Category: Chicago Bulls Blog

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Bulls forward Patrick Williams has big defensive role against Bucks in playoffs

Young Patrick Williams has a big role on the Chicago Bulls as they face the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs. Via the Chicago Tribune:

Patrick Williams is well aware that guarding two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo is a difficult task.

Williams is seven years younger, four inches shorter, 30 pounds lighter, and four inches shorter than Milwaukee Bucks star Nikola Mirotic. He has never participated in the NBA playoffs and missed the entire regular season with the Chicago Bulls due to a wrist injury.

But the Bulls forward can not let uncertainty enter in if he wants to slow down one of the league’s top players.

“I feel like a lot of people in this league are scared or nervous to guard guys like that,” Williams said Wednesday ahead of Game 2. “Obviously (Antetokounmpo) is good. He’s a two-time MVP. But he puts his pants on the same way I do. He is good, but he’s not God.”

Despite his youth, Williams is a perfect match for Antetokounmpo’s defense. Williams is long enough to hinder Antetokounmpo’s shot around the rim while also being quick enough to disrupt his straight-line drives to the rim. [But] no one expected to slow Antetokounmpo down in a one-on-one matchup.

Game 2 of the series is tonight in Milwaukee at 9:30 PM ET on TNT TV.

Bulls guard Lonzo Ball will not play again this season

Via the Chicago Sun-Times:

The Bulls officially ruled point guard Lonzo Ball out for the remainder of the season on Wednesday morning, including any sort of hope for the playoffs, focusing on getting his left knee right for the 2022-23 season.

The Sun-Times reported on Tuesday that this news was coming for Ball, after he was experiencing pain in the knee during a morning rehab workout.

And per ESPN.com, “Ball, who has not played since Jan. 14, had surgery on his left knee on Jan. 28 to repair a slight meniscus tear. The team said he is still experiencing pain “with high-level physical activity.”

Chicago Bulls sign Tristan Thompson, waive Alfonzo McKinnie

The Chicago Bulls have signed veteran big man Tristan Thompson.

Also today, the team released forward Alfonzo McKinnie.

In his eleventh season in the NBA, Thompson (6-9, 254 pounds) owns career averages of 9.1 ppg (.518 from the field), 8.5 rpg (3.3 orpg) and 1.0 apg in 27.1 mpg. For his career, he has played for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Boston Celtics, Sacramento Kings and Indiana Pacers. This season, he has appeared in 34 games (three starts) with the Kings and Pacers, and has tallied 6.3 ppg and 5.3 rpg (2.3 orpg) in 15.3 mpg.

Thompson’s teams have also made five trips to the NBA Playoffs, including four consecutive appearances in the NBA Finals from 2015-18. In postseason play, he has played in 83 playoff games (70 starts) and posted 7.8 ppg (.566 from the field) and 8.6 rpg (3.8 orpg) in 29.6 mpg.

McKinnie saw action in 17 games (three starts) with Chicago, and averaged 3.5 ppg and 1.9 rpg in 12.1 mpg.

Health update on Bulls guard Zach LaVine

Here’s the Chicago Tribune with the latest on star Bulls scoring guard Zach LaVine:

The short-handed Chicago Bulls could lose yet another key player ahead of the All-Star break after Zach LaVine will reportedly fly to Los Angeles to receive special treatment on his left knee, according to ESPN.

LaVine sat out Saturday’s 106-101 win over the Oklahoma City Thunder due to an aggravation in his left knee. The guard previously played two games through back spasms before finally sitting out the next two games.

Bulls guard Lonzo Ball reportedly may need knee surgery

The Bulls are having a fantastic season, but they could soon face a temporary setback. Via the ESPN.com:

Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball may need arthroscopic surgery on his left knee for a meniscus tear, and a decision on the procedure is expected to come this week, sources told ESPN on Thursday.

The scope would sideline Ball for four to six weeks, sources said.

The Bulls and Ball’s agent — Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul — are discussing options with doctors, but the procedure looms if a recent change in nonsurgical treatment won’t allow Ball to play through what’s described as a slight meniscus tear, sources said.

The Bulls are 28-15 this season, which is the best record in the Eastern conference.

Their leading scorers so far in 2021-22 are DeMar DeRozan at 25.7 ppg, Zach LaVine at 24.9 ppg, and Nikola Vucevic at 16.3 ppg.

