NEWSLETTER
I watched Zodiac last night. I’m now going to spend the rest of the day trying to solve the case … right after I finish these bullets.
• We could be under one month away from finally watching some Bulls basketball! According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the NBA wants to start holding preseason games on December 11th, which would be a little over one week after the start of training camp (Dec. 1st). Teams will apparently have the option to play three or four games, and each team must host at least one of those games. I assume that the NBA wants to give each organization a chance to test out the new gameday protocols. With no bubble, each team will be in charge of enforcing safety guidelines as well as preparing the arena for an untraditional broadcast experience. As of now, we know that the league does want to give teams the opportunity to house fans at a limited capacity, so that will surely come with its own set of challenges.
Sources: The NBA is targeting Dec. 11-19 for 2020-21 preseason and teams have the option of requesting three or four games. Each team must host at least one home game.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 14, 2020
• In the meantime, while we wait for some actual games, there will be no lack of NBA excitement. I’ve had to buy some galoshes thanks to the rising levels of trade and draft rumors over the past couple of weeks. When the transaction moratorium is finally lifted ahead of draft night, things are bound to get super crazy. How involved we should expect the Bulls to be in all of that, though, is up for debate. The team has yet to enter any real trade rumors, but they have been constantly in the draft conversation. No one has any idea the kind of player the team wants to target at No. 4, let alone whether or not they would consider moving down in the draft. Overall, my gut tells me the best chance we have to see the Bulls make moves this offseason will be on draft night.
• Considering the major investment in player development, I remain convinced this front office wants to give the Bulls current young core one more chance. I mean, there is always a possibility somebody presents Karnisovas with an opportunity he can’t refuse, but the names currently expected to be on the trade market probably do not spark much interest. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, my eyes are on next season’s trade deadline. The Bulls have a great opportunity to greatly increase the worth of several players on this roster under the current coaching staff. Not to mention, I suspect the front office will have a much better idea of who fits their long-term vision at that point. Still, I write all of that as rumors swirl about the Bulls being one of the most active teams in the league. Watch Karnisovas trade everyone next week and make me look like an idiot.
• Are the Bulls connected to Deni Avdija or not? Recent signs suggest he’s been nothing more than a smokescreen, as players like Tyrese Haliburton and Oneyka Okongwu gain some traction. Haliburton, specifically as been picked to go to the Bulls by The Athletic’s John Hollinger and NBA Draft expert Chad Ford. The team has been connected to damn near every top-10 prospect over the last week, though, so who the hell knows how much weight we should put on this Haliburton surge. I believe Bulls draft news as much as I believe my girlfriend when she says “you can play Xbox as long as you want tonight … I won’t be mad about it later.”
• This is one of the reasons why it’s so hard to give up on Lauri Markkanen. Not many seven-footers can make a between the legs dunk look this easy.
https://twitter.com/ChiSportUpdates/status/1327300065245995008?s=20
• If the Bulls trade down, is Kira Lewis Jr. their guy?
So How Interested Are the Bulls in Kira Lewis Jr. Really?https://t.co/nYFKNJ1QYc
— Bleacher Nation Bulls (@BN_Bulls) November 13, 2020
• Looks like Victor Oladipo isn’t going anywhere, but I’ll believe it when I see it.
Two-time All-Star Victor Oladipo has informed the Pacers that he is fully committed to the franchise and direction of team entering the upcoming season, he tells @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium. https://t.co/tZwhFkhqrk
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 13, 2020
• Are the Knicks finally going to make a big move?
The Knicks are on the short list of viable trade destinations for Houston's Russell Westbrook, league sources say
If the Knicks prove willing to absorb the $130+ million left on Westbrook's contract to make him their centerpiece, there is a trade to be made
They have weighed it
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) November 13, 2020
