The questions for the Bulls this summer are still many.
Big man Wendell Carter Jr. is headed for a Tuesday surgery to repair what could be a sports hernia, while the surgically-repaired foot of former first-round pick Denzel Valentine is still a work in progress as far as his return timetable come late September.
Then factor in the development of Coby White currently taking place in Summer League play, the possibility of trading Kris Dunn, and of course how the recent acquisitions of Tomas Satoransky and Thaddeus Young will affect the roster, and well, it won’t be a boring next few months leading into training camp.
What isn’t questioned?
The organization’s standing as far as Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen are concerned.
This is their team. The support pieces have been put in place, the runway has been cleared, and now it’s take-off time for both.
Sink or swim. Pass-fail.
In a superstar league, the Bulls are void of superstars. They know that, and have been reminded of it frequently throughout this rebuild. Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving aren’t walking through that Advocate Center door anytime soon.
That means the push for a star player has to come from within.
Unfair pressure on LaVine and Markkanen? Maybe. But coach Jim Boylen knows the pressure also falls on him to get those two players to that level.
“It is on me, yes sir,’’ Boylen said. “And I take that responsibility to heart. But I think with the pieces we [added in free agency], we have honored where we think Zach and Lauri can go, and we’ve cleared a way for them to become what we hope they can be. I’m hoping they take that, they take their crown and they run with it. That’s what we hope.’’
Not the only time Boylen used that term “take their crown’’ over the weekend, either.
Both LaVine and Markkanen showed star glimpses last season. Especially Markkanen, who put together a February to remember in which the 7-footer averaged 26 points, 12.2 rebounds and 2.4 assists, while shooting 35 percent from three-point range in that 11-game stretch.
Those aren’t typical numbers for a second-year player, especially a big man.
Enough of a sample size that – right or wrong – had the front office believing that their free-agent shopping should be focused on making life easier for both LaVine and Markkanen by bringing in support players that fit their style of play.
Even with almost $23 million in cap room to spend, hunting whales was never in the plans.
So yes, the message has been sent to LaVine and Markkanen that it’s their team, but also that it’s their opportunity to become next-level players in the eyes of the rest of the Association.
“We believe in them,’’ Boylen said. “I think [the free-agent decisions are] a statement of belief. I think we’ve made a commitment to this roster build out. Again, I use that kind of saying that they’ve got to take their crown and they’ve got to run with it. They’ve got to wear it, they’ve got to own it, and they’ve got to do it.
“We think they can. I know they can. They’ve done it. What we want them to do is do it more consistently, and they’ve both had great moments in a Bulls uniform, a great month, a great streak of games, but now we’ve got to do it for 82. That’s my challenge, their challenge, and we’re going to do it together.’’
NOTE: The Bulls announced that second-round pick [38th overall] Daniel Gafford was signed to his rookie contract on Monday. The 6-11 center has been starting for the Bulls in Summer League play.
