Zach Collins Injured

[sco]

It sucks but it could be a blessing in disguise. As much as we all hate Vuc, we need to give him minutes to showcase his trade value (or lack thereof). But then we have Smith and we can experiment with Noa.

Before you know it, he'll be a rebounding machine, blocking shots left and right, and doing some obnoxious dances... but for real the minutes and experience will be good for him

That whole showcasing Vuc thing ended long ago. Nobody had any interest in giving up any value for him after last season. Best case with Vuc will be that he gets bought out at the after deadline.

[MrSparkle]

It sucks but it could be a blessing in disguise. As much as we all hate Vuc, we need to give him minutes to showcase his trade value (or lack thereof). But then we have Smith and we can experiment with Noa.

Before you know it, he'll be a rebounding machine, blocking shots left and right, and doing some obnoxious dances... but for real the minutes and experience will be good for him

That whole showcasing Vuc thing ended long ago. Nobody had any interest in giving up any value for him after last season. Best case with Vuc will be that he gets bought out at the after deadline.

He’s been bad for years, but this summer’s Montenegro run was a clue that he’s not even NBA bench caliber anymore. This guy was getting his 20/10, but the team couldn’t hang with anybody in Eurobasket. They lost to freakin Great Britain. Like Tristan Thompson when he became a Bull, signing Vuc off the waivers might end up a playoff-hopeful team’s kamikaze button.

It’s amazing how reckless this FO is for even entertaining the idea he’s an important part of the team. It is literally going to possibly hurt somebody, by Billy having the other 4 guys hustle 110% in regular season games to play half adequate defense.

Fwiw, having Vuc start with Jalen seemed to be about the most logical lineup decision Billy made in a long time. Despite funnily being the complete opposite of the way the FO wanted to play the last 2Y. But hey; why not build an identity around a 35yo expiring guy.

So god help us if AK resigns Vuc to a friendly $10M salary extension for 2-3Y.

[sco]

It sucks but it could be a blessing in disguise. As much as we all hate Vuc, we need to give him minutes to showcase his trade value (or lack thereof). But then we have Smith and we can experiment with Noa.

Before you know it, he'll be a rebounding machine, blocking shots left and right, and doing some obnoxious dances... but for real the minutes and experience will be good for him

That whole showcasing Vuc thing ended long ago. Nobody had any interest in giving up any value for him after last season. Best case with Vuc will be that he gets bought out at the after deadline.

He’s been bad for years, but this summer’s Montenegro run was a clue that he’s not even NBA bench caliber anymore. This guy was getting his 20/10, but the team couldn’t hang with anybody in Eurobasket. They lost to freakin Great Britain. Like Tristan Thompson when he became a Bull, signing Vuc off the waivers might end up a playoff-hopeful team’s kamikaze button.

It’s amazing how reckless this FO is for even entertaining the idea he’s an important part of the team. It is literally going to possibly hurt somebody, by Billy having the other 4 guys hustle 110% in regular season games to play half adequate defense.

I think he'd be alot less problematic in a bench role, but BD has small balls.

[SirKaiser]

It sucks but it could be a blessing in disguise. As much as we all hate Vuc, we need to give him minutes to showcase his trade value (or lack thereof). But then we have Smith and we can experiment with Noa.

Before you know it, he'll be a rebounding machine, blocking shots left and right, and doing some obnoxious dances... but for real the minutes and experience will be good for him

That whole showcasing Vuc thing ended long ago. Nobody had any interest in giving up any value for him after last season. Best case with Vuc will be that he gets bought out at the after deadline.

I think the bigger mistake is starting him but that's on Billy. No potential trade partner sees him as a starting C, and neither should the Bulls. I think at this point in his career he can still be a serviceable big if he settles into a bench role and making the most of about 20-25 minutes of play. No more of this 30+ average nonsense.

[poolshark52]

Draft is strong at C… Q, Cenac, and my guy Ngongba from Duke.

Cenac is the only one who is consistently mocked in the lottery. But, again, it's early.

Last year was the year to pick up a later first rounder and grab a center. It was an uncommon year for intriguing center prospects. Depth and variety.

It’s really the only issue I have with AK’s otherwise strong summer.

yep. Was pining for Kalkbrenner. Wolf was also intriguing.

[Dez]

lol, nobody's gonna talk about how exactly this happened huh?

As someone who got into a large argument on charges on two different podcasts and said training to take charges is a ridiculously stupid strategy because most charge/block calls are blocks (mathematically a bad play), the play is dangerous (high risk), and in a no call situation, it means you didn't play any defense (ie, there is no positive value for intent, like if you try to block a shot and fail you usually still have a contest that alters the shot and still lowers FG%), I am happy to discuss how this injury happened.

I have no words for what this FO will come up with next.

I was pretty horrified hearing Billy and the Bulls commentators talking about drawing charges as a point of emphasis. Tre, Pat, Giddey, Ayo and Coby are already injury prone (along with Zach and Jalen). Seriously concerned about Matas, as he’s very competitive… and tall, and important to this team.

How is Giddey injury prone?

[eierluke]

All the more reason to buyout Carter and add Achuiwa for the min.

