Chicago Sun-Times - All2019-06-23T11:42:25-05:00https://chicago.suntimes.com/rss/stream/184574622019-06-23T11:42:25-05:002019-06-23T23:05:28-05:00Critics be damned, Bulls coach Jim Boylen continues doing it his way
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<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Bulls coach Jim Boylen</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Getty Images</p></div></div>
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<p>Moving one chair over instantly changed Jim Boylen’s life last December.</p><p>It meant being under the microscope instead of working in the background.</p><p>It meant a wave of criticism crashing his way rather than being able to coach in the shadows like your standard NBA assistant.</p><p>It meant dealing with a narrative about his performance on the job as the Bulls’ coach that was created in the blogosphere and had scant merit.</p><p>Boylen adapted to the negativity, but that didn’t mean he was OK with it.</p><p>The one perception that still irks him is the idea that he was hell-bent on reverting to slow-it-down basketball, turning his nose up on the modern NBA.</p><p>It was reported by several beat writers, and even stated by Boylen, that the slow-paced style he employed in December was necessary at the time to get his young team to understand the basics and to purge bad habits. Or as he put it, “getting them to crawl before they could walk,’’ and then eventually run.</p><p>As promised, they were running by February, but then it was rumored that Boylen’s team only started playing at a faster pace because vice president of basketball operations John Paxson pressured him.</p><p>That never happened.</p><p>Both men made that clear.</p><p>Paxson reiterated that last week when discussing the Bulls’ latest draft haul: guard Coby White and big man Daniel Gafford.</p><p>“We’re not pushing anything onto our coach,’’ Paxson said.</p><p>Does Boylen like a lot of four-out, one-in action when the push isn’t there in his halfcourt sets? Absolutely. But he also likes multiple ballhandlers pushing the action, including wing Otto Porter Jr. and 7-footer Lauri Markkanen.</p><p>That’s why the organization was quickly dismissing the notion that the ultra-quick White would somehow be forced to play with a Boylen piano on his back.</p><p>“Jim wants to play faster,’’ Paxson said. “In watching basketball, offense and defense work together. If you’re an efficient offensive team, a lot of times you’re a better defensive team because the other team has to take the ball out of the basket to run against you. If you’re not an efficient offensive team, if you turn it over a lot, you’re not going to be as good of a defensive team.</p><p>“Jim has a philosophy; the multiple-ballhandler system is something that lends itself to playing faster. But you need a commitment to running. And I don’t think we’ve always had guys committed to running, and that will be something [we focus on] in training camp and hopefully this summer.</p><p>“It’s simple when you think about it. If you get the ball up quicker, you have more options, you can move the ball from side to side, teams have to guard a little longer, those types of things. And Coby obviously has proved he can play an up-tempo game.’’</p><p>White has no reservations about his new coach, raving about the meeting he had with Boylen in the predraft interviews.</p><p>“I told my agent and my family after the meeting with coach Boylen that it was great,’’ White said. ‘‘It was the best individual meeting I had with a coach.’’</p><p>Boylen will be getting the Summer League players together and begin practice within the week. It will have a boot-camp mentality to it with Boylen wanting his entire roster well-conditioned. Then in Las Vegas on July 5, all eyes will be on White to see exactly how much Boylen will let him run wild.</p><p>“The great players want to learn; they want to be coached,’’ Paxson said.</p><p>The Bulls are confident White will take that approach with Boylen.</p><p>Just don’t tell the critics. It would only ruin their narrative.<br></p>
https://chicago.suntimes.com/bulls/2019/6/23/18714523/critics-be-damned-bulls-coach-jim-boylen-doing-it-his-wayJoe Cowley2019-06-22T15:20:47-05:002019-06-22T21:18:10-05:00With the 2019 NBA Draft over, it’s time to talk winners and losers
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<p>The NBA world still is waiting for a team’s general manager or vice president of basketball operations to come into a media session right after a draft and admit: ‘‘We had a terrible draft. We don’t really like who we picked.’’</p><p>Bulls executive John Paxson wasn’t going to be the first to break the mold and even joked his draft room was sky-high with excitement about the team’s two selections Thursday, just like the 29 other teams in the NBA were about theirs.</p><p>‘‘Talking as we sat as a group, [GM] Gar [Forman] and [coach] Jim Boylen, we’re really excited about the possibilities,’’ Paxson said. ‘‘But this league is competitive. It’s difