Bulls Notes: Ivey, Dillingham, McClung, Guards

The Bulls have positioned themselves as the league’s preeminent second-draft team, Fred Katz writes for The Athletic, referencing recent moves for young players in need of scenery change.

One such player is the newly-acquired Jaden Ivey, who came to Chicago in a trade for Kevin Huerter and a 2026 pick swap. Similar to the Bulls’ move for Josh Giddey last season, Ivey is approaching restricted free agency in the summer and had previously lost clarity in his role with the highly-successful team that drafted him, though in Ivey’s case, that was due in large part to the broken leg that sidelined him for much of last season.

Ivey is not in a position where he’ll be handed control of the Bulls’ offense, Katz writes, especially with the number of guards on the roster, but that doesn’t mean he won’t be in a position to excel.

Katz notes that Ivey has shot the three exceptionally well since the start of last season, and the Bulls, who traded two free agent-to-be point guards at the deadline, will have ample cap space this summer. If Ivey can return to his physical form while continuing to be a high-level shooter, there could be a spot for him next to Josh Giddey in the backcourt.

We have more from the Bulls:

• Another new addition to the Bulls’ backcourt is second-year guard Rob Dillingham. Head coach Billy Donovan has been impressed by Dillingham’s speed and ability to penetrate the defense, but Donovan wants much more from him as a processor of the game. “The decision-making, the shots that he’s taking, are not sustainable. And I told him that,” Donovan said, per The Athletic’s Joel Lorenzi (Twitter link). “His job and responsibility is to generate shots for guys when he gets there… it’s not like I’m giving him free rein. We need him downhill, but he also can’t be jumping off of two feet, getting caught in the air, shooting over guys, trying to throw passes that aren’t there. He’s gotta clean that up, and we’ve gotta help him do it.” Donovan added that he wants Dillingham to keep his level of aggression and that he believes the young guard will find that balance with time.
• Chicago also added three-time Dunk Contest champion Mac McClung to a two-way deal, the latest step towards McClung reaching his dream of carving out a role for himself in the NBA. The 27-year-old guard turned down highly lucrative offers overseas to play in the G League and stay ready for his call-up, Anthony Olivieri writes for ESPN. “This [NBA quest] is where my heart’s at,” McClung said. “… You can’t keep telling me no forever.”
• The Bulls players know that the team they’re on is strangely constructed and not built for longevity, Lorenzi writes, but that just makes the challenge for players like Anfernee Simons more interesting. “This not a normal situation,” Simons said, shaking his head. “Seven new guys, six of them are playing heavy minutes and we have to just learn on the fly like that. It’s just gonna take tons of communication. Experience. Just going through it together with mistakes and everything… Obviously, we want to win. That’s the end goal. Right now is the time that we learn each other and learn from our mistakes and just try to build something from there.” Between Simons’ scoring, Collin Sexton‘s eternal maniac competitiveness, and Jaden Ivey looking to get back on track, the team is loaded with guards who have a reason to play with an edge. The team will likely lose many games, but it won’t be for lack of trying on the part of the players.