Call Thursday night’s NBA Draft simply recess.
Unless your organization was New Orleans or Memphis, two franchises that came out of the night feeling like they have added serious organizational game-changers in Zion Williamson and Ja Morant, the real work is still ahead for most of the remaining lottery teams.
Bulls vice president of basketball operations John Paxson and general manager Gar Forman know that, as business is poised to pick-up in the next few weeks when free agency hits on June 30.
Yes, adding a lightning-quick guard like Coby White was another key piece for the rebuild, but the Bulls front office and coaching staff knows that with over $20-million in cap space and serious holes in the team’s depth, important ticket items are there to be had.
No wonder Bulls coach Jim Boylen walked through the Advocate Center on Thursday, looking like he was already in mid-season grinding form.
No time to chat, and places to be.
Boylen has been adamant in what he would like to see added to his current roster, but has stated several times that whichever direction his front office goes will be embraced because it will be a roster that he gets to coach from the first day of training camp.
That wasn’t the case last season, taking over from Fred Hoiberg on Dec. 3.
“I can tell you that the thing that excites me about our direction with our head coach is his passion and his care level for our players and this organization,’’ Paxson said about Boylen following the season. “He wants to succeed, he wants our players to get better. He has a plan in place for all of them in order to do so this offseason, and that’s very encouraging.
“I think given the summer and given the opportunity to go into training camp next year with his own beliefs and philosophy will be an advantage for us.’’
So far so good for Boylen with the current players on the roster, as the Bulls have seen the likes of Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen in the Advocate Center, working out this summer.
The draft added more to the puzzle, but it’s a puzzle with some serious edge pieces still missing.
The Sun-Times reported right after the season that the Bulls were eyeing second- and third-tier point guards in free agency, and that has not changed with the selection of White.
Yes, Chicago’s own Patrick Beverley would be a great fit for what the Bulls want from the point guard position, but a source reiterated to the Sun-Times on Thursday that the feeling is Beverley might end up being too pricey considering the other interest building around him.
Veterans Ricky Rubio and Darren Collison both bring strengths to the position – especially Rubio with his court vision – but again, the Bulls aren’t the only players in the point guard sweepstakes and are looking more for a mentor to White.
The two names that continue to come up on the Bulls radar are Cory Joseph and Ish Smith. Joseph specifically fits what Boylen wants to do, finishing last season fourth in defensive RPM, as well as showing the ability to run a team and get players in the best position to succeed.
Smith also showed an ability to see the floor and run a team, as well as knowing when to score and when to get teammates involved.
Two areas that Kris Dunn has been inconsistent with, and White won’t have a grasp of just yet.
What a Joseph and Smith allow the Bulls to do is also add more shooting and defense off the bench, with Wayne Ellington still on the radar.
So the draft helped, but come free agency play-time is over.
