The NBA lost a special player and person on Monday morning.
RIP, Dikembe.
- Whether it be through his philanthropic work, countless NBA achievements, or iconic finger-wag celebration, Dikembe Mutombo’s name and spirit will live on. He was the kind of player who was almost impossible not to like, and his gifts on the defensive end were as rare as they come. If you need a reminder of how much Mutombo meant to the game, open any social media app today and scroll. The tributes have been pouring in.
- Of course, my brain immediately turned to the classic footage of Mutombo arguing with Michael Jordan about never putting him on a poster. He wasn’t afraid to poke the GOAT …
- And, obviously, the GOAT was never afraid to poke back …
- Media Day has arrived, and the Chicago Bulls have A LOT of questions to answer. The biggest elephant in the room has two All-Star appearances. Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley will have to do some Zach LaVine damage control from the jump. The 29-year-old returns to the team despite never-ending trade rumors, and the Bulls will now have to balance satisfying their max player with developing young talent. Reports have indicated that LaVine is ready to embrace this youth movement, but we’ll see if he echoes that sentiment later this afternoon.
- Indeed, the way Zach LaVine talks about this upcoming season will tell us a lot. Is he going to comment specifically on the new-look roster and how he can help OR will he provide some fluff answers about his improved health and excitement for a new season? If it’s the latter, we’ll know that LaVine very much remains focused on finding a new situation. If it’s the former, he may be prepared to actually play things by ear.
- I think it’s important to remember as we head into this season that LaVine, technically, never asked for a trade. A report surfaced that he and his camp would welcome a change of scenery, but a legitimate trade demand was never handed to the front office (that we know of). Does this mean I expect things to be smoothed over? No, not at all. However, I do think that makes a difference when we’re talking about the overall sense of urgency.
- Today is also a perfect time for Arturas Karnisovas to set a new course. The franchise took a step back this offseason by moving on from several win-now pieces. Whether it be acquiring a 22-year-old point guard or re-signing Patrick Williams to a $90.0 million deal, the Bulls have made evident that building around youth is a priority. With that being the case, winning can’t also be the priority. These players simply aren’t capable of doing that at a high level yet, and the only way for the organization to properly develop them is to accept that. No more lying to yourself about being a “competitive” team, Arturas. This doesn’t mean admitting to a full-blown tank, but it does mean keeping words like “playoffs” out of your mouth.
- Other Media Day questions include: Is Coby White ready for a more off-the-ball role? How many minutes for Jalen Smith each night? Is Nikole Vucevic also read to be a veteran leader? Will Matas Buzelis be an immediate part of the rotation? Will Billy Donovan feel comfortable playing 10 deep? How healthy is Patrick Williams? Is Williams finally ready to play a more significant offensive role?
- A reminder that the Chicago Bulls are losing one of the best iso defenders in the league. Get ready for some atrocious defense!
- This would be sad …
- Hey, look, a Bears win!
- By the way, we’re hosting a Bears Watch Party with free food and drink in November! Come join us and we can complain about Chicago sports together!