Coby White, who is battling for the starting point guard spot, has emerged as a vocal leader for the Bulls, according to K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. He previously deferred to more experienced players but now feels comfortable voicing his opinion.
“Being a young guy, you fall into this thing of, ‘I’m young.’ Especially on a team full of guys are older who have won, been in the playoffs a bunch of times. AC [Alex Caruso] has been a champion. You get that mindset of, ‘They have more experience than me. They know more than me. My opinion doesn’t matter,’” he said. “I didn’t know how much guys respected my opinion—and my connection with every guy on the team—until last year. I’m continuing to grow into it. And it feels natural for me at this point.”
We have more on the Bulls:
- Jamal Collier of ESPN hears from sources that the extension talks the front office has had with DeMar DeRozan have been “preliminary.” Bulls head of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas confirmed at the start of training camp that he has spoken to DeRozan’s agent Aaron Goodwin about a new deal for his client. DeRozan will be an unrestricted free agent next summer if he doesn’t sign an extension.
- In the same story, Zach LaVine says his reps aren’t behind the trade rumors that have persisted even after he signed an extension last year. “My camp isn’t putting them out,” LaVine said. “I committed to the Bulls when I signed my five-year deal. So until I’m not, I’m committed to the Bulls. I’ve always brought professionalism and consistent play, and that’s what I’ll continue to do.”
- Patrick Williams started at power forward during the preseason opener, but newcomer Torrey Craig showed what he could bring to the table when he came off the bench, Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic writes. He made aggressive offensive moves to the basket and also relentlessly attacked the glass at both ends. “It’s a lot of different things you can do to impact winning. I always tell people that,” Craig said. “It’s a million things you can do to impact winning, whether it’s getting deflections, offensive rebounding, blocking shots, getting steals, making threes, making the hustle plays, 50-50 plays, being a good teammate on the bench, being a (good) locker room guy. … But I think it goes unnoticed because this league is based off talent and big-number guys.” Craig left Phoenix and signed a two-year contract as a free agent in July.
- Justin Lewis is still trying to settle in after recovering from an ACL tear suffered in August 2022, he told Ben Steele of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. “I still feel like I need some game reps,” Lewis said. “I feel like I’m getting better day by day. Just learning everything. Plays, defensive strategy, offensive strategy. I feel like I’ll keep progressing as the season goes. As I keep playing.” Lewis, who was undrafted in 2022 out of Marquette, signed a two-year, two-way contract in March.
As far as Coby White being a leader, If he has to be the leader then what are LaVine, DDR and Vujevic doing here? They don’t need more leaders, They need better shooters. As far as Williams, Craig and Lewis goes, All that means is now the Bulls have 3 PF’s who aren’t really PF’s. How about they just get 1 who IS a PF? Let’s try that.
Excellent points
Craig is a real PF. PW is also a real PF that you’d prefer to play at SF but he can play there.
The solution is you really should play both at the same time and see how they play. Donovan needs to figure out where he can use the lineup of LaVine, DDR, and Vuc/Drummond with those two. None of this Carsuo at PF garbage.
Use taller lineups with more 3 pt shooting. They got someone who can fit that so use it.
Until the Bulls address the reality that P. Williams is not a PF the team will be weak at the PF position.
Williams at best is a SF that plays off the bench and shouldn’t be counted on as a PF at all unless there is no one else.
Also, White is a Scoring Guard and could be like Lou Williams but he is not a true PG and is best to use off the bench in tight situations where you need the three point shot.
Bulls will be lucky to get into the playoffs with the way this team is built and should have traded everyone of value and started over.
Also, excellent points
To be fair, after the trade for Pat Bev, the team had the best defense in the NBA from the TD to the end of the season. The offense was still weak, but that was more a lack of willingness to reevaluate the system without Lonzo (IE immediately defaulting to using LaVine to run the offense, which he isn’t good at). And even then, their average point differential was a solidly positive +5.3/G for that stretch. The thought is that with Carter, a healthier Caruso, and a bounceback from Dosunmu, they can handle themselves.
I also think they should tear down and rebuild, or at least get a real PF, but they do have reasons for this seemingly illogical decision.
You haven’t watched enough Coby then the last year. His passing abilities have taken a huge leap, his dribbling skills and ball protection was enormously better last year, and his court vision is quite good.
He really can be a PG. I think you’ll be surprised.
I’ll admit when White first got to the Bulls and they said he was a PG and I immediately said No he’s not. He was a clown show with the ball at first. I’ll admit even further that he’s improved immensely but he had a long way to go. But his best value would be as a catch and shoot guard and sometime SF. But with DDR and Lavine here his only path to playing time is PG. The Bulls keep pounding those square pegs into those round holes and keep hoping for results. Insanity is the definition of doing the same crap over and over again and expecting different results.
Three players averaged at least 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists per game while shooting over 45% from the floor, 40% from downtown and 80% from the FT line in games they started last season (minimum 20 starts):
Steph Curry,
Kevin Durant,
… and …
Immanuel Quickley.
DeM DeR >>>>>>> to Knicks ….
Sixers should also be looking at IQ.
DeRozan is not resigning. Fact is why would you want him to. He’s got 3-4 yrs. Bulls need the value they can get for him now. And get younger around Zach. Williams is a 3. Stop the madness …..
Just take Lavine and be happy.
I think, regardless of the Bulls moves this off season, we are seeing more of the same: A middling team that should be better, and more players who will be nursing injuries, and those not meeting their potential, while collecting their checks. They may squeak into the playoffs, but getting blown out in the playoffs only helps the Reinsdorf clan make a few more bucks and justify how they miss run this franchise. Bulls FO should have looked logically at their situation instead of using their hearts ( and the GM covering his tail). Then again, maybe they did but found that no one was going to ‘pay’ them anything they wanted for their lacklucker performing players.