I hope AKME can withstand. Carters contract as an add in could be an important puzzle piece for a "big" trade

[dougthonus]

All the more reason to buyout Carter and add Achuiwa for the min.

I hope AKME can withstand. Carters contract as an add in could be an important puzzle piece for a "big" trade

You've got Vuc, Collins, Huerter, Ayo, Terry, and Philips on expiring deals in addition to Carter. If there is a big trade to be made, we don't need to worry about matching salaries a whole lot, we have a ton of options. You've got Okoro and Smith with one more year left on relatively cheap deals as well if you need to get closer to Carter's number.

That said, if you really were worried about it, you could waive Philips instead.

[sco]

All the more reason to buyout Carter and add Achuiwa for the min.

I hope AKME can withstand. Carters contract as an add in could be an important puzzle piece for a "big" trade

You've got Vuc, Collins, Huerter, Ayo, Terry, and Philips on expiring deals in addition to Carter. If there is a big trade to be made, we don't need to worry about matching salaries a whole lot, we have a ton of options. You've got Okoro and Smith with one more year left on relatively cheap deals as well if you need to get closer to Carter's number.

That said, if you really were worried about it, you could waive Philips instead.

Totally agree that we have so many expirings that it shouldn't be an issue.

I think Achuiwa is a guy who could be a very useful rotation guy for us. In a lot of ways he's similar to Smith.

[Stratmaster]

I'm wondering what Billy would do if Vuc or Jalen went down or were in foul trouble. I recall Pat playing center a few times. That poor rebounding though! Julian Phillips has the length but he's so skinny (Derrick Jones says hi). I doubt he'd throw in Lachy or make Essengue play out of position so soon.

Billy mentioned last presser about Pat at the 5 before Collins went down. I think we will see Pat get 6-10 mins at the 5 as it opens up more mins for the glut of guards. Noa will def get a look too.

Reevaluated in 4 weeks means playing in probably 6-7 weeks. That’s a lot of games missed.

did he really say that? I made a post a week or two ago that I was sure that we would get a chance to see an Avy, Coby, Giddey, Matas, Williams lineup at some point. I was joking. Looks like the joke is on me. Uggghhhh

[sco]

I'm wondering what Billy would do if Vuc or Jalen went down or were in foul trouble. I recall Pat playing center a few times. That poor rebounding though! Julian Phillips has the length but he's so skinny (Derrick Jones says hi). I doubt he'd throw in Lachy or make Essengue play out of position so soon.

Billy mentioned last presser about Pat at the 5 before Collins went down. I think we will see Pat get 6-10 mins at the 5 as it opens up more mins for the glut of guards. Noa will def get a look too.

Reevaluated in 4 weeks means playing in probably 6-7 weeks. That’s a lot of games missed.

did he really say that? I made a post a week or two ago that I was sure that we would get a chance to see an Avy, Coby, Giddey, Matas, Williams lineup at some point. I was joking. Looks like the joke is on me. Uggghhhh

Unlike many injuries that will limit him staying in shape and keeping his shooting form on, this one seems like the sort of thing that won't require much to get back in the game after it's healed.

[Stratmaster]

Billy mentioned last presser about Pat at the 5 before Collins went down. I think we will see Pat get 6-10 mins at the 5 as it opens up more mins for the glut of guards. Noa will def get a look too.

Reevaluated in 4 weeks means playing in probably 6-7 weeks. That’s a lot of games missed.

did he really say that? I made a post a week or two ago that I was sure that we would get a chance to see an Avy, Coby, Giddey, Matas, Williams lineup at some point. I was joking. Looks like the joke is on me. Uggghhhh

Unlike many injuries that will limit him staying in shape and keeping his shooting form on, this one seems like the sort of thing that won't require much to get back in the game after it's healed.

I hope so. But they are going to re-evaluate in 4 weeks. That means the Bulls will re-evaluate after the first 13 games have been played. Assuming all goes well and he is playing within a week of re-evaluation, that will make 17 games. So best case scenario sounds like he will miss at least 20% of the season.

[Infinity2152]

Bulls did draft a center (Lachlan Olbrich) in the second round, think he's on the roster as a two way player. Depending on when a second center injury happens, he may get some run. If he can't get a look with two center injuries, he may as well not be on the roster. He could be decent, or at least at Phillips or Terry level and they get minutes, lol.

[eierluke]

Is there any hidden problem with Achuiwa?
A player with his stat line should have signed a 3 year 20 mio $ deal, insted he has to look for a roster spot somewhere?

[sco]

Is there any hidden problem with Achuiwa?
A player with his stat line should have signed a 3 year 20 mio $ deal, insted he has to look for a roster spot somewhere?

He's not a good 3pt shooter, but he looked very good in limited action with the Knicks.

[aguifs]

Here we go!!!

[WindyCityBorn]

Who next next big after Smith? Does the Australian center make the roster now? Noa is not ready so don’t even mention him.

[Indomitable]

Who next next big after Smith? Does the Australian center make the roster now? Noa is not ready so don’t even mention him.

He is on a two way. He can brought up as needed.