In the midst of giving up 150 points to the Timberwolves on Sunday, Bulls players had several angry exchanges in the locker room during halftime, according to Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. A coach had to come into the room to settle things down, Cowley adds.
Sources told Cowley that the tension was the result of persistent defensive breakdowns over the previous five games and much of the anger was directed at Zach LaVine. Cowley notes that LaVine was playing defense at the best level of his career last season before he started developing knee pain. Teammates expected him to return to that level after knee surgery and with his new contract signed, but that hasn’t happened.
“I don’t think you can sit there and point at every defensive breakdown and say ‘Hey, that’s on Zach’ or ‘It’s all DeMar (DeRozan),” coach Billy Donovan said. “No, it’s all of us. We’re all together. And we as coaches play a part in it, too, constantly trying to create the clarity for him as in, ‘This is what we’re doing, and can we do it at a high enough level?'”
LaVine dismissed the incident after Tuesday’s win at Miami, Cowley states in a separate story.
“Something that happens all the time in our locker room,’’ he said. “Multiple guys talking; multiple guys frustrated. That’s what’s supposed to happen; it’s a basketball team. Not the first time, not the last time. It’s just you guys hear it. It’s nothing new to us.’’
There’s more on the Bulls:
- Javonte Green continues to battle right knee soreness, Cowley adds, and is missing his sixth straight game tonight. Donovan said Green is making progress, but he still feels pain in the knee whenever the team tries to increase his activity in rehab.
- Lonzo Ball didn’t offer many specifics when he talked to reporters Tuesday after the condition of his left knee, but he sounded positive about the rehab process, per Rob Schafer of NBC Sports Chicago. Ball, who underwent surgery in September, said he has been able to do some stationary shooting drills. However, he still has pain in the knee, which causes mobility issues. “Last couple weeks, I’m finally seeing some improvement, which is nice to see,” he said. “It’s still not obviously where I want to be. But it’s definitely positive light at the end of the tunnel.”
- Rival executives believe the Bulls should be sellers heading into the trade deadline, but they’re not sure that Chicago’s front office agrees, according to Eric Pincus of Bleacher Report. DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic and Alex Caruso could all be in demand, and some teams may be watching LaVine as well, although his injury history and $215MM extension could make him tough to deal. According to Pincus, the belief among representatives at the Winter Showcase in Las Vegas is that Chicago hasn’t made an effort to trade any of its top players.
LaVine, Vooch and DD should be traded and AC should be kept.
Caruso should be the first player traded, he has value, contract is easily movable, he would help any contender, and he’s constantly missing games and halves for this that or the other, trading the other 3 and not him would be the least smart team building move in NBA history
Really? The least smart team building move in NBA history? In the 2013 off season the Celtics sent Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Jason Terry and DJ White to the Brooklyn Nets for Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries, Marshon Brooks, Kris Joseph, Keith Bogans, first-round picks in 2014, 2016, and 2018, and a 2017 pick swap.
You absolutely right. I’ll get rid of Zach LaVine DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic. I’m keeping Patrick Williams Alex Caruso Derrick Jones Jr. and Ayo Dosunmu.
Lonzo Ball is a player I’ll keep too because with his injuries ain’t nobody going to give you fair value.
I’m also getting rid of Goran Dragic and Coby White.
I’m only keeping Andre Drummond to finish the year out because I need a Center but I’m letting him go in the off season.
Chicago Bulls need to get rid of all them one dimensional and defensive liabilities type players.
Bulls have fallen in love with their island of discarded toys. If Donovan manages to round this roster into a real contender, he would be Coach of the Year without a doubt.
The FO is refusing to see the obvious flaws in the roster and continues to pretend this is a contender. It is merely built from available spare parts.
DeRozan and Lavine on the court together is why they have had so many ‘slow starts’ = easy baskets for almost any opponent. When Donovan says you can’t just blame Lavine, he’s saying his team mates think otherwise. DeRozan at least puts in effort – he knows he is near the end of his career and has few chances left to win a trophy. LaVine still thinks he is a superstar, and the FO reinforced his delusion by giving a max to a one-way player.
A true superstar would stop mouthing platitudes and put in the defensive effort we and his team USA mates know he is capable if, and stop pouting that he is no longer the big fish in a tiny pond.
If they do not make some trades to get more perimeter defense + 3 pt shooting they are not going anywhere.
Someone needs to point out to them that they are currently closer to a top 3 lotto slot than a guaranteed (6 bye) playoff slot, and their current level of play is just good enough to stay right there, worst of both worlds. They are struggling to win the games they manage to win, how can they believe there is light at the end of the tunnel that is not a speeding train?
-AC for James Wiseman
-Dragic and Drummond for Josh Green.
-Do the Russ deal and get 2 first round picks
-Then try shop Zach LaVine and see what the going rate for him is.
Although LaVines new deal doesn’t look good at all he’s still a really solid player that is young enough to turn it around. Still think he’d have a good market for teams looking for a scorer. Maybe Denver give up on Michael Porter Jr, LaVine is someone that can space the floor or cut to the rim and finish at an elite level. His defence sucks tho so that would be interesting.
Then heading into next season you look something like
1. Lonzo. DRose (FA).
2. Gary Trent Jr (FA). Ayo. Jo. Green
3. Porter Jr. Leonard Miller (draft). Terry
4. Pat Will. Ja. Green. Taj Gibson (FA)
5. Wiseman. Nerlens Noel (FA) Simonovic
Build the culture, win some games and continue to build. Lonzo and Gary Trent in the backcourt would be solid. Trent is a great shooter and always gets a bunch of steals he and Lonzo would work terrifically. MPJ can really have a chance to shine as more of the focal point instead of playing off Jokic and Murray. Pat Will at the 4 and 3 and D guy and Wiseman at the 5, young athletic and just needs a fresh start and some minutes.
DRose returns and along with him Taj Gibson for the locker room. Ayo gets to learn from Rose that’s great. Josh Green is a solid young wing too. Miller is a good young forward, gives you points, rebounds, steals he’s a do it all guy. Green as we already know just works for everything. And lastly Noel as a vets min back up centre to provide some rim protection. This could be a decent play in side next season and with the lakers picks to come aswell the future would be bright