Fifth-year guard Ayo Dosunmu is one of 11 Bulls who could be a free agent this summer. Dosunmu, who turns 26 years old on Saturday, is earning $7.5MM this season and is eligible for a veteran extension through June 30.
The former second-round pick (38th overall in 2021) is boosting his value in a contract year, averaging 14.5 points, 3.5 assists and 2.7 rebounds on .515/.450/.867 shooting in 32 games (26.2 minutes per contest). Dosunmu tells Kyle Williams of The Chicago Sun-Times he’s well aware of the impending trade deadline, but his preference would be to stay with his hometown team.
“For sure,” Dosunmu said of wanting to remain in Chicago. “They took a chance on me. I definitely know I love it here. But then you know, free agency’s coming up, and the business side of it, you always understand everything that comes with it. But besides that, these are the guys who helped me become a better player, the staff that helped me become a better player. I take one game at a time. But of course, I love Chicago.”
Here are a few more notes from around the Eastern Conference:
- Bulls big man Zach Collins continues to experience discomfort in his sprained right big toe and remains out indefinitely, writes Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune. According to head coach Billy Donovan, Collins’ injury is similar to turf toe, which often results in a lengthy absence. The 28-year-old center will meet with a doctor on Wednesday and the goal is to establish a recovery plan and return timeline at that point, Poe adds.
- Rookie Noah Penda received his first career start in Friday’s loss to Philadelphia amid multiple Magic injuries, per Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel. Known as a strong defender, the French forward is averaging 9.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 2.0 SPG and 1.7 BPG over his last three appearances (29.3 MPG).
- Appearing on 92.9 FM The Game with Chris Thomas (Twitter link), Lauren L. Williams of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said she hasn’t heard any rumblings about head coach Quin Snyder potentially being on the hot seat with the Hawks off to a relatively disappointing start to the season. Atlanta is currently 19-21, the No. 9 seed in the East.
Quin Snyder is probably over-rated.
He had a stacked roster in Utah that may have covered for poor coaching, but the playoffs made it very clear Quin could not win in the post-season.
It is unfortunate Danny Ainge blew up the team that had finished first in the West instead of changing the coach who’d clearly not gotten it done.
I have had a theory for years and it keeps getting proven to be solid.
As far as the media and most fans are concerned,when a team struggles and have a white coach, it’s the players fault.
If the coach is Black, it’s the coach’s fault.
Snyder in Utah and Atlanta bears that out.
Look at how the media campaigned to get Bickerstaff out of Cleveland, but now that they are struggling under Atkinson, Garland and Mobley are underachieving.
Most of y’all are going to deny this, but I have seen it time after time over the years.
Eastern notes….let’s talk about Jaylen Brown and Boston and how the league is sabotaging their season. Brown drove 31 times v Denver, how many trips to the line, 0 or 1 Was it. Fast forward to the Spurs where Bostons at home and had shot 2 free throws for the game until 37 seconds left in the 4th. What team has the worst free throw differential in the league? It gets way worse when playing the good teams too. Meanwhile, look at the treatment those pretenders from tinsel town receive, lols. NBA isn’t manipulated at all. How much is Silver fining JB for telling the truth? JT and JB have never got the love or the whistle lesser players get even though way more aggressive driving to the cup than 90% of the league. Been happening for years while making deep runs. Silver needs to go, hopefully when Bron does.
Ayo has value around the L. He looks like he can start. Not happening in Chicago with Giddey there. He is a PG to me. Would he accept a backup role?? I think he would rather chk the market. Bulks have two guards they haven’t committed to. Both Coby and Ayo have value in trades.
Why can’t he start w Giddey ? V complementary skill sets actually. Ayo doesn’t need the ball all the time but he can guard 1s and shoot off ball. Better fit w Josh than Coby is
He’s who I have been saying Minnesota should be trying to get.
I think he and Ant would be great together.
Coby is perfect for AE and Minny. And probably won’t have to give up a rotation player. He’s the one I go after.
I think Coby would fit well also. I think Ayo is a little more of a PG and a little better defensively.
I also think he will be a little easier to extend salary wise.
