Who should/will be our starting C this season?

[Indomitable]

Should: Smith

Will: Vooch

We actually agree.

[Indomitable]

Assuming Giddey is re-signed and no other moves, who do you think should be our starting C this year?

The poll is for your preference, but let's also note in our posts who we think WILL be the starting C, at least to start the season.

I think it should be Smith because he's the youngest, has the best contract situation, and IMO easily the best skillset for what we need. I don't expect him to be our long term starter but he still has a chance IMO, whereas Vuc and Collins have no chance IMO.

I really don't know who it WILL be, but if I had to guess I'd lean towards Vuc to start the season. It helps prevent us from winning "too much" (to at least marginally help our 2026 pick), and it "showcases" Vuc for the trade the team has been looking for. If Vuc is gone and/or we suck by the trade deadline, I suspect Smith will get his chance.

I know some people are pretty sure that Billy prefers Vuc and Collins based on Smith being benched last season after we had all 3 guys. That might be true, but IMO it's equally likely that they prioritized showcasing Vuc and Collins for trade because the season wasn't critical and we knew they weren't in our long term plans, and we knew we had the younger Smith for an extra year. Essentially I think they might have "saved him for later".

I do think all 3 will and should be in the rotation for the purpose of showcasing all 3 for trades.

I don't think Noa will play meaningful minutes at C, but it's possible so I threw him in there. Would be a development/low key tanking move.

Edit: for purposes of discussion assume the other 4 starters are:

Matas
Giddey
Okoro
Coby

Hell no to Noa

[Dez]

Why the f*** is Noa an option? Him playing C is just ridiculous let alone as a rookie.

When you consider his length, defensive potential, and the fact that Matas and Giddey are probably locked in as our forwards for the foreseeable future, and the fact that Billy has proven to be willing to play very undersized centers at times, don't think it's all that Far-fetched. I'm not saying I want it or that he's ready to be a positive contributor as a center, but I can definitely see it as at least a potential part-time thing in the future. So who knows. Maybe we will or should experiment with it a little bit this year.

Noa would undoubtedly be a defensive upgrade from vucevic this coming season and also fit our offensive style of play better in the sense that he can run and handle the ball better than Vuc.

This keeps coming back to you calling Giddey a forward.

Nothing about Noa says C, it says defensive wing with Matas as the other defensive wing.

Giddey
Coby (if he's re-signed)
Essengue
Matas
???

That's how it should set-up in the future if they both develop as we hope, if a rim-running/shot blocking C slotted in at the C spot then there's a lot to work with.

A Myles Turner type would be an absolute perfect fit with that group assuming both Essengue and Buzelis become perimeter shooting threats.

[League Circles]

I don't know how Collins has so few votes. Did people not see how much better the team played with him starting?

As to who i think it will be, Vooch because Billy doesn't have the balls to bench him

Collins was solid. I'd agree he's arguably the best all around of the 3, but he's not young enough or skilled enough nor does he have enough time left under contract to evaluate for any likely ling term starting role. Smith just has a bit of a higher chance.

[dougthonus]

I don't know how Collins has so few votes. Did people not see how much better the team played with him starting?

As to who i think it will be, Vooch because Billy doesn't have the balls to bench him

If we're trying to win games, I think Collins is the best center on the roster for how we want to play.

[League Circles]

Why the f*** is Noa an option? Him playing C is just ridiculous let alone as a rookie.

When you consider his length, defensive potential, and the fact that Matas and Giddey are probably locked in as our forwards for the foreseeable future, and the fact that Billy has proven to be willing to play very undersized centers at times, don't think it's all that Far-fetched. I'm not saying I want it or that he's ready to be a positive contributor as a center, but I can definitely see it as at least a potential part-time thing in the future. So who knows. Maybe we will or should experiment with it a little bit this year.

Noa would undoubtedly be a defensive upgrade from vucevic this coming season and also fit our offensive style of play better in the sense that he can run and handle the ball better than Vuc.

This keeps coming back to you calling Giddey a forward.

Nothing about Noa says C, it says defensive wing with Matas as the other defensive wing.

Giddey
Coby (if he's re-signed)
Essengue
Matas
???

That's how it should set-up in the future if they both develop as we hope, if a rim-running/shot blocking C slotted in at the C spot then there's a lot to work with.

A Myles Turner type would be an absolute perfect fit with that group assuming both Essengue and Buzelis become perimeter shooting threats.

Many, many people call Josh Giddey a forward. The Bulls introduced him as a forward this season!!!

Who is guarding the best opposing perimeter player in that lineup? Coby, Matas or Noa?

Where is the requisite 3 point shooting coming from?

I'll admit that lineup could be in our future, but if it is, Matas would be the 2.

[League Circles]

Collins has the highest floor for this coming season. Smith has the highest ceiling overall. Vuc still the best overall offensive player.

