For all the Bulls fans hoping for a Derrick Rose-Chicago Bulls reunion, they were hit with a tough piece of news on Sunday night, as Rose reportedly agreed to a deal with the Detroit Pistons.
Rose’s deal is reportedly for $15 million over two years and gives a Pistons team that could use more solid guard play a great option.
Over the 2018-19 season with the Timberwolves, Rose averaged 18 points, 2.7 rebounds and 4.3 assists per game while shooting a career-best 37 percent from the 3-point line.
The Pistons will be returning incumbent starter Reggie Jackson, but backup point guard Ish Smith is currently a free agent.
The Rose signing would seem to signify that the Pistons are moving on from Smith, who averaged 14.4 points and 5.8 assists per 36 minutes last season. Expect Smith to be added to the short list of names that the Bulls are considering at the point guard position.
Zach LaVine is one of the faces of the Bulls and also isn’t shy about sharing his opinion.
LaVine did the rounds for a number of interviews for a promotion with CarMax and dished on several things Bulls related. One of the eye-catching quotes in an interview with FanSided was about Wendell Carter Jr.
“He was starting to get into a groove when he got injured man, that’s one of the worst things in all of sports,” LaVine said of Carter. ”He’s been in the gym working all year. He has great defensive intangibles as a rookie, especially for a big guy as a rookie. I feel like it’s always tougher for them, but he’s shown different little flashes to where he’s seemed above his experience level, so I’m really excited for him.”
LaVine himself has gone through a solid year-by-year progression in his career, with the exception of his injury-limited first season with the Bulls in 2017-18. If he thinks Carter can make the same type of progress, the Bulls will have a solid player soon enough.
Carter averaged 10.3 points and 7 rebounds per game before missing the second half of the season due to injury in mid-January. LaVine noted Carter’s defense, which was what impressed people most about Carter as a rookie. The next step will be improving his offensive game.
Carter is fully expected to start at center, especially considering he started all 44 games he played in as a rookie. Robin Lopez is gone, but Luke Kornet and rookie Daniel Gafford have joined Cristiano Felicio on the big man depth chart for the Bulls.
For more on Carter, check out our player preview for him as we lead up to the start of the Bulls season.
On this edition of the Bulls Talk podcast, ESPN senior writer and co-author of ‘Bad As I Wanna Be’, Tim Keown joins Kevin Anderson to discuss Dennis Rodman’s autobiography, the 30 for 30 documentary, and the impact of sports on a community.
0:45 Tim on the Rodman 30 for 30 and if it was an accurate portrayal of who Rodman is
2:35 If he knew how big ‘Bad As I Wanna Be’ was going to be when it came out
5:00 On the process of writing the book and getting Rodman’s ‘voice’ right
7:45 More on writing the book and getting Rodman’s words and thoughts in print
9:40 On Rodman’s reaction to ‘Bad As I Wanna Be’
11:15 On when Tim realized the impact of the book on Rodman
13:10 Tim on how the book impacted his own career
16:45 How Rodman came across as lonely in the 30 for 30 doc, is that accurate?
18:50 On Rodman’s legacy, what will he be remembered for?
21:20 On if Tim would like to do a follow-up book with Rodman
22:40 On Tim’s story for ESPN on Paradise High School’s football team and the impact of recovering from the devastating fire in 2018
29:35 On how sports can help a community recover from a tragedy
Listen to the full podcast here or via the embedded player below:
Bulls Talk Podcast
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