What would YOUR rotation look like to start the season?

[sco]

Maybe this is cheating for this exercise, but I would like to mostly see open competitions in camp.

The only players that I would start no matter what are Giddey and White. Two center slots completely open. Starting PF? Open between Williams and Buzelis. Final starter? Ayo, Okoro, Jones, Huerter should all have a shot.

Like this thought, but Matas is a must start to me along with Coby and Giddey. The other two spots should go to the camp battle winners. Williams can compete for starting SF, who knows how he'll show up? Would prioritize players who are not expiring and are likely to be here next year.

A great reward for the Bulls would be a motivated, improved Pat Will. Hopefully the addition of Matas, Essengue, and Okoro make him want to step up. Talentwise, he could still be pretty damn good, and he's gone from the 19 yr old on a squad with multiple veteran All-stars to being a vet on a much younger team. Optimistic, but not impossible.

I think most of us agree that camp performance should impact all of this. But since camp hasn't happened yet and I didn't want to introduce guess work by all into this, the idea is to state how you'd play the guys based on what we know today.

Start Giddey, White, Okoro, Buzelis, Smith...bench Jones, Ayo, Huerter, Pat/Noa, Collins...Vuc, Carter, Terry, Phillips talk among themselves during games, although I could get comfortable playing Phillips over Pat if he continues to improve.

[Infinity2152]

Maybe this is cheating for this exercise, but I would like to mostly see open competitions in camp.

The only players that I would start no matter what are Giddey and White. Two center slots completely open. Starting PF? Open between Williams and Buzelis. Final starter? Ayo, Okoro, Jones, Huerter should all have a shot.

Like this thought, but Matas is a must start to me along with Coby and Giddey. The other two spots should go to the camp battle winners. Williams can compete for starting SF, who knows how he'll show up? Would prioritize players who are not expiring and are likely to be here next year.

A great reward for the Bulls would be a motivated, improved Pat Will. Hopefully the addition of Matas, Essengue, and Okoro make him want to step up. Talentwise, he could still be pretty damn good, and he's gone from the 19 yr old on a squad with multiple veteran All-stars to being a vet on a much younger team. Optimistic, but not impossible.

I think most of us agree that camp performance should impact all of this. But since camp hasn't happened yet and I didn't want to introduce guess work by all into this, the idea is to state how you'd play the guys based on what we know today.

No arguments there. Already posted my thoughts on that. When I answered I locked Okoro in at starting SF, but neither he nor any of the guys have really locked that spot down. Honestly hadn't really considered P Will earning the starting spot, so Okoro kind of got the spot by default.

I know Pat is considered old and washed at the ripe age of 24, but if this season is about potential and upside, would be hard for me to say Ayo, Jones, Okoro, Huerter have more upside potential. So Okoro right now, but if Pat beats him out in camp, I'd take the swing on Pat. There's very little to lose.

[kodo]

Seems like most spots are consensus
G - Giddey starts
G - Coby starts
F - Matas starts
C - Vuc starts (whether you like it or not)

The only real camp question is Huerter starting as he did last season or if Okoro (or even Pat) earns the starting nod.
Interesting because they are wildly different players.

Huerter made the 2nd most 3s on the Bulls after Coby (and Lavine who's gone). He also only averaged 1 less APG than Coby who has the ball a lot more, he had as many APG as Lonzo. That all being said, it's clear we need more defense and it's not going to come from the C position like most teams.

[jnrjr79]

Seems like most spots are consensus
G - Giddey starts
G - Coby starts
F - Matas starts
C - Vuc starts (whether you like it or not)

The only real camp question is Huerter starting as he did last season or if Okoro (or even Pat) earns the starting nod.
Interesting because they are wildly different players.

Huerter made the 2nd most 3s on the Bulls after Coby (and Lavine who's gone). He also only averaged 1 less APG than Coby who has the ball a lot more, he had as many APG as Lonzo. That all being said, it's clear we need more defense and it's not going to come from the C position like most teams.

Given that AK said something to the effect of "we have our offensive identity, but still need our defensive identity" in explaining the Okoro trade, my guess is Okoro is the leader in the clubhouse at this point.

[Infinity2152]

Agree Okoro is the most likely by far. Myself, I admit I'm guilty of writing Pat off and the suggestion of camp battle kind of made me re-think that. Situation now is far different than the last few years, and imo he still has a pretty good ceiling if he can reach it.

He and Okoro are about the same age. Very possible they come back and he kicks Okoro's butt in camp.

