Happy Media Day! So Much to Address, Zion Williamson’s Injury, and Other Bulls Bullets

We have arrived, folks!

For the first time since a chaotic free agency, we will see the new-look Bulls roster together at the Advocate Center for 2021 Media Day. The team’s top players will sit down to take questions from reporters, and the expectation should be that front office leader Arturas Karnisovas does the same.

In general, days like today are used to stirrup good press and positive vibes, and I certainly anticipate a lot of that out of Chicago in the coming hour. Nikola Vucevic is in the best shape of his life! DeMar DeRozan is ready to be a veteran leader! Alex Caruso is ready for an even bigger role! Lonzo Ball is happy to be somewhere he is appreciated! Everyone is swole as hell! We will never lose again! BULLS IN FOUR! 

However, while all that positivity is grand and good, there are a handful of important topics that must be addressed this week.

Things like …

•   Zach LaVine’s contract situation. Yes, the Bulls star player has already made plenty of comments about the team’s *reasonable* decision not to pursue a contract extension this offseason, but a hotter spotlight has still come as the effect of that decision. People around the league are drooling over the thought of the Bulls having a bad season and LaVine buying a plane ticket. Nothing he says today will change that entirely, but he can continue to pour cold water on the topic by emphasizing a clear desire to make things work in Chicago. Again, he has done it before, but today is an even bigger and more public opportunity to make that known.

•   As I said, people around the league are drooling over LaVine speculation …

•   Likewise, it would not hurt if Karnisovas made his own LaVine intentions clear. While the actions this offseason spoke for themselves, as a man who doesn’t have much to say, it would be all the more encouraging to hear him use his few words to label LaVine as the franchise’s building block.

•   I also would like Karnisovas to speak on potential future additions. Since taking over the organization last offseason, Karnisovas made it clear that he would continue to look for ways to improve this roster. Does he still sound as aggressive when it comes to making roster improvements? Or does he sound more content with this version of the roster that is pretty much completely his creation?

•   As for an on-court storyline that will need to be immediately discussed: Defense. I’m sure there will be plenty of commentary from players and coaches alike about this team’s potential on the offensive end. But this group might only go as far as their play on the other side of the ball takes them. Neither LaVine, DeRozan, nor Vucevic has built a career around even average defensive play. DeRozan, particularly, has been one of the poorest defenders at his position (his -2.2 defensive estimated plus-minus last season ranked in just the 6th percentile, per Dunks&Threes). Yes, guys like Lonzo Ball, Patrick Williams, Alex Caruso, Derrick Jones Jr., and Tony Bradley can provide some defensive lineup versatility, but enough to make up for the potential lack thereof with the team’s Big 3? I’ll be very curious to know what Karnisovas and Billy Donovan have to say about this glaring weakness from the jump. Will they try to brush it off or accept it as a clear point of emphasis?

•   In other Media Day news, the New Orleans Pelicans dropped a rather big bomb about Zion Williamson this morning. Vice president of basketball operations David Griffin shared that the Pelicans’ star player had foot surgery this offseason. He did make clear that the expectation is Williamson returns by the start of the regular season, but if there is any hold-up at all, it could be possible Williamson misses the Bulls home opener on October 22nd.

•   A good-looking group!

•   No one let Westbrook talk to LaVine, K? K.

•   THE PLAYOFF HOOPS CONTINUE!

•   Bulls legend.

•   No comment needed.

•   Mario is live from Blackhawks camp!

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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