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. The Hawks are 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.
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.