Around the Association: Iso Joe Returns, Livingston Retires, Doc Speaks Out on Pro Recruiting, Lakers Hate, More

This slow walk in the NBA news desert has been harsh, but we’re almost to the flourishing lagoon.

With training camp around the corner for practically all NBA teams, we’re getting back into the basketball spirit! And there is no better way to feel like basketball is back than taking a look at what’s going on around the league!

  • After making everyone look silly in the Big-3, Joe Johnson is back in the NBA:
  • At the spry age of 38-years-old, “Iso Joe” will join the Pistons on a reported one-year $2.6 million contract. If we learned anything from his MVP season, it’s that the man can still get buckets. In the Big-3 he led the league in points (175 … the next closest was 134) and assists. Of course, we shouldn’t be surprised that this is the case. During his 17-year career, Johnson made seven All-Star appearances and averaged 16 points per game while shooting 44,1 percent from the field. How about them apples? Or, I guess, basketballs?
  • Anyway, I’m not looking forward to the Bulls having to play Johnson four times. I know we’re dealing with a past-his-prime guy, but I have this weird feeling he’ll just go off one of those games. The Pistons-Bulls matchup will be an interesting one to follow.
  • Sports Illustrated released its list of Top-100 NBA players, with Giannis Antetokounmpo coming in at No. 1. I know, shocking! We can all agree on Giannis, but, to put it lightly, there are some questionable rankings overall. I’m not going to get into it, but feel free to check it out and debate in the comments, or you can just be internally angry.
  • More importantly: Four Bulls made the list! We wrote about that earlier this week, so make sure to check it out. Please let me know if you’re as angry about LaVine being the lowest-ranked member of the Bulls to make the cut.
  • Sports Illustrated also released a list of the biggest snubs, which I would encourage you to check out:
  • I would agree with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Marvin Bagley, but they’re also coming off only their rookie season, and it takes time to earn this kind of respect. I should make a list of players who were snubbed from the snubbed list. Up first: Wendell Carter Jr.
  • Shaun Livingston is retiring:
  • https://www.instagram.com/p/B2W0HYllm6O/?igshid=186i8f7d2v5km

  • It’s been real, Shaun. To come back from the injuries that set your career back was impressive. Enjoy retirement!
  • The Los Angeles Clippers’ Doc Rivers and Miami Heat’s Eric Spoelstra joined ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski for a lovely basketball conversation. The two had a great exchange that perfectly demonstrates where the league’s at right now. Listen below:
  • Rivers is right, NBA organizations are having to hit the recruiting trail these days. It’s especially funny hearing Rivers make the comment after this offseason where the Clippers pulled in Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. Conversations about Los Angeles “recruiting” Leonard were happening all season long, with scouts reportedly at almost every one of his games. Whether it’s the NBA coaches, executives or players, recruiting is surely going on behind closed doors. Yeah, it might just be time to embrace that.
  • I would also be interested in Bradley Beal. I’ll call on the Bulls behalf:
  • Is anyone going to sign Melo or what? He’s already a Chicago Bulls great, so it’s time for someone else to bite the bullet:
  • More of this content, please:
  • https://twitter.com/BleacherReport/status/1172147047685902336?s=20

  •  Dennis Smith Jr. did a good job and all, but Trae Young absolutely killed his impression … other than not actually being able to dunk the ball.
  • Lol, same:
  • Good luck with that, man:
  • written by

    Elias Schuster is the Lead Chicago Bulls writer at Bleacher Nation. He started with BN full-time in 2019 immediately after graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign with a degree in Journalism (yes, he started with the Jim Boylen Era). Since joining, Elias has been the driving force behind Bulls and NBA content for both the site and social accounts. You can follow him on Twitter/X @Schuster_Elias.

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