Ayo is the most tradable asset on this team. Need to figure out what we’re doing with him. Extend him or get value for him. Stop messing around AK.
Why would you want that. Coby is a better 2 guard. Imo I don’t think Bulls know what to do. Ayo to me is a PG. That’s what he’s played since college. He has improved his shooting. Is not the scorer Coby is. His ceiling is not better than Giddeys. Ayo starting is a downgrade in team talent. They can use Ayo to upgrade the 4 or 5. That’s what I do. Both are FA. Which tells you Bulls weren’t sure about both of them.
Ayo is a 2 not a 1. Neither him or Coby are playmakers. Ayo can defend 1s tho, that’s why he’s a better fit w Giddey, since both Giddey and Coby are minus defenders.
Bulls should not bring Coby back regardless. If they’re able to flip Ayo for a legit big then great, but I never trust AK to make a trade that doesn’t hurt us. So I don’t know why we’d be eager to trade the one dude on the roster who takes defense seriously.
First do you know the offense Bulls run. Its not for a PG. its a team offense that relies on playmakers and ball handlers. Which Coby and AYo are. Billy is copying the Thunder model.
Coby is a scorer. He’s done that most of his life. On Bulls they needed him to run point. So he did. He’s done everything asked of him. And has developed PG skills. Enough to run point in todays offenses.
Yet with another Bulls change. Going for Giddey. He once again was asked to change positions. He is now more a combo guard. His instincts are still to score. His vision and passing have improved immensely. Why I say he’s great for Minny. See I am not confused about Coby. He has improved and us starting guard to me. His issue would be team fit. And that’s the problem in Chicago.
Well idk about the thunder model because no one on this team plays defense except for Ayo . Collins and smith try their best I suppose. But i disagree , neither Ayo nor Coby are guys you want running an offense. Secondary actions , sure , they’re competent ball handlers and passers, but not true 1s the way Giddey is. Coby is the better scorer by far but Ayo is a far superior defender and overall very smart efficient player.
Coby would be good next to Ant I agree w you on that, but why does that mean Ayo can’t start next to Giddey ?
Ayo was thought be a 2 guard cause if his athleticism. Yet in college developed as a PG. Has good vision better than Coby. And plays both ways. I watched him a lot in Illinois. Cause I thought Knicks might take him. He developed into a good PG picking up his ast and running the team like a leader. Then he comes to Bulls. So you think they continue that PG development. No cause they don’t need one since Giddey is there. I am about talent. Not what my team needs. You develop a player for what he is best at. That’s how you get value from him. Wether you play him or trade him. I see Ayo as a solid 2way PG. Thats where I would play him. He has good vision. Thats is a special thing. Ayo can start gor a young team. Or he can backup Giddey for a few yrs. He will get his 24 mins. And he will still be a good trade asset. I’m telling what I think. Not what Bulls do or should do.
link to nbadraft.net
link to nbadraftroom.com
Ok with all that being said , why don’t you think Ayo can start alongside Giddey ?
With their current roster I’ve been dying to see a lineup of
Giddey / Ayo / Matas / Smith / Collins
Add a young big to that and hope for improvement from those first 3 and there’s the start of something
What I think and what I do. Is about me and what I think of their talent and moves. I am not a Billy guy. I never liked him. Not in OKC or Chicago.
I would go with Coby. I think he’s a committed player. And plays well with Giddey. He is a better scorer than Ayo and a better shooter. Even though his shooting is down this year. Coby can score on anyone in NBA. Bulls worst problem is they can’t commit to a core.
I start there. There is Talk Grizz move Ja.They will go to full rebuild and move JJJ. Bulls should be all in on that. Jackson, Buzelis, Coby, Giddey is a good young core.
Bulls have to commit to a core. Before you start figuring out their team. This is a good lottery this draft. They could find another core player. They have cap space. They could also sign one. They just need to commit to a core.
If I were Bulls I would be talking to Suns about Jalen Green. Imo he is ready to break out. All the top talents of that 2021 draft have shown. We are starting to see the real talent of that draft. I like Jalen and think his time is near. Suns would be interested in either Ayo or Coby. Both are better fits with Booker. Bulls can do sign-n-trade.
link to nba.com