Fwiw, Smith beat Collins in most statistical categories last season. Collins fouls a lot, turns the ball over a lot, scores and rebounds less than Smith, has a lower defensive rating, blocks fewer shots, etc. I like them both but I'm kinda confused how sure some people are that Collins was better than Smith.

[Infinity2152]

Thought/hoped they would find a deal For Vucevic. They still have time, and the Bulls like to wait until the last minute. I think Vucevic is bought out before the season starts if we can't find a trade. Bulls might get Vucevic to accept a very reasonable buyout out, think teams would have no problem giving Vucevic $7-8 mill for one season, as opposed to $20 mill.

Like Giddey, they're not going to move until all options are exhausted. Not sure Vucevic starting the season is an option for them, both sides have agreed to part already.

Smith should start, whether or not Vuc is here. I don't think he starts either way. Vucevic starts if he's here, Collins if he isn't.

[MGB8]

Where is the option for Mo Bamba? :-p

[greenwing]

It's going to be Vuc and it should be Vuc. He's the best center on the team and he bounced back in a pretty big way last season. It's his starting spot to lose. That being said, this is an atypical situation for Chicago in which we have a glut at center. Until the trade deadline last season, it's been several years since we've had this many quality C's. I don't think we will have all three of Vuc, Smith and Collins come the trade deadline.

I think a case can be made that Smith has the potential to be better than Vuc if given consistent starter's minutes since he is efficient and a better rim protector. That being said, while not as good of a rebounder as Vuc or Smith, the best rim protector on the roster is Zach Collins. If Vuc was moved for a scoring a 3&D small forward who can be tasked on occasion guarding 2's then Collins would be the ideal fit starting since his shooting range is limited. Having that type of player on the roster would allow the Bulls to start Giddey and Coby without having to worry too much regarding backcourt defense and would allow Collins to fit well as the starting 5. The question then becomes how much growth we would see with Buzelis. But ideally if you had Giddey/Coby/3&D Wing/Buzels/Collins then you've got just enough scoring and defense to be competitive in a currently weak eastern conference.

[Chi town]

Why the f*** is Noa an option? Him playing C is just ridiculous let alone as a rookie.

When you consider his length, defensive potential, and the fact that Matas and Giddey are probably locked in as our forwards for the foreseeable future, and the fact that Billy has proven to be willing to play very undersized centers at times, don't think it's all that Far-fetched. I'm not saying I want it or that he's ready to be a positive contributor as a center, but I can definitely see it as at least a potential part-time thing in the future. So who knows. Maybe we will or should experiment with it a little bit this year.

Noa would undoubtedly be a defensive upgrade from vucevic this coming season and also fit our offensive style of play better in the sense that he can run and handle the ball better than Vuc.

This keeps coming back to you calling Giddey a forward.

Nothing about Noa says C, it says defensive wing with Matas as the other defensive wing.

Giddey
Coby (if he's re-signed)
Essengue
Matas
???

That's how it should set-up in the future if they both develop as we hope, if a rim-running/shot blocking C slotted in at the C spot then there's a lot to work with.

A Myles Turner type would be an absolute perfect fit with that group assuming both Essengue and Buzelis become perimeter shooting threats.

I agree. I think our C will need to have more offense than a Gobert type. Unless Buz becomes a true #1 we will need our C to be able to score and create a bit. Ideally shoot a 3 too. A Turner type would provide enough offense in theory.

[Dez]

When you consider his length, defensive potential, and the fact that Matas and Giddey are probably locked in as our forwards for the foreseeable future, and the fact that Billy has proven to be willing to play very undersized centers at times, don't think it's all that Far-fetched. I'm not saying I want it or that he's ready to be a positive contributor as a center, but I can definitely see it as at least a potential part-time thing in the future. So who knows. Maybe we will or should experiment with it a little bit this year.

Noa would undoubtedly be a defensive upgrade from vucevic this coming season and also fit our offensive style of play better in the sense that he can run and handle the ball better than Vuc.

This keeps coming back to you calling Giddey a forward.

Nothing about Noa says C, it says defensive wing with Matas as the other defensive wing.

Giddey
Coby (if he's re-signed)
Essengue
Matas
???

That's how it should set-up in the future if they both develop as we hope, if a rim-running/shot blocking C slotted in at the C spot then there's a lot to work with.

A Myles Turner type would be an absolute perfect fit with that group assuming both Essengue and Buzelis become perimeter shooting threats.

Many, many people call Josh Giddey a forward. The Bulls introduced him as a forward this season!!!

Who is guarding the best opposing perimeter player in that lineup? Coby, Matas or Noa?

Where is the requisite 3 point shooting coming from?

I'll admit that lineup could be in our future, but if it is, Matas would be the 2.

Giddey is a PG on offense, who he guards does not make him a forward.

Buzelis or Noa would be in that scenario.

