewarded for signing him to a two-way contract, according to Dakota Schmidt of RidiculousUpside.com. Morris is adept at attacking the basket and finishing at the rim and is also a solid defender, Schmidt continues. The 22-year-old wing will also benefit from working with assistant Ben Sullivan, who has helped numerous players with their shooting stroke, Schmidt adds.
- The Pistons’ 15-man roster appears to be set after a low-key July that included the free agent signings of three reserves, Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press relays. Ellis breaks down the roster player-by-player in the story.
The Pistons roster should be able to make the playoffs but I expect a whole lot from Ellenson,Johnson, and Kennard. Specially Ellenson who is very skilled for a guy his size, hopefully Casey gives him enough minutes because they need all the floor spacing possible with Blake and Drummond down low.
Some would think tanking the season would be a better idea since their are some intriguing prospects in this coming draft such as Barrett,Langford, and Reddish who the Pistons could draft and mold into a star but this team can compete for the playoffs and shock a lot of us. Drummond has been working on his perimeter game and man he could blossom into a superstar.
If Larry Bird was still in charge, coach McMillan wouldn’t have gotten his extension. Bird said Red Auerbach taught him to only keep coaches 3 years. Bird stepped down because he didn’t want to deal with the Paul George trade. Kevin Pritchard has done great. The Pacers may still be looking for a stretch 4 power forward. I read Demarcus Cousin could be a nice fit with Myles Turner in free agency next year.
Thad Young plays the 4 so will have to make a decision on him after his contract is up this year. I don’t see the fit with Cousins/Turner. What was the evidence in the article? Just think it worked in NO because Davis is such a freak. Pacers would be better off getting a real stretch 4. Mirotic or the Morris brothers would be interesting to look at if they move on from Thad.
Thad Young isn’t a stretch 4. He doesn’t shoot 3’s. Turner played the stretch 4 at the University of Texas. That’s probably where the article was coming from. Both of them (if Cousin’s comes back from achilles injury) are athletic enough to play 4-5. I personally see the Pacers re signing Turner, Collison, maybe Bogdonovich, and extending Sabonis. Kevin Pritchard has already said the Pacers plan to play Sabonis at the 4 for 25-30 minutes a game this season.
Never said he could stretch, just said he plays the 4 for them. That is why they need to make a roster decision on him after this year.He is more than likely gone.
Pritchard sounds like he wants to see if Sabonis can play the 4. If he can, that solves the 4 situation. The Pacers had Sabonis shooting 3’s this summer, and Turner working out to get stronger and work on rebounding. He has. Pritchard says he wants at least 1 player who can shoot 3’s at all positions. Turner can. Bogdonovich, Collison, Holiday, Evans, Oladipo, and McDermott can. I think Young knows if he didn’t opt in on his contract, he would have been gone this year.
I wouldn’t do Mirotic, I would the Morris twins.
Sabonis is well suited at the 4, agree if he get his 3pt% up a touch the Pacers will be set. I see Turner at the 5 exclusively, occasionally taking a 3 ,wouldn’t want him away from the basket too much not worth losing his rebounding and defense. Agree, Morris > Mirotic. Always down with the Morris bros since KU. I like Marcus as a fit better because Markieff is more similar to Sabonis, don’t know if they can pry him away from Celts in FA though.
Resigning Collison is a still question mark finacially, could see them moving in a different direction, especially if Holiday has a great rookie year. Turner is the most likely to be resigned. Bogdanovic should be back at the right price, depends how McBuckets does, he may not be missed if too expensive.
The Pacers will have over $50MM in cap space. I think Collison is better than any free agent point guard available except the top tier point guards. I’ve liked him both times with the Pacers. He did lead the league in 3 pt%. He had several games scoring in the 20’s. I can see them letting Corey Joeseph go. I see them keeping Tyreke Evans depending on how he does this season. It’ll be interesting. They have a lot of guys to sign and a lot of money to do it with. Pritchard has done well.
I think they’ll keep Bogdonovich because he’s their best 3 pt shooter and McDermott can’t play defense. That’s why T.J. Leaf isn’t playing. He didn’t look good in summer league playing center.
Well if Red said it & Larry does it, nothing to complain about, sure is right, McMillan got a lucky escape there.
Denzel Valentine is a Shooting Guard. It is insane to me that people, including local media, don’t get this. He’s NOT a Small Forward. He’s 6’5. Maybe in super small lineups he’s a SF but normally that doesn’t make sense and not where he’s played. That’s why they didn’t resign Nwaba, which I do feel was a mistake, but it was because Valentine plays SG and doesn’t really have the ability to shift up. The front office wants to see Valentine more in Year 3 so at the end of 2019-2020 they’ll know who he is and can make a contract call on him.
Point guard is so deep anyway, with many being FA in 2019, that lets not over-value him, he will be 33. Not saying Collison is not worth a look signing, just wouldn’t be surprised either way if they don’t want to give years/$ to him. Just a lot of avenues to look at. All depends on value. Hoping Tyreke does wel,l I would think it will be similar production to last year. seems like a good fit. Bogdonovic has improved as a defender since coming to Indy so I’m optimistic McDermott could do the same but yes can’t defend his lack of defense so far in his career.
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Sabonis couldn’t shoot when he played the 4 for OKC. I know in the past the Pacers have traded for Indianapolis and Indiana guys. Trey Lyle is a stretch 4 for Denver and Mason Plumlee is from Indiana.
I think Collison will come cheap. Like Stephenson, Indiana seems like the only place he can play.
Detroit has good depth but at least two perimeter positions are unsettled.