The Bulls have missed the playoffs for the 3rd straight season & new management must thoroughly evaluate this young roster. Will LaVine lead the Bulls to the playoffs next season? Will Markkanen gain his confidence back? Is Coby White the point guard of the future? What to expect from the Bulls next coach? Spectator Sporting got the answers on episode #49.
Can LaVine lead the Bulls to contention?-00:43-04:54
Kawhi Leonard was finally traded! We’ll also talk about NBA teams (other than the Warriors & Lakers) that had the best off-season and which teams had the most disappointing off-season. How does Jabari Parker fit with the Bulls? Boxing Connoisseur, Byron “The Byronness” stops by to talk Anthony Joshua avoiding Deontay Wilder and Manny Pacquiao’s legacy. Bears analyst Boon Apata makes a guest appearance to talk Mitch Trubisky, Roquan Smith and position battles at training camp. Plus, stay tuned for “Gone in Almost 60 Seconds” at the end of the show! Spectator Sporting Episode #13.
Anthony Miller. (2017). Retrieved from https://247sports.com/nfl/chicago-bears/Bolt/Bears-wideout-Anthony-Miller-draws-comparisons-to-Antonio-Brown-117769540/
AWolve. “Kawhi Leonard – Mask Off” Online Video Clip. YouTube. YouTube, Mar 22. 2017. Web. Jul 11, 2018.
AWolve. “Luka Doncic – ‘Promise’ (MAVS HYPE)” Online Video Clip. YouTube. YouTube, Jun 28. 2018. Web. Jul 18, 2018.
Boxcaster Boxing. “Manny Pacquiao vs Lucas Matthysse Championship Preview Boxing Highlights BOXCASTER” Online Video Clip. YouTube. YouTube, Jun 18. 2018. Web. Jul 18, 2018.
Chicago Recap. “Kyle Fuller ‘Bout the Business’ Ultimate 2017 Highlights” Online Video Clip. YouTube. YouTube, Jan 13. 2018. Web. Jul 20, 2018.
Chris Sale White Sox. [Hannah Foslien/Getty Images]. (2016). Retrieved from https://www.vavel.com/en-us/mlb/2016/02/21/608884-gold-with-chris-sale-itching-for-playoffs-pressure-is-on-the-2016-chicago-white-sox.html
CliveNBAParody. “DEMAR DEROZAN DUNKS ON ANTHONY TOLIVER! Raptors vs Pistons” Online Video Clip. YouTube. YouTube, Mar 7. 2018. Web. Jul 18, 2018.
DaBearsProductions. “Mitchell Trubisky ‘Zone’ 2017-18 Rookie Season Highlights” Online Video Clip. YouTube. YouTube, Jan 1. 2018. Web. Jul 18, 2018.
Eric Kush. (2016). Retrieved from https://www.nbcsports.com/chicago/chicago-bears/bears-sign-hbo-hard-knocks-star-eric-kush-two-year-deal
ESPN. “Is Jabari Parker a Good fit for the Chicago Bulls? The Jump ESPN” Online Video Clip. YouTube. YouTube, Jul 16. 2018. Web. Jul 18, 2018.
Global Boxing TV. “Manny Pacquiao VS Lucas Matthysse Highlights (HD)” Online Video Clip. YouTube. YouTube, Jul 14. 2018. Web. Jul 18, 2018.
Golden Hoops. “Lauri Markkanen – 2018 Bulls Highlights – On the Rise” Online Video Clip. YouTube. YouTube, Jul 17. 2018. Web. Jul 18, 2018.
Jay Cutler. (2016). Retrieved from https://www.cheatsheet.com/sports/jay-cutler-never-win-super-bowl-bears.html/
Jimmy Butler. (2017). Retrieved from http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/columnists/ct-jimmy-butler-trade-bulls-haugh-spt-0621-20170620-column.html
Joshua vs Wilder. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.boxingscene.com/wilder-manager-erupts-hearn-joshua-over-scam-job–129892
JustBombsProductions. “Best LB in College Football Georgia LB Roquan Smith 2017 Highlights” Online Video Clip. YouTube. YouTube, Feb 17. 2018. Web. Jul 18, 2018.
Kawhi Leonard & Demar Derozan. [Getty]. (2017). Retrieved from https://www.express.co.uk/sport/othersport/990626/Kawhi-Leonard-trade-DeMar-DeRozan-Toronto-Raptors-deal-imminent-ESPN-NBA-news
Marcus Smart. [Brad Remple/USA TODAY Sports]. (2018). Retrieved from https://www.yardbarker.com/nba/articles/marcus_smart_hints_at_celtics_championship_after_re_signing/s1_127_26858321
Mickey Mickeal. “Dennis Schroder 2017/18 Best Highlights Atlanta Hawks” Online Video Clip. YouTube. YouTube, Apr 21. 2018. Web. Jul 20, 2018.
Mitch Trubisky. (2018). Retrieved from http://sportsmockery.com/2018/03/the-new-bears-receivers-were-scouting-mitch-trubisky-since-last-year/
NBA. “Best of Colin Sexton 2018 MGM Resort Summer League” Online Video Clip. YouTube. YouTube, Jul 17. 2018. Web. Jul 18, 2018.
Purple Moss. “Terrell Owens ‘Both’ NFL Career Highlights Mix” Online Video Clip. YouTube. YouTube, Dec 31. 2016. Web. Jul 18, 2018.
