NEWSLETTER
What are the chances we actually get baseball and basketball next month? Obviously, no one can say for sure, but I’m choosing to be optimistic. With all the negativity in the world right now, I’m just going to give myself something to look forward to. I’ll understand if things fall through, but it’s more fun to have some hope than wallow in angst.
*raises cup of coffee* Here’s to a safe sports return.
• Honestly, I think it’s pretty hard to answer this question with a simple “yes” or “no.”
Are you disappointed that a healthy Bulls team will not be participating in the continued NBA season in Florida this summer, with or without Boylen?
— See Red Fred (@cbefred) June 24, 2020
• Simply put, I don’t want to go nine months without Bulls basketball. As painful as it can be, I’ll always sit down to watch a game (… and not just because it’s my job). And while some of the talent may not be considered the most “exciting,” I still find myself invested in the narrative arc of several current players. I don’t like the fact that a team with gobs of young talent – all of which have minimal experience on the court together – have to stay sidelined for so long. As valuable as it can be to “get swole” and work on fundamentals in the offseason, I’ve always believed the best way for a young guy to improve is to get his fair share of in-game reps. For that reason, I think the Orlando bubble could have been an extremely valuable opportunity for this team.
• On the other hand, it’s not like this bubble will provide a traditional environment. I’m sure if the Bulls were there, the games wouldn’t feel anything like real playoff experience. Not to mention, Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley should change what a typical offseason in the Bulls organization looks like. The spread of false optimism is the only thing this organization has accomplished over the past several offseasons, as real player development took a backseat. Karnisovas and Eversley have spoken numerous times about their plans to bolster the player development department, which is hopefully an action we see done sooner than later. All this time off can surely be viewed negatively, but it does at least give this young group an opportunity to spend A LOT of time in the gym together. A lack of games may mean a lack of a polished product at the beginning of next season, but chemistry shouldn’t be an issue anymore. These guys should know each other’s games.
• Speaking of this young core, The Athletic’s Sam Veceine released the final edition of his NBA Rookie Scale Prospect Rankings. The Bulls sit in 10th-place behind teams like the Heat, Raptors, and 76ers. While that feels like a not-great sign, most of the teams in front of them have a clear-cut star among their rookie scale prospects. For example, Ben Simmons, Pascal Siakam, Bam Adebayo, De’Aaron Fox, Luka Doncic, Trae Young, Ja Morant, Jayson Tatum, and Zion Williamson are all on teams ahead of the Bulls. What’s annoying is this only further demonstrates the Bulls inability to find a star. Despite numerous lottery picks over the past several seasons, Chicago is still trying to figure out who’s the best of the bunch. And what’s super annoying is we have no clue when we’ll get an answer. For now, Coby White, Wendell Carter Jr., and Lauri Markkanen are all aboard the same boat (the S.S. Are You a Star?).
• To offer or not to offer? That is the question …
Kris Dunn’s Qualifying Offer Just Got a $2.5M Bump, Which Could Help Keep Him in Chicago for Another Yearhttps://t.co/DYBX8ZKKMv
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) June 23, 2020
• Can you imagine just stumbling up Zach LaVine at the park? I’d imagine he’d just casually be doing some windmill and 360 dunks.
Ran into Zach LaVine shooting at a park where a friend’s grad party was.
Rebounded for him for over an hour, talked about a ton of stuff, and he took pics with 25+ people.
Can’t find a nicer guy https://t.co/L4ekOVbQAX pic.twitter.com/rXCb6sbV3i
— Jack Borman (@jrborman13) June 23, 2020
• This isn’t normal …
https://twitter.com/Ballislife/status/1275464130007269376?s=20
• Hah, I get it.
— Tampa Bay Rays (@RaysBaseball) June 24, 2020
• One of my favorite snapshots from this past season.
I hope looking at this picture is like looking into the future. pic.twitter.com/v9qC1Vtn1J
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) June 23, 2020