Ball this season is averaging 13.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg and 5.1 apg.

Chicago Bulls sign Ersan Ilyasova and Mac McClung to 10-day contracts

The Chicago Bulls have signed forward Ersan Ilyasova and guard Mac McClung to 10-day contracts pursuant to the NBA’s COVID-related hardship allowance.

Ilyasova (6-9, 235) is a 13-year NBA veteran with stops in Milwaukee, Detroit, Orlando, Oklahoma City, Philadelphia, Atlanta and Utah. Drafted 36th overall by the Bucks in 2005, he made his NBA debut in the 2006-07 season, and then played two seasons overseas in 2007-08 and 2008-09 before coming back to the NBA in 2009-10. He owns career NBA averages of 10.1 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 23.0 minutes per game over 825 games (424 starts). Ilyasova has shot .443 from the field in his career, as well as .367 from three and .777 from the free throw line.

Most recently with the Jazz in 2020-21, he averaged 3.8 points through 17 games. Ilyasova played a career-high 82 games in 2016-17 as he moved between the Thunder, 76ers and Hawks. He also posted a near career-high 13.1 points per game that season. His career high season in scoring came in 2012-13 as a member of the Bucks with 13.2 points per game. Ilyasova has eight season of postseason experience, including a trip to the Eastern Conference Finals with Milwaukee in 2019. He has averaged 7.7 points and 5.5 rebounds over 52 playoff games (25 starts). Ilyasova was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week on March 11, 2012, and he has been top-5 in the NBA in 3-point percentage two times: 2011-12 (2nd, .455) and 2012-13 (4th, .444).

McClung (6-2, 185) joins the Bulls from the South Bay Lakers of the NBA G League, where he has started all 13 games in which he’s played this season, averaging 19.6 points, 3.3 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 1.15 steals per game. After going undrafted in 2021, he joined the L.A. Lakers’ Summer League squad and played in five games during the Las Vegas tournament with averages of 4.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game. McClung then played in three games with the Lakers in the 2021 preseason, averaging 1.3 points per game, before being waived on Oct. 13.

McClung played his first two years at the collegiate level with Georgetown before transferring to Texas Tech ahead of the 2020-21 season, where he posted averages of 15.5 points and 2.1 assists over 29 games (29 starts) and was named an AP All-American Honorable Mention.

Ilyasova will wear number 77 and McClung will wear number 00.

Bulls center Nikola Vucevic has reportedly tested positive for COVID-19

The 8-3 Chicago Bulls are off to a terrific start this season, but they’ll reportedly be without their starting center for the (hopefully) very short term. Via ESPN.com:

Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic tested positive for COVID-19 and entered the NBA’s health and safety protocols on Thursday, sources told ESPN.

The Bulls listed Vucevic in the protocols, but the positive test means he will be sidelined for 10 days or once he has two negative PCR tests in a 24-hour period.

Bulls forward Patrick Williams reportedly out with serious wrist injury

A talented young Bull will reportedly miss most or all of the 2021-22 NBA season, unfortunately. Via ESPN.com:

Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams will undergo surgery to repair a dislocated left wrist and is expected to miss the rest of the regular season, sources told ESPN.

Williams tumbled out of the air on a flagrant foul by New York’s Mitchell Robinson on Thursday night, landing on his left wrist and suffering a severe perilunate dislocation, the source said.

There’s hope that a timeline on a return could make it possible for Williams to return for the playoffs, a source told ESPN.

No firm timetable yet for return of Bulls guard Coby White

The Bulls are an interesting squad this season. Here’s the Chicago Sun-Times with the latest on one of their talented young prospects:

Coby White had more than his share of left-out moments this summer, rehabbing his surgically repaired left shoulder while his teammates were working out and preparing for the season.

While White didn’t make the trip for the opener, Donovan did say that it was important to keep him engaged as much as possible when there are drills he can participate in.

“When we’re doing 5-on-0 stuff or we’re scripting or running up and down where there’s no contact, we have him involved,’’ Donovan said. “For the summer, it was a very isolating experience for him. Us putting our arms around him and keeping him involved in things he can actually do physically is important for him.’’

White is expected to be re-evaluated in mid-to-late November, then a better timetable for his return should be known.