Nikola Vucevic sat for the last 19 minutes of the Bulls’ 129-126 win over Charlotte on Friday, which snapped Chicago’s seven-game losing streak. Head coach Billy Donovan said the decision did not reflect his long-term plans for the center position, according to Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune.
Zach Collins wound up playing 20 minutes, contributing 16 points and eight rebounds, while Jalen Smith logged 17 minutes and grabbed 10 rebounds.
“Whatever the case may be — maybe next game it’s not my night,” Collins said. “Maybe it’s Stix (Smith’s) night closing the game, maybe it’s Vooch’s night. We’ve got really good bigs that can finish games. Now we’re at the point where we can play the 4 and the 5. I just think it’s the tribute to the level of bigs we have that we can mess with the lineups like that.”
Here’s more on the Bulls:
- Amid a report that the Timberwolves have inquired on Coby White, the Bulls guard replied that he’d prefer to stay put, according to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network (Twitter links). “I love being here. I love being on this team,” said White, who is in his walk year. “But I understand it’s a business and it’s different going into (unrestricted free agency). They have to do what they think is best for the organization. It’s out of my control.” Johnson notes that while White is definitely on some teams’ radars, there is currently little to no engagement from potential suitors.
- The Bulls have taken some criticisms in the media for not making a trade with the Pelicans on draft night. New Orleans president of basketball operations Joe Dumars surprisingly traded the No. 23 overall pick and an unprotected 2026 first-round pick to the Hawks to move up to No. 13 to draft Maryland big man Derik Queen. However, a high-ranking Bulls official told Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times that the Pelicans never contacted the Bulls about the No. 12 pick, contradicting Dumars’ subsequent statements. In fact, if New Orleans had presented such a trade, Chicago would have done the deal, Cowley says.
- Smith, Isaac Okoro and Tre Jones were under minutes restrictions on Friday after returning from injuries, according to Poe. Okoro had 15 points in 26 minutes while Jones added six points and five assists in 25 minutes.
Let’s see, Who do I believe? The Bulls or Dumars? I go C, None of the above.
Jalen Smith should start at PF
No other player’s been subject to more trade speculation than Vooch—manageable contract, dependable, likable, etc. Collins and who else, plus picks for G?
The reason nobody has pulled the trigger on Vooch is that he’s paid just a little too much for a C who doesn’t protect the tim.
Vooch has been paid $20m/year.
Very productive, relative to other C pay.
His overall defense remains fine.
Yes, he doesn’t protect the basket well.
“ They have taken some criticisms in the media for not making a trade with the Pelicans on draft night.”
So let me get this right. They have taken criticism for not making a trade for that pick. And not for NOT taking the best player in that draft !!!! 😱
Yeah ….. ok
So the
I stopped trying to figure out what Bulls want to do. Cause I don’t think they know what they want to do.
I’m Coby Minny looks like heaven to me. They are a playoff team. And with his addition. I see them as a legit contender for the West.
I’m Bulls I don’t even care about a pick. I would want Dillingham and Beringer.
It’s not that they don’t know what they want to do. It’s that what they want to do is stupid and will never work in todays NBA. It only gets your players beat up and injured. Bulls want to play small ball in a big boys league. Like playing Little Leaguers in a High School League. Good Luck with that. Morons
Billy has gone from Zach and DeM. To Coby and Williams. To Buzelis and Giddey. So we think.
That’s not knowing what you want. Then you give the coach that is the brains of this mess a raise and 5 more yrs. That’s not knowing what you want. Billy has changed the offense twice.