The Chicago Bulls entered last season with expectations much higher than warranted for a team of this caliber. Everything is relative, as their expectations were merely a possible eighth seed and hitting the over on their lowly season win-total. Hindsight really is 20/20 (Jim Boylen you loser). This season, the Chicago Bulls enter year four of the Zach LaVine era and, for the first time, with a real, actual NBA head coach.
This season expectations are tempered, and a little different. To me, it’s not about a winning record or losing record (though winning cures all, never forget), it’s all about identifying who gets to be a part of this team long-term. If the team continues to lose, who’s the scapegoat? Who can I point fingers at and put in the trade machine?! If they make the playoffs, who do I have to thank? Who am I to reward with talks of contract extensions and praise?
In either case, I have, for you, exactly what to watch for this season as either wins or losses become plentiful.
What to Watch For: On Court
Zach LaVine
If you want any faith in consistent production this season, tune in to bi-weekly episodes of the Suite Life of Zach and Coby: The cooky scoring backcourt that plays no defense! There is absolutely some hope for these two. I just don’t know how much. Let’s start with Zach.
What does @ZachLaVine have to do this year to be named an All-Star if the Bulls don’t win games?
— Drew Hanlen (@DrewHanlen) December 17, 2020
Last year, he didn’t even get considered after averaging 25.5PPG, 4.8RPG & 4.2APG while shooting 38% from 3
Asking because I can’t stand the voters who punish players on bad teams
This is an honest question for Bulls Nation from Zach LaVine’s trainer, Drew Hanlen. He posed a similar question last season surrounding the All-Star game and LaVine’s lack of votes. At what point does an individual player’s production get separated from the rest of his team because they’re so bad? I’ve gotta be honest, I’m trying my best to find out what that line is or how it is Zach LaVine can be this productive offensively and still only manage 22 wins (shortened season) in the Eastern Conference. One less game than the Hornets. Really? How much of that can you really blame on injuries and inexperience?
I’m willing to believe in Zach LaVine. It’s too easy to label him as a good-stats-bad-team guy. LaVine is routinely referred to as one of the hardest workers in the league. Every trainer speaks highly of their guys, but LaVine backs up the basketball-all-the-time, gym-rat persona. And because of that, I’ll be thinking about this question every time I watch the Bulls and LaVine. Will his scoring, with help from backcourt running mate Coby White, be enough to make a playoff push?
Coby White
Coby White‘s sophomore season, from what we saw late last season, and in the preseason, is bound to give much-needed offensive help in the scoring department. I really think good things will happen for this team if both Zach and Coby surpass 20 points apiece on a given night. I’ve already declared in my previous article, if that should happen, I will tweet out “The Suite Life of Zach and Coby: Episode X”. Coby White can score, there’s no doubt about that. The progression to watch for is as a playmaker.
Coby is set to be the primary ball-handler/playmaker this season but he hasn’t shown a lot of promise in that department. A little. But not much. The Bulls will likely start two ball-dominant guards to run a lot of isolation and pick and roll with guys that aren’t great playmakers and have subpar “rollers”.
The future of Zach and Coby with the Chicago Bulls isn’t exactly in jeopardy, but if they don’t become at least a net-even on defense, something has to change. These two are a flippin’ turn-style (so is the rest of the team). If they can’t play defense they HAVE to score 20+ each. If they don’t it’s an L on the schedule.
Patrick Williams
Really quick take on the rookie. Patrick Williams (PWilly, Pull-up-Pat, Midrange P), showed a lot of promise in the preseason. He can make a jumper off the catch and shoot and off the dribble. He looks comfortable within the offense and bringing the ball up the floor. And he appears to be disciplined on defense. He has this stone-cold demeanor about him that really ropes me in. I don’t think I’ve seen him smile once. Even when he was drafted. All business all the time. The Chicago Bulls need a guy like that. I like it, Pat. I’m rooting for you.
Wendell Carter Jr. & Lauri Markkanen
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What else is there left to say about these two? It’s nut-up or shut-up time. The first two of the triple sevens (Markkanen, Carter, and White, all drafted as seventh overall picks) have yet to yield a jackpot lottery payout. Must have been penny slots, with injuries being the taxes the state takes from your total winnings.
It is only year three for WCJ and year four for Markkanen. So, justly, Lauri is on the shorter leash. The absolute bare minimum both of them can do is to stay healthy for an entire season. If Markkanen’s injury problems persist he won’t be back this offseason. The Bulls have already declined to offer him an extension beyond this season and he will hit restricted free agency this summer. His three-point percentage has declined each year, he looks more lost offensively than ever and continues to be a sieve on defense. If you’re seven feet tall and have zero paint presence what can you offer?
Wendell Carter Jr. has the same basic problem as Lauri. What exactly is he great, even above-average at? The national basketball media guys are most in-favor of WCJ over some of the other Bulls outcasts.
“He just needs a good coach to put him in a position to succeed”.
“If he would just start to step out and shoot more threes”.
He’s a 6’9″ center that can’t defend the rim and hasn’t shown much offensive ability. The least inspiring of the Triple Sevens. What I’m looking for in WCJ this season is a defined role on offense, a presence on defense, and to not disappear for 15 minutes at a time.
What to Watch For: Off Court
Trade Partners
If Carter Jr. and Markkanen don’t perform up to snuff, especially Markkanen, they could find themselves in trade talks come March. New front-office mates Artūras Karnišovas and Marc Eversley (AKME) haven’t haven’t engaged in much offseason activity. The reasons for that remain a topic of discussion amongst Bulls fans. I will reserve judgement on that until this year’s trade deadline. If it’s early March and there hasn’t been any tangible progress in the development of Lauri Markkanen or WCJ it might be time to move on. They have already made it clear he’s under stricter evaluation having not offered him the rookie extension.
The other obvious trade asset is the expiring contract of Otto Porter Jr. Another player with some terrible injury luck (where do the Bulls find these guys?). Since coming to Chicago in a trade a year and a half ago, OPJ has played in a total of 29 out of 82 possible games. He’s set to collect $28 million this season before becoming an unrestricted free agent. What does Otto Porter have to do before March 25th to convince you he should be a building-block for the Chicago Bulls moving forward? After seeing how much money players worse than him are making this offseason I’m afraid to think of the price he would command. Or would you rather see him traded for either draft capital or players that would then be the selections of AKME? We’ve barely seen him play, just rip the band-aid off and get something in return.
Just gonna leave this here
Push comes to shove for Fertitta – send the Rockets a 1st-round pick – who says no?!
Predictions
- Please don’t get your hopes up, Bulls fans. Once again, I’m afraid, the team will not find themselves in playoff position (even with the play-in game extending that positioning to the ninth and tenth seeds).
- Zach LaVine will ascend another half-level while still not winning games and create even greater discourse between defenders and haters.
- Patrick Williams won’t win Rookie of the Year but he will be the most successful player in the 2020 class a few seasons down the road.
- Lauri Markkanen will be traded for peanuts and Bulls fans will fight about it.
- Chicago Bulls: 27-45
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