Chicago Bulls: Second NBA bubble a great idea for young guys

The NBA seems to be close to a second bubble which the Chicago Bulls would be at the center of.

As one of the eight teams who were not invited to the NBA bubble in Orlando, the Chicago Bulls were ready to see their season officially come to a close. However, the league is close to adding a second bubble, which wouldn’t completely shut the door on Bulls basketball this season.

The Bulls, along with the Minnesota Timberwolves, New York Knicks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Detroit Pistons, Golden State Warriors, Atlanta Hawks and Charlotte Hornets would be invited to this bubble to partake in practices, minicamps and games against one another.

This particular bubble would be held in Chicago, per ESPN’s Brian Windhorst. Also from Windhorst, the play would be similar to an NBA Summer League format. This begs the question, then: Will we see any of the big names from these remaining eight teams?

One general manager told ESPN that we probably won’t see Blake Griffin or “guys like that,” but the participating teams would be on their own in determining a roster.

While some might scoff at the idea, stating it might be pointless or essentially an NIT Bracket, if you will, I believe it would be highly beneficial for a team like the Bulls.

First of all, you’d get to see one more chance given to Jim Boylen before the organization (hopefully) makes a decision on his future. That, for one, is a reason to pay attention.

But, most importantly, this smaller bubble would create more opportunity for the Bulls’ youth to shine. Last season, we were just barely getting used to seeing rookie point guard Coby White elevate his game exponentially each night. He had finally gotten the chance to start, and just like that, the season was over.

Giving White more opportunity to play after such a long layoff would not only be great for he and his teammates, but for the fans, too. Fans loved watching this kid. It all ended so quickly, though, when the pandemic took over the sports world.

More Coby White is a good thing, but seeing the likes of Daniel Gafford play more often would also be beneficial. The Bulls grabbed a strong pair of rookies in their most recent draft, and I believe Gafford is one of the cornerstones to the future of this franchise — especially if they are to have any sound defensive culture in the near future.

Whether or not we see Zach LaVine would be interesting to watch unfold, but if he chose to play, it sure would be fun. At this point, the players have to miss playing the game dearly. Fans miss watching them play. Bringing these eight teams back is a huge benefit, especially for a team like the Bulls who are looking ahead.