Javonte Green has emerged as the most valuable piece of a three-team trade the Bulls made at the 2021 deadline, writes K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. Chicago also received Daniel Theis and Troy Brown Jr. in the deal with the Celtics and Wizards, but Brown has become indispensable for coach Billy Donovan. He was inserted into the starting lineup after an early-season injury to Patrick Williams and has been able to contribute as both a starter and reserve.
“I know what I’m on the team for and what I bring to the team. I’m going to continue to do that whether that’s coming off the bench or starting,” Green said. “I’m just here to do my job, be here for my teammates. Whatever they need me to do, I’m going to do it regardless if I’m starting or coming off the bench. It’s not like I’m mad about it or anything.”
Green was asked to fill both roles this week as Donovan started Tristan Thompson alongside Nikola Vucevic in Friday’s game against the Bucks, then used Green as a starter again Monday at Philadelphia. Green might have to adjust again if Williams and Alex Caruso return before the end of the season, but he says he’s ready for anything.
“From the beginning, from my first game in the NBA, I knew I could play at this level,” Green said. “I’m just getting a great opportunity, and I’m taking advantage of it.”
There’s more from Chicago:
- Donovan said it’s up to him to get the team back on the right path after a fifth straight loss on Monday, Johnson adds in a separate story. Donovan, who has extensive playoff experience, including coaching in a conference finals, understands that many of his players are unfamiliar with that level. “I think it’s my responsibility for guys like Ayo (Dosunmu) and Coby (White) even Zach (LaVine), some of these guys who haven’t played in places that they want to play in this league, that there are certain things you can’t escape that have to do,” Donovan said. “And you have to confront them.”
- LaVine is still dealing with swelling in his left knee that affects his mobility, but pain is no longer an issue, tweets Rob Schaefer of NBC Sports Chicago. Donovan said LaVine is feeling better now than before he saw a knee specialist last month.
- Even though the Bulls have hit a low point in the season, Thompson remains confident that he made the right choice in coming to Chicago after his buyout with the Pacers (video link from NBC Sports Chicago).
Bulls will get beat in the first round and then make a trade for AD.
You can just see they are to weak in the paint and have no aggression or mongrel in them. Vuce is nice but he ain’t it. Bring AD home to Chicago, let him recover and you’ll be a legitimate contender
How’s having Davis watch games from the press box help the Bulls get tougher in the paint? Stupidest comment I’ve ever read. The Bulls need Davis and his 40 million dollar cap hit the way my butt needs a hemorroid.
Lol
As I said a let him recover and then they will be a contender
if you’re counting on Davis to be your “aggressive mongrel” you’re out of luck.
Yes very funny to poke holes in the guy back the injury prone AD. Y’all have such short memories. He’s got a title, when he was fit he was a top 5 player and the best big man in the league but sure let’s all act like he a washed up boogie cousins
Getting two elite wing defenders will cover up their interior defensive issues. Getting PWill back should help, too. Tough to really criticize the Bulls defense when their 3 best defenders have been out for weeks/months.
They have Lonzo and Caruso it’s not on the wings they get killed. Embiid just dropped 42 on them as a prime example of where they are weak
I think he *meant* without Lonzo and Caruso they have less switching ability, thus interior defense weaknesses become more severe. More plays in the interior when wings can’t stop anyone from penetrating.
When a big player wants to score he does. The league is engineered to make scoring easy. Jokic had 46 on Valanciunas, Hernangomez and Hayes. How big do you need your defense to be?
I’m not sure there’s anything more a big can do in this league than play good positional defense. Most shotblockers have success on the weakside, Rudy gets DPOY consideration each season but he can’t stop his own man.
This is a really good take. Wing defenders can cause way more problems based on the rules. That being said, a simple shot blocker would help the Bulls if the rest are healthy.
Getting back to the OP and maybe the article, The Bulls could use some mongrel inside. JavGreen is maybe too crucial for them. Not sure AD solves that shortage tho.
Green is a ridiculous athlete. link to twitter.com
Betting on an injury prone player to miraculously not be injured when he comes to your team is like betting on the rain to fall up.
Especially with his age and mileage.
“It’s A Young Man’s Game”.
Are you guys talking about Zach? Who has been on the team for 5 years and has spent most of his career here? Are you thick in the head?
No, referring to the AD post above
He gets injured from time to time but he was also the reason the Lakers went from not making the playoffs one season to winning the title the next.
Bulls are solid but if you get AD to return home and return to fitness your getting one of the best big men in the game
He can come back and visit his relatives anytime, as long as he gets on the plane and takes his lame As* back to LA.
That required a break several months mid season. Otherwise he has held up one other year and helped his team to the playoffs.
It’s actually astounding.
Works great on 2k. I take off the injuries.
I only hear people panicking about the Bulls. How about the Warriors? They’ve lost 9 of 11 and 5 in a row but I suspect when Green gets back and Wiseman gets some strength back, They’ll be O’K.. Same with the Bulls when everybody gets back. They’ll be fine. Are they good enough to win the East with everybody? Probably not. But this has been a 1 year quick rebuild that started at last years trade deadline. It’s going pretty well so far. Enjoy the ride, Good and Bad. Let’s let Davis drag down the Lakers. Leave him out there. The Reinsdorf’s aren’t the stupid owner in Houston. They don’t throw 40 million dollars around for grins and giggles.
Bulls are in trouble with the weak interior defense, losing our 3 best defenders really exposed that, Vuc must be replaced with a defensive upgrade in the offseason, and the comment about AD is so dumb, AK is a smart gm, not about to trade for a piece of glass
With Thompson and Williams back the interior will be much improved. Plus don’t sleep on Ball and Caruso who are great at dropping off their men and double teaming other teams bigs. It’ll be fine.
Bulls give up a tough one to Philly last night.
Everyone talks about how tough the East is but neither of those teams scare me. Embiid is so overrated I can’t believe he is in the same convo as Jokic. And who else do they have?
Meanwhile Bulls can’t beat anyone but the league’s chum. Frankly I’d be embarrassed to root for either team. Tough to root for a toot i.e. they both stink like a dirty old diaper with boiled eggs and cabbage inside!
You are a dastardly cad, sir!