PHILADELPHIA – It’s only Year 2 for the Chandler Hutchison experiment, but there have still been only a few first-round justification moments.
Good thing for the Bulls wing that those moments have suddenly been piling up lately.
That’s likely why vice president of basketball operations John Paxson singled Hutchison out last week when looking for the few positives of this season.
“One thing that hopefully keeps trending the right way for us is Chandler is getting an opportunity after having some injuries early on,’’ Paxson said. “He’s starting to show some signs of playing the way we hope he can play consistently with his length and athleticism and slashing ability. He needs to keep going with that.’’
He didn’t against the 76ers on Sunday, but that still doesn’t change the fact that the 22nd overall pick from the 2018 NBA Draft put up 21 on Jan. 29 in Indiana, and then followed that up with back-to-back games against Toronto and New Orleans in which he scored 17 and 16, respectively.
What remains the key for Hutchison first and foremost, however, is staying healthy. Easier said than done. And what’s bothersome is the forward willingly seems to leave the door open that he’s probably headed for some time in the training room sooner than later.
Is he just being honest? Maybe, but this is also a player that still has questions around him on does he know the difference between playing injured and playing in pain?
What can’t be questions the last 10 days is he finally seems to be taking advantage of the minutes he’s getting because of all the injuries around him.
“There’s always that ‘What if’ – if we have these guys now, then this will happen,’’ Hutchison said. “But you just try to do what you can in the moment, right now, and you hope that the people that are out take the time that they need.’’
Walking wounded
The Bulls were still without Denzel Valentine (hamstring) on Sunday, and while rookie Daniel Gafford was cleared of a sore right ankle, coach Jim Boylen stayed away from using him as a precaution.