That's why I said if Buzelis and Essengue develop their perimeter shooting and Giddey continues to improve his shot. This is a future best case scenario, not a next season thing.

No Buzelis would not be a 2, not at all.

[DuckIII]

Jalen Smith is a young, modern, wildly productive recent lottery pick. Why not figure out what we have with him?

Completely agree. Don’t even have to give him huge minutes. 22 mpg, but as the starter. See how it works and adjust.

All academic. It’s Vuc and we all know it. At least to begin the season (and probably throughout).

[GoBlue72391]

Hypothetically: If we're trying to win, Collins should start. If we're trying to develop our young guys and see what they can do, Smith should start.

Having said that, Vuc is going to start unless he's traded or gets injured. It's a lock. He's the type who wouldn't take a benching well. Wasn't he sulking about his role or shots a season or two ago?

[League Circles]

This keeps coming back to you calling Giddey a forward.

Nothing about Noa says C, it says defensive wing with Matas as the other defensive wing.

Giddey
Coby (if he's re-signed)
Essengue
Matas
???

That's how it should set-up in the future if they both develop as we hope, if a rim-running/shot blocking C slotted in at the C spot then there's a lot to work with.

A Myles Turner type would be an absolute perfect fit with that group assuming both Essengue and Buzelis become perimeter shooting threats.

Many, many people call Josh Giddey a forward. The Bulls introduced him as a forward this season!!!

Who is guarding the best opposing perimeter player in that lineup? Coby, Matas or Noa?

Where is the requisite 3 point shooting coming from?

I'll admit that lineup could be in our future, but if it is, Matas would be the 2.

Giddey is a PG on offense, who he guards does not make him a forward.

Buzelis or Noa would be in that scenario.

That's why I said if Buzelis and Essengue develop their perimeter shooting and Giddey continues to improve his shot. This is a future best case scenario, not a next season thing.

No Buzelis would not be a 2, not at all.

I don't know what to tell you if you can't handle that plenty of people, including nba coaches and players, define position defensively rather than offensively. I don't think it's unreasonable to define it offensively, but it's by no means universally done. I do it because I find it to be a better shorthand for communication, and I use numbers 1 through 5 in an effort to avoid confusion. Has LeBron James been playing "point guard" for the last 20 years? Scottie Pippen??? If not, then neither has Giddey. A "point" (skillset role) can play any "position" (nominal defensive assignment/ability relative to his 4 teammates). Those old-timey notions of position are genuinely 40 years out of date. There is often little correlation between those description labels for casual fans and how a guy actually plays offensively. Plenty of "shooting guards" aren't even good shooters relative to the other 4 guys. Most "power forwards" have little to no power these days.

Don't take my word for it. THE BULLS INTRODUCED JOSH GIDDEY AS A FORWARD THIS YEAR AT THE UNITED CENTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here's a video of them calling him a forward when playing with Lonzo and Zach. Do you think they did that because of how he plays offensively or defensively?

https://youtube.com/shorts/378Ufm2fvQk?si=oMyCHF5OrpweWyvw

[League Circles]

I also kinda like Vuc as a more featured offensive weapon for 15 mpg off the bench. Call me crazy but I like this as a second unit:

Vuc
Essengue
Patrick
Huerter or maybe Ayo
Jones

That's actually a well balanced unit IMO. I know I'm in the severe minority on this but I think Patrick plays significantly better offensively as a lead scoring option in a bench unit than he does as a 4th or 5th option, catch and shoot guy with the starters. For whatever reasons, he plays much less nervous and more aggressive off the bench when he can actually go to work with the ball a bit. He and Vuc could take the most shots with that unit for 15 mpg or so.

[DuckIII]

Hypothetically: If we're trying to win, Collins should start. If we're trying to develop our young guys and see what they can do, Smith should start.

Having said that, Vuc is going to start unless he's traded or gets injured. It's a lock. He's the type who wouldn't take a benching well. Wasn't he sulking about his role or shots a season or two ago?

I amend my post to replace it with this post, which we now share. That’s teamwork baby.

[Hangtime84]

I don't know how Collins has so few votes. Did people not see how much better the team played with him starting?

As to who i think it will be, Vooch because Billy doesn't have the balls to bench him

fragile and he looked solid.

[Rose2Boozer]

Vucevic. For better or worse, he's still the best center on the roster. I wouldn't be surprised if he was resigned and with the team another season.

Even though they've been trying to trade him for quite a while?????

AK being willing to trade Vucevic for a price no team is willing to pay is tantamount to AK not wanting to part with Vucevic.

[pipfan]

I don't think we EVER saw Vuc/JSmith together-I want us to play big. I know it'll never happen, but CWhite could be the best 6th man in the league, and still get 30+ minutes
Okoro/CWhite/TJones
Giddey/CWhite/Ayo
Matas/Huerter/Giddey
JSmith/Matas/PWill
Vuc/Collins/JSmith
Play big, play fast and see what happens