Sam Acho. [Johnathan Daniel/Getty Images]. (2017). Retrieved from https://247sports.com/nfl/chicago-bears/Bolt/Bears-wideout-Anthony-Miller-draws-comparisons-to-Antonio-Brown-117769540/
SHOWTIME Sports. “Errol Spence Jr. Knocks Out Carlos Ocampo in ROUND 1 SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING” Online Video Clip. YouTube. YouTube, Jun 16. 2018. Web. Jul 18, 2018.
Thatround. “Jeff Horn vs Terence Crawford Highlights” Online Video Clip. YouTube. YouTube, Jun 10. 2018. Web. Jul 18, 2018.
You may be wondering why the Bulls matched the King’s 4 year $78 million dollar offer to restricted free agent Zach LaVine. He’s a player who tore his Anterior Cruciate Ligament in February of 2017 with the Timberwolves and only played 24 games last season as a Chicago Bull. In those 24 games, his minutes was restricted to 27 per game, he averaged 16 points but only shot 38% from the field. However, there are 9 logical reasons why Bulls Vice President John Paxson and friends matched the Sacramento King’s offer.
The Bulls want Zach LaVine to grow and build chemistry with the young core of Kris Dunn and Lauri Markkanen. Last season was all three of those guys first season with the Bulls but they only played 12 games together. Markkanen missed 14 games, Dunn 30 and LaVine 58 due to injuries and tanking purposes. Their talents should blend in together as Dunn is a proven defender and drive to the basket type point guard, Markkanen is a stretch four with All-Star potential and LaVine is a scorer with highlight reel leaping ability.
sparksports.io
Before LaVine tore his ACL, he averaged 19 points, shot 46% from the field and 38% from the 3 point line. LaVine put those numbers up at the age of 21 in his 3rd season. He only played in 47 games that season before tearing his ACL in February of 2017 but before he went down he was a legitimate rising star.
kevinsporthk.com
Zach LaVine is only 23 years old. No one knows if Zach LaVine is going to be a 20 plus points a game leading his team in scoring type of guy or a shell of his old self. It’s too early to tell. The only players on the Bulls roster younger than LaVine are Lauri Markkanen and the two rookies Wendell Carter Jr. and Chandler Hutchison.
Aaron Gordon got 4 years $84 million from the Orlando Magic as a restricted free agent. Both players
indianasportscoverage.com
were lottery picks in the 2014 draft, they will be 23 years old at the beginning of the season and both guys have a similar career high in points per game (Gordon 17 and LaVine 19). Not only did the Kings set the market for LaVine but the Orlando Magic assisted the Bulls in determining his value with that Aaron Gordon contract.
ACL surgery is not as bad as you think. I know Derrick Rose and the Bulls has never been the same since he tore his ACL in the 2012 payoffs. However, former Bull Jamal Crawford tore his ACL in the 2001-02 season but missed only 4 games in the next two seasons and had a breakout 2003-04 year averaging 17 points and 5 assists. Kyle Lowry suffered the same injury at Villanova but now he’s a 4-time All-Star. High flying Corey Brewer tore his ACL in his rookie year with Minnesota in 2008 but he maintained those springs in his legs after the surgery. Just to name a few. Players who are disciplined with their physical therapy program can overcome Anterior Cruciate Ligament surgery with the assistance of the advancements in modern medical technology.
nba.com
The Bulls traded Jimmy Butler and their 2017 first round pick (#16 overall Justin Patton) for Kris Dunn, Lauri Markkanen and Zach LaVine. Letting LaVine go to Sacramento would have hindered the Bulls chances of winning the Jimmy Butler trade. Not having LaVine in Chicago would put too much pressure on Markkanen to be a perennial All-Star and Kris Dunn would have been forced to be the number two scoring option. The Bulls have kept that core of the three young guys intact with a legitimate shot to be contenders in the East through significant player development and an addition of an impactful free agent next off-season, now that King James is gone.
dunkingwithwolves.com
There’s an Injury protection clause in LaVine’s contract. The Sacramento Kings were inappropriately confident that the Bulls was not going to match a $19.5 million per year deal for LaVine, so they put an injury protection clause in the deal. It turns out that the Kings were wrong about the Bulls willingness to pay up and they did the Bulls a huge favor by adding that injury clause in the contract. This could save the Bulls organization loads of money if Zach LaVine is hit with another serious injury.
The Bulls have plenty of salary cap space. According to Spotrac.com, the Bulls have the 3rd best practical salary cap space in the entire league. Plus, another $18.5 million will be freed up in 2019 when Robin Lopez and Justin Holiday become unrestricted free agents. Also, another $8 million will be available in the 2019 off-season when the Bulls decide to exercise their early termination option on Omer Asik. Even though the Bulls overpaid for LaVine, they can still offer max deals to highly coveted players during the 2019 off-season.
sportsmockery.com
NBA stars in their prime don’t sign with the Bulls in free agency. Some guys may have thought that the Bulls should have pocketed that money and offered it to Klay Thompson, Karl Anthony-Towns, Kemba Walker, DeMarcus Cousins or Terry Rozier during the 2019 free agency. The problem with that is the fact that superstars in their prime like Tracy McGrady, Carmelo Anthony and 2010 Dwyane Wade like to pretend that they’re coming to Chicago just to negotiate for more money from the team they really want to join. Why?! You can blame Bulls management, cold weather, the Chicago crime rate or whatever. The fact of the matter is, the 34 year old Pau Gasol is arguably the best NBA free agent to ever play for the Bulls. So, Johnny Pax knows that he must keep those young guys with potential on his team at damn near all cost.
