All the Bulls players who were in the health and safety protocols have now rejoined the team, head coach Billy Donovan said today (Twitter link via K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago). That group consists of Zach LaVine, Ayo Dosunmu, Alize Johnson, Matt Thomas, and Devon Dotson.
LaVine, Dosunmu, Johnson, and Thomas were all placed in the COVID-19 protocols at least 10 days ago. Dotson just entered the protocols on Tuesday, but has since tested out of them, according to Donovan (Twitter link via Johnson). That suggests that perhaps Dotson registered a false positive test earlier in the week.
It’s great news for the Bulls, who were one of the first teams to be affected by a coronavirus outbreak this month and who have had three games postponed. They’ll resume play on Sunday when they host Indiana.
The Bulls currently have three replacement players on 10-day hardship contracts. Alfonzo McKinnie signed his second 10-day deal on Monday and Ersan Ilyasova and Mac McClung inked their respective 10-day pacts on Wednesday.
While those contracts remain active for now, once all the Bulls players coming out of the protocols have been medically cleared to return to action, the team won’t be able to continue carrying those hardship signees, notes ESPN’s Bobby Marks (Twitter link). That means Ilyasova and McClung likely won’t get to play out their full 10-day contracts, and if Chicago wants to keep McKinnie around, the team would have to create room by trading or waiving someone from the 15-man roster.
Wow Bulls could use both McKinnie and Ilyasova, should consider dumping Thomas and Brown.
Brown would be of better use in a trade to help match an incoming salary. Other than Brown, they really only have Derrick Jones Jr. at about 9mil that could be used to acquire another player.
Everyone else on the squad is either a keeper, or their salary is too low to really make any difference..
Agree with you. McKinnie is a great pick up. Better than Alize Johnson and Simonovic. Bulls should sign McKinnie for the remainder of the season. Gives the Bulls more size, runs the court well, very experienced at playing with good players, won’t want the ball.
Troy Brown jumps out at me, Off the top of my head. He could be traded I think and saves 5 million bucks.
He along with Derrick Jones Jr. should be kept around for salary matching purposes around the trade deadline.
Combined they could bring in roughly a 14-16mil dollar player, if the Bulls can find someone that could help them out in that price range.
I certainly wouldn’t mind Bagley for DJJ and Brown plus a future 2nd..Idk if Sac would do it or not, but would be a solid get for the Bulls because they really need another big that can score at the 4
Jones, Brown and a 2nd rd. pick that they can’t trade due to the stupid penalty for signing Lonzo for a bust? Why wouldn’t Sacramento make that deal, it’s ridiculous. I’d rather keep the guys we have. AK and Eversley have done a great job of diamond mining and the Bulls can get anybody they want if the Reinsdorf’s are willing to dip into the Luxury Tax. All depends on how close they can get to a legitimate title run. Lot of season to determine that still. Injuries, Covid, lots of factors. Season not half over yet.
Sentimental how you want to save Reinsdorf 5 mil $. But the Bulls would have to take something back, and protocols are wiping out depth leaguewide.
Protocols… used to be only the state department had to worry about them. Beat learning how to read maps. I digress.
Have always liked Bagley. Don’t think the Bulls should trade DJJ if can be avoided. Bulls are having a great season so far. DJJ has been an important role player.