The Bulls were smart to keep quiet amid dramatic trade deadline
By Josh Bootzin
As rivals improve, the Chicago Bulls have managed to keep one of the best records in the East despite horrible injury woes
In a perfect world where the Bulls have a complete roster with no injuries and every player is playing at the top of their game, the Bulls would have a deep 12-man rotation that looks like this:
Guards: DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, Javonte Green, Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu
Forwards: Patrick Williams, Derrick Jones Jr., Troy Brown Jr.
Centers: Nikola Vucevic, Tony Bradley
No team in the NBA can boast the rotation of guards the Bulls can. These eight players bring every important basketball skill to the table and excel at them, from scoring to defense to passing to freakish athleticism.
DeMar DeRozan is at another level this season. He’s found a new gear at the age of 31, and he’s shined his way to a starting spot at the All-Star game. He’s one of four players this season to average 27 points, five rebounds and five assists. The Master of the Mid-range is sixth in the NBA in scoring (27.5 PPG) and scores the second most of any player in the fourth quarter (8.0). DeRozan also relieves some pressure on the busy rotation of guards by being able to play at either forward spot.
Ayo Dosunmu has been a more-than-welcome surprise coming out of the 2nd round of this year’s draft. The Top-10 Rookie of the Year candidate has been one of the most efficient-shooting rookies in NBA history, plays strong and aggressive on the defensive end, and leads all rookies in assists since taking over a starting spot for the Bulls on Jan. 15th. Dosunmu is a Chicago-native, a fan-favorite, and a future star for the Bulls.
Javonte Green has been invaluable for the Bulls. Another recent acquisition, Green provides solid isolation defense, surprising size at only 6’6”, and thunderous dunks that raise the entire United Center to its feet. In his third NBA season, Green is showcasing career-high averages in every statistical category.
That completes the list of healthy Chicago Bulls players who are playing at their best this season. That’s it. Just DeRozan, Dosunmu, and Green. Every other Bull has room to improve before the playoffs.