[eierluke]

Our rotation should be:
White
Giddey
Okoro
Buzelis
Collins

2nd unit
Jones
Huerter
Dosunmu
Smith
Vujcevic

Billy will however start with Vuc instead of Collins and will play Williams instead of Smith.
The more I think about the more I fear that we will have a problem with bench scoring. Even some Horton Tucker like scorer could help our bench

[poolshark52]

I would say:
Starters: Giddey, Coby, Okoro, Matas, Collins

I'd start with Ayo, Huerter, and Tre fighting backup minutes at the 1-3.
Pat / Essengue fighting for backup forward
Smith as the back up center

Initially out: Vuc, Terry, Philips, Carter

I agree for the most part. Suspect Okoro could be as bad as Pat. Collins is def best 5 currently on roster.

Semi-Realistic Dreamworld: Giddey, Coby, Kuminga, Matas, and Collins becomes Kessler at the deadline or something like that. I think he could still become similar to Zubac. I could at least feel semi upbeat about that group. Maybe better to keep Vuc featured and tank for good picks next year however. I'd still want to get rid of Vuc at the deadline for at least a second.

[Moon]

As it stands today
Josh Giddey
Kevin Huerter
Isaac Okoro
Matus Buzelis
Nikola Vucevic

Reasoning: Coby White needs to heal .....Ayo is coming back from injury, Vucevic needs exposure to be tradable

In the near future
Coby White
Josh Giddey
Isaac Okoro
Matus Buzelis
Walker Kessler

[sco]

As it stands today
Josh Giddey
Kevin Huerter
Isaac Okoro
Matus Buzelis
Nikola Vucevic

Reasoning: Coby White needs to heal .....Ayo is coming back from injury, Vucevic needs exposure to be tradable

In the near future
Coby White
Josh Giddey
Isaac Okoro
Matus Buzelis
Walker Kessler

Sounds like they are just being cautious with Coby during the preseason. He will likely be ready of opener. But can we dispel the myth that playing Vuc is going to have any impact on his trade value? If last season didn't do it, nothing will. At this point he can only show age-related declines. Honestly, we should be spotlighting him as an off-the-bench scorer, which is the only role he will be considered for and would be beneficial to our team at the same time.

[dougthonus]

Sounds like they are just being cautious with Coby during the preseason. He will likely be ready of opener. But can we dispel the myth that playing Vuc is going to have any impact on his trade value? If last season didn't do it, nothing will. At this point he can only show age-related declines. Honestly, we should be spotlighting him as an off-the-bench scorer, which is the only role he will be considered for and would be beneficial to our team at the same time.

Doing anything for Vuc's trade value is a completely wasted effort whether it would work or not work, and I agree with you that it would not work.

1: He is expiring, there is no dire need to get out of his contract at this point just to get out of it. The only value in trading him is based on what he can bring back based on his talent as a player (effectively nothing).

2: If you are trading him as matching salary to take on greater length of money, then Vuc the player is irrelevant in that conversation (or near irrelevant). We also have many expiring salaries (Collins / Huerter / Carter / Coby / Ayo) of various types of on court value from 0 to quite a bit to match trades

3: The max amount Vuc will ever have in on court value + contract value is probably a 2nd rounder above a completely dead salary (ie, someone has 20M that has 0 value and will pay a 2nd rounder to upgrade that into Vuc). That's just not enough juice to be worth the squeeze.

[pipfan]

I know it won't happen, but I would like to see White as a high minute 6th man, and start Huerter for better defense
Giddey/Jones
Huerter/White
Okoro/White
Matas/PWill
Vuc (by default, I guess)/Collins
Ayo/Noa/JSmith as deep bench
Phillips/Terry/Carter-break glass in case of emergency

I also still want us to trade for Lauri and go for 50 wins

[burlydee]

I'd start

Giddey
Coby
Okoro
Buzelis
Vuc

I think the Bulls best perimeter defender between himself, Pat Williams, and Huerter. Given that, I think he's get the nod as the guy who takes on the toughest perimeter player each game. I just think he has more versatility on perimeter D than P Will. If he can't hit 3's, that would open it up for Huerter, but I think he gets the nod.

I'd use Huerter as the primary scoring back up at the 2/3 and Ayo as the primary defensive backup at 2/3. Jones backs up Giddey. P Will gets a chance as primary defender on bigger wings off the bench. Collins is the primary 5. 10-man rotation. Terry, Phillips, Smith, Carter are out of rotation.

[sco]

Mine:

Giddey 30/Jones 18
White 30/Huerter 18
Okoro 26/Pat or Ayo 22 (based on camp battle)
Buzelis 30/Pat 10/Noa 8 (but with Noa earning more over the course of the season)
Smith 20/Collins 20/Vuc 8

[Stratmaster]

Vuc is the biggest pouter on the team. Hes also the oldest and most accomplished.

