Third-year forward Leonard Miller has been a bright spot for the Bulls over the past couple weeks, writes Michael Grange of Sportsnet.ca. The 22-year-old Torontonian rarely received playing time in his two-and-a-half seasons in Minnesota, but he’s getting an opportunity to showcase his abilities with Chicago.
Over his last six games, Miller is averaging 13.2 points and 7.2 rebounds in 29.8 minutes per contest, with a shooting line of .533/.300/.872. The Bulls acquired him in the Ayo Dosunmu trade ahead of last month’s deadline.
“I mean, he’s got a really good motor. He’s good on the glass,” said head coach Billy Donovan. “I think, like any young player who did not really get a chance to play a lot early in his career … he’s got to get better in terms of the game plan and discipline, knowing the league, knowing who he’s guarding, those kinds of things.
“But I think he shoots the ball fairly well. He can put it on the floor some. I think he can be a very, very promising guy for us. I think what he’s done to this point in time, in a short period of time (of) getting the opportunity to play, he’s taking full advantage of it.”
The Bulls hold a $2.4MM team option on Miller for 2026/27. If they decline the option, he would be eligible for restricted free agency this summer.
Here’s more from Chicago:
- Big man Jalen Smith was disappointed in the Bulls’ effort following Wednesday’s loss to Toronto, according to Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. “We had no fight,” Smith said. “This is the third time we’ve played them and we’ve gotten punked. At the end of the day we just got to want it. We’ve got to have that fight and we have to have that grit. I honestly couldn’t tell you [why], it’s basketball so every day isn’t going to be perfect, but we’ve got to figure out what else can we do to impact the game. It’s just a mental game right now for us.”
- With the Cavs visiting on Thursday, Donovan reflected on last summer’s trade that sent Lonzo Ball to Cleveland and Isaac Okoro to Chicago, per Cowley. Donovan has been pleased with Okoro’s play and team-first attitude, but feels empathy for Ball, who is an unrestricted free agent after he was salary-dumped to Utah and subsequently waived by the Jazz. “I loved him as a player and a guy, and he was so cerebral,” Donovan said of Ball, who missed nearly three calendar years with a knee injury. “He was so selfless, that’s really one of the things I admired. To see him have to go through what he went through, to fight to get back, see what he’s going through now, that’s tough for me because it’s almost like what could have been, how good could he have been?“
- Dosunmu said on Tuesday that mid-range shots were “really prohibited” during his time with the Bulls, but Donovan pushed back on that notion, as Cowley writes in another story. Donovan pointed out that DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic all took a good amount of mid-range jumpers while Dosunmu was on the team. “I think you have to play to players’ strengths, so I’m a believer in the first part of the shot clock you certainly want to try and get something downhill to the basket, and generally what happens is when the ball gets into the paint and the ball gets sprayed out that’s when the threes are going to go up,” Donovan said in part. “Most of the time the mid-range stuff is coming off (isolation) situations. It’s late clock, a guy is stuck with the ball, and at that time you’ve got to manufacture and generate shots.”
Midrange shots, rightfully so, have been engineered out of the game for 95% of players. So not sure why Donovan is having issue. Ayo shouldn’t be taking mid-range anyway.
It’s part of the game, and more importantly it’s a part of Ayo’s game. He played a lot with demar derozan before he got traded, so a lot of his mid range shots come from learning from Demar. So imo, I don’t think the mid range shots should go away. It’s just another option on offense and if the game only relies on layups and 3s, then the nba would become too predictable and boring.
I’m happy for Leonard that he’s getting some playing time and making the most of it. I hope all works out well for him. I’m really happy with our trade for Ayo. He is exactly what we need. I see him and Ant as our backcourt of the future. Ayo is crazy fast and those two in the backcourt is a lethal combination.
Ayo will stick around for a while, but he’s kinda an improved version of Pat Beverley, don’t expect wonders and you will be just fine. Hardworking hustle player with a competitive nature. Not going to be a big scorer, will defend well (he owns Trae Young) and get to the hoop occasionally, can hit the corner 3 occasionally. I agree a good complement to Ant, though.
Yeahh Ayo is a great two way player. He plays good defense and he makes winning plays on offense. He deserves to be on a team like the wolves because now he gets the chance to showcase his talent and more importantly..be a part of a team built to win now.
Donovan destroying the Bulls. Let’s extend him.
Again? Already made that mistake.
I know…was being sarcastic.
Me too! In fact if I won the lottery I’d pay him to leave but I’d want some input into the replacement because the idiots who run this team would probably pick somebody worse.
Donovan needs to continue starting Miller over Williams. That’s a no brainer. He said it himself “the kid has a good motor” meaning he’s got more energy and passion for the game unlike bum Williams..Sorry not sorry. As much as I dislike Billy, he has to know that much by now. Miller has earned his money to come back next season. Everyone else not named matas and Giddey can go tbh.
Jalen smith can’t figure out why they been punked by a Raptors squad is part of the problem caused by Donovan. He needs to get fired and sent to D1-AA to restart his coaching career.
The Bulls need players who are physically and mentally tougher. The Bulls get abused by teams like Detroit, Toronto, Portland and Denver. Don’t think Donovan is the problem. No coach can win with the players that are available to play at this time. After this season ends, the Bulls will have a tremendous amount of open cap space for next season’s roster. Buzelis has long way to go to be a really good player.