Jim Boylen Still Doing Work, Stealing Daniel Gafford, Everybody Loves Coby White, and Other Bulls Bullets
Dear COVID-19,
Looking for a new place is stressful.
Looking for a new place in the middle of a global pandemic is even more stressful.
Please go away and never come back.
Sincerely,
Me.
• We all know it’s only a matter of time before Arturas Karnisovas dropkicks Jim Boylen out of the United Center and double-doinks him off the side of the Advocate Center (tbh, he’s probably a better kicker than Cody Parkey). But for now, he’s doing busy work. According to K.C. Johnson, the head coach is still talking with players and his staff as well as watching his fair share of film. Considering we already know players on the team have spoken out against him to new front office management and his assistants are already on the hunt for new jobs … this must be an incredibly awkward work environment. I feel like Boylen is basically a substitute teacher with whom all the students are messing. Every time he tries to run a team zoom call, Zach LaVine is holding a “kick him –>” sign and Wendell Carter Jr. keeps joking that the team can’t hear him.
New Bulls mailbag with questions, and answers, on Jim Boylen’s status, Lauri Markkanen’s future and more: https://t.co/PK01loF8BR
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) May 14, 2020
• Johnson writes in his latest mailbag that if the Bulls do have to play any of the remaining regular-season games upon a league return, he believes it’s “more likely than not” that Boylen coaches them. I don’t necessarily think this is a huge problem; after all, it’s not going to change the outcome. However, this would most definitely add to the … What are we calling it? Weirdness. I can’t imagine an uncomfortable/toxic practice environment would be the best place for Eversley and Karnisovas to evaluate the roster. At the same time, I’m sure everyone is professional enough to suck it up and do their part. Besides, the players might have a re-energized work ethic thanks to (1) all the time off and (2) knowing their new bosses are in the room.
• I’ve written it before and I’ll write it again: Daniel Gafford was a steal. We may have only seen 43 games from the big man thus far, but it’s easy to see he has a skillset any team would be happy to have. His effective field goal percentage was the best on the team (70.1 percent), and he’s currently third in the NBA in blocks per 36 minutes among players who have appeared in 40 or more games. In other words, he’s proving to be an alley-oop machine and solid rim-protector. I can’t wait to see what his first full NBA offseason can do for his game. He’ll have the opportunity to turn his raw, natural talent into a more polished product. I expect basketball IQ, especially with a new player development team, to go up quite a bit, and I think we’ll have a much better understanding of his role at the start of the 2020-21 season. I’m a big fan of the Clipper Montrezl Harrell, and I don’t see why Gafford can’t take on a similar role for this Bulls team. An off the bench aggressive sparkplug who looks to break the rim is more than okay with me. Anyway, the Sun-Times’ did a Gafford breakdown, so check that out if you want more on the big man.
• These two really like each other, and that makes me very excited.
Zach LaVine Loves Coby White And That Makes Me Happyhttps://t.co/jUzCJsib08
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) May 13, 2020
• Johnson also pointed out in his mailbag that both Karnisovas and Eversley have “gushed” about White. Everyone loves this kid, and I think he’ll be a big part of what this new regime tries to build.
• Ditto. I’ve been bench-pressing my girlfriend and beating the absolute crap out of a bag of flour. #Grind #NeverADayOff #GetBig
"I'm basically doing jail-house workouts," Elfrid Payton said with a laugh.
Several NBA players opened up about how they're staying in shape at home, what teams are doing to help and more: https://t.co/WHKvRZmqQC
— Alex Kennedy (@AlexKennedyNBA) May 13, 2020
• Yo, Macaulay Culkin is going nuts.
https://twitter.com/chicagobulls/status/1260950967882784768?s=20
• I’m just sharing this because it’s an ongoing NBA conversation and a well-written piece.
The Giannis Antetokounmpo to the Warriors noise isn't rooted in reality. It's nothing like the 2016 Kevin Durant situation. I don't see the path. https://t.co/yYNbJ2lYU4
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 14, 2020