Lots of guys like him across the league are so unaware and live in the glory days. He resigned to start here not come off the bench. That’s my guess for his response. Billy is also very loyal and players coach. Don’t think he’d ask him to come off the bench or tell him.

Considering the Bulls are developing players this season I’d think that will be Billy’s memo to reduce his mins. Will be shocked if he comes off the bench.

He's some times pouty on the floor, but I've never seen any evidence that he is disruptive in the locker room or would refuse to play a specific role. Given he will almost certainly come off the bench for any contender he goes to, it seems unlikely that he'd want to refuse that role here if he's looking for a new destination as doing so (or being a cancer in general) would likely diminish his chances to land somewhere else which is likely his goal.

As far as the Bulls, we may behave exactly like you say and start him anyway. Donovan may be loyal to him for the reasons you stated. That's a different argument than Vuc refusing to come off the bench though. I definitely think there is a good chance we opt to start him.

Didn't Vuc throw a fit after 1 game, 2 seasons ago, because they didn't run the offense through him? Maybe I have been making that up but I remember it pretty clearly. He isn't going to like it if he comes off the bench. That doesn't mean Billy shouldn't do it. Just like when Vuc complained it doesn't mean Billy should have caved like he did.

[Stratmaster]

I would say:
Starters: Giddey, Coby, Okoro, Matas, Collins

I'd start with Ayo, Huerter, and Tre fighting backup minutes at the 1-3.
Pat / Essengue fighting for backup forward
Smith as the back up center

Initially out: Vuc, Terry, Philips, Carter

While I still think Coby's best role is off the bench, the Bulls no longer have any other option but to start him, So I would agree with this. I would be fine if Smith started instead of Collins in a scenario like this where Vuc is out of the rotation. Who starts really wouldn't matter to me. Give Collins and Smith each 24 minutes.

I have this ugly, gnawing, feeling in my gut that Vuc and PWill will both end up starting. Vuc because it is very likely. Williams because I have Pat Williams PTSD.

[dougthonus]

Didn't Vuc throw a fit after 1 game, 2 seasons ago, because they didn't run the offense through him? Maybe I have been making that up but I remember it pretty clearly. He isn't going to like it if he comes off the bench. That doesn't mean Billy shouldn't do it. Just like when Vuc complained it doesn't mean Billy should have caved like he did.

When he signed his contract extension, he said they talked about running more offense through him, and awhile back, he also definitely said he wanted more touches. I think that is different than demanding a role and refusing to play, but we may be a bit in semantics land there. Last winter, BD had a talk with him about changing his role here and getting less touches, and he was accepting of it from reports and had a strong back half of the year in a lesser role (touch wise, obviously still started).

[dougthonus]

While I still think Coby's best role is off the bench, the Bulls no longer have any other option but to start him, So I would agree with this. I would be fine if Smith started instead of Collins in a scenario like this where Vuc is out of the rotation. Who starts really wouldn't matter to me. Give Collins and Smith each 24 minutes.

I have this ugly, gnawing, feeling in my gut that Vuc and PWill will both end up starting. Vuc because it is very likely. Williams because I have Pat Williams PTSD.

I wouldn't be shocked with that starting lineup. I agree it is overwhelmingly likely that Vuc starts given the talk coming out of camp.

[sco]

While I still think Coby's best role is off the bench, the Bulls no longer have any other option but to start him, So I would agree with this. I would be fine if Smith started instead of Collins in a scenario like this where Vuc is out of the rotation. Who starts really wouldn't matter to me. Give Collins and Smith each 24 minutes.

I have this ugly, gnawing, feeling in my gut that Vuc and PWill will both end up starting. Vuc because it is very likely. Williams because I have Pat Williams PTSD.

I wouldn't be shocked with that starting lineup. I agree it is overwhelmingly likely that Vuc starts given the talk coming out of camp.

Unfortunately, I agree with you. Barring injury or such a slow start in the first 20 games, I don't see anything knocking enough sense into Billy to make a change at center.

[League Circles]

In fairness to Vuc who I often absolutely trash, IF Okoro starts, which he probably will, Vuc's shooting range makes a lot of sense to complement the other 4 guys.

[dougthonus]

In fairness to Vuc who I often absolutely trash, IF Okoro starts, which he probably will, Vuc's shooting range makes a lot of sense to complement the other 4 guys.

If Vuc actually shoots well:
2024: 40.2% Hooray!
2023: 29.4% Unplayably bad
2022: 34.9% Bad (given only wide open shots and no one guarding him)
2021: 31.4% Unplayably bad

The good news is the most recent year is a good year, the bad news is that over the last four years, two of them were god awful, like don't even shoot bad, and 1 was bad but not god awful.