Post deadline roster outlook

[SirKaiser]

From here on out, starting line-up should be:

Vuc/Buzelis/Giddey/Coby/Ayo

Vuc only because he'll never get benched, otherwise I'd like to see Smith get the nod but it'll never happen.

Keep Lonzo on the bench, let him lead the second unit.

I like this but he needs to be getting time at both forward positions. PWill has a long way to go still, but I think he should start alongside Buzelis when we need the taller lineup... that game against the Wolves would have been the perfect time for that, but Billy is clueless

Or if not PWill, then Smith. We have Collins as extra depth now

[Muzbar]

From here on out, starting line-up should be:

Vuc/Buzelis/Giddey/Coby/Ayo

Vuc only because he'll never get benched, otherwise I'd like to see Smith get the nod but it'll never happen.

Keep Lonzo on the bench, let him lead the second unit.

I like this but he needs to be getting time at both forward positions. PWill has a long way to go still, but I think he should start alongside Buzelis when we need the taller lineup... that game against the Wolves would have been the perfect time for that, but Billy is clueless

Or if not PWill, then Smith. We have Collins as extra depth now

Feels weird to have 4 guys on the roster that are 6'10" or taller.

[Donkedave]

From here on out, starting line-up should be:

Vuc/Buzelis/Giddey/Coby/Ayo

Vuc only because he'll never get benched, otherwise I'd like to see Smith get the nod but it'll never happen.

Keep Lonzo on the bench, let him lead the second unit.

I like this but he needs to be getting time at both forward positions. PWill has a long way to go still, but I think he should start alongside Buzelis when we need the taller lineup... that game against the Wolves would have been the perfect time for that, but Billy is clueless

Or if not PWill, then Smith. We have Collins as extra depth now

Feels weird to have 4 guys on the roster that are 6'10" or taller.

Most banging on about having 8 “pg” lol

Kinda like what the roster looks like atm. Not saying I wouldn’t have moved anyone else. But if the trade looks like crap I’d rather keep. It don’t matter here everyone hates it.

Shouda, coulda, woulda! If it was not worth it just keep the rest after saving the $$ from lavine trade.

[eierluke]

Huerter: nothing is public about a serious injury, probably a mental thing (unless we're part of space jam). so why shouldn't he find his game back again?
He ain't a building block and therefore will get traded next time. Coaches task is now to make the bride look beautifully.

[Axolotl]

To me this roster looks like random group of guys who play basketball, not a thought out team. You just pick five of them you think are the best of the bunch (or whatever reasoning you use), and that's your starting five.

[Chuck Everett]

Please get a top 3 pick so you can pair Harper/Flagg/Bailey with Matas and rip the bandaid off. I know Bulls fans are mad at Billy Donovan, but how the heck does he get this team to play hard night to night? They should be getting blasted nightly. Nearly every lineup listed looks so talent/size deficient.

[eierluke]

Important to me:

Coaches and players should win as many games as possible - otherwise losing gets contagious and destroys a mindset which should remain competitive.

Responsible for losing/ tanking (if necessary) should be the management. (and they missed out here, because this is still a .400+ team).

[Evil_Headband]

Read on Twitter

The new guys will get a chance. If they are really considering keeping Jones, he needs to play.

[MisterRoy]

According to the Cowley interview I heard, Billy has been given the mandate to play the young guys. We'll see if that's factual.

Billy is a puppet for the AKME regime. Only reason he has lasted this long. This organization is such a joke.

Sooo... are you for or against playing the young guys?

I am n favor of playing the right guys at the right position. Matas and Collins are 4s. Pat is a 3. Play them at their position.

[jnrjr79]

If Billy is smart, Matas and Collins are PFs. Pat needs to come off the bench as a 3. No reason to do.anything else.

According to the Cowley interview I heard, Billy has been given the mandate to play the young guys. We'll see if that's factual.

Billy is a puppet for the AKME regime. Only reason he has lasted this long. This organization is such a joke.

Yep, it’s a total joke for an employee to do as instructed by their boss.

[ThisGuyFawkes]

According to the Cowley interview I heard, Billy has been given the mandate to play the young guys. We'll see if that's factual.

Billy is a puppet for the AKME regime. Only reason he has lasted this long. This organization is such a joke.

Yep, it’s a total joke for an employee to do as instructed by their boss.

You know what a puppet is, right? I feel like you're disagreeing with me while also confirming my point. I'm quite perplexed. Well played sir.

Please let me know if I've misinterpreted your statement.

[League Circles]

If I was running the show I think I'd try to play like this for the rest of the season:

5: Vuc 20, Smith 22, Sanogo 6
4: Matas 28, Patrick 14, Phillips 6
3: Giddey 28, Patrick 14, Terry 6
2: Ball 28, Ayo 20
1: Coby 34, Carter 6, Ayo 8

DNP-CD all day every day:

Collins
Huerter
THT
Jones

[Ccwatercraft]

My post deadline rotation would be:

Ball / Ayo
Coby / Huerter
Giddey / PWill
Matas / Collins
Vuc / Smith

IR: Jones, Carter, Phillips, Dalen, THT

Couple of points to note:

1. While reluctant, we have to give minutes to Collins and Huerter as they are still under contract for one more year. Rather showcase them and see what we can get for them in the offseason.

2. As many guards as we have now, we actually have no excuse to play a 6'5 guy at PF now that we have a frontcourt of Matas-Vuc-Collins-Smith (and potentially PWill). Billy should take note.

I for I need would like to see more smith/vuc together here and there, can Collins take some backup.C minutes? I also haven't seen enough of Collins to judge his defense.

I'd like to see Phillips squeeze some time too but he is under contract next season as well, so hes not going anywhere he's nothing special but has some promise.

I have no issues labeling Giddey or Ball as 3s, they are fully capable.

[jnrjr79]

Billy is a puppet for the AKME regime. Only reason he has lasted this long. This organization is such a joke.

Yep, it’s a total joke for an employee to do as instructed by their boss.

You know what a puppet is, right? I feel like you're disagreeing with me while also confirming my point. I'm quite perplexed. Well played sir.

Please let me know if I've misinterpreted your statement.

I have no idea how you’ve interpreted my statement, but IMO it’s pretty unobjectionable for a front office to tell the coach of a going-nowhere team that they’d like him to prioritize minutes for the young guys down the stretch. It’s also what most of this board has been asking for all season.

[eierluke]

If I was running the show I think I'd try to play like this for the rest of the season:

5: Vuc 20, Smith 22, Sanogo 6
4: Matas 28, Patrick 14, Phillips 6
3: Giddey 28, Patrick 14, Terry 6
2: Ball 28, Ayo 20
1: Coby 34, Carter 6, Ayo 8

DNP-CD all day every day:

Collins
Huerter
THT
Jones

1) As stated before, we should explore if Huerter can find his game again, even if it is just to make him a useful asset in any Vuc trade
2) Horton Tucker surprised me in a positive way his 3s are falling and he has the rare abilty to drive to the basket. Always good to have someone in the 2nd squad who offensively is not just a shooter.

As for Collins and Jones, yes they are overpaid backups and such players usually won't resign with their own teams @ minimum contracts (an emotional decline, they later on usually have to sign somewhere @ the min)

[eierluke]

If I was running the show I think I'd try to play like this for the rest of the season:

5: Vuc 20, Smith 22, Sanogo 6
4: Matas 28, Patrick 14, Phillips 6
3: Giddey 28, Patrick 14, Terry 6
2: Ball 28, Ayo 20
1: Coby 34, Carter 6, Ayo 8

DNP-CD all day every day:

Collins
Huerter
THT
Jones

Why wasting playing time on Phillips? Among all players on our roster he has the least chance to remain in the NBA after 2026
(Terry is not definitely the superior player, but he in difference has a niche, he can defend and pass propperly).

[League Circles]

If I was running the show I think I'd try to play like this for the rest of the season:

5: Vuc 20, Smith 22, Sanogo 6
4: Matas 28, Patrick 14, Phillips 6
3: Giddey 28, Patrick 14, Terry 6
2: Ball 28, Ayo 20
1: Coby 34, Carter 6, Ayo 8

DNP-CD all day every day:

Collins
Huerter
THT
Jones

Why wasting playing time on Phillips? Among all players on our roster he has the least chance to remain in the NBA after 2026
(Terry is not definitely the superior player, but he in difference has a niche, he can defend and pass propperly).

Good question. I'm not married to giving him the 6 minutes I suggested. Just figured it's a way to kinda give him one last chance before we get rid of him.

[Donkedave]

I like this but he needs to be getting time at both forward positions. PWill has a long way to go still, but I think he should start alongside Buzelis when we need the taller lineup... that game against the Wolves would have been the perfect time for that, but Billy is clueless

Or if not PWill, then Smith. We have Collins as extra depth now

Feels weird to have 4 guys on the roster that are 6'10" or taller.

Most banging on about having 8 “pg” lol

Kinda like what the roster looks like atm. Not saying I wouldn’t have moved anyone else. But if the trade looks like crap I’d rather keep. It don’t matter here everyone hates it.

Shouda, coulda, woulda! If it was not worth it just keep the rest after saving the $$ from lavine trade.

Funny looking back at all these posts 3 weeks later isn’t it! I still like the look of the roster.

Would still like to make a couple of trades tho!

[WesPeace]

Now we can hope PWill and Vuc remain out as much as possible lol.. When they return we will suddenly be normal bigger team.. Billy will have to play some Smith or Collins at PF alongside Vucevic to make it work.
PWill should play exclusively SF until end of season. No need for him at PF with Matas, Smith, Collins, Philips able to play there and of course Giddey in 4 guard lineups lol..

[Guru]

We have seen some interesting changes over the last few weeks. Collins and Huerter certainly have a role in this team if not next year.

9 man rotation most likely with Vuc, Carter, Tre Jones (He's been ok but probably best to move on), THT moving on.

Then you add 2 draft picks. Next years team should be really fun to watch.
I am a fan of trading White and re-upping Giddey (up to 25Mper). I am in no rush to trade White though.

1 White 6'5 195 23 2
2 Ball 6'6 190 26 3 Dosunmo 6'5 200 23 2 Terry 6'7 195 21 2
3 Giddey 6'8 216 21 1 Huerter 6'7 198 26 2 Phillips 6'8 198 20 3
4 Buzelis 6'10 209 19 5 Williams 6'7 215 21 5
5 Smith 6'9 215 24 3 Collins 6'11 200 27 2

Dalen Terry's usage has been interesting. I think there is still meat on the bone there and he will end up a nice defensive rotational player with excellent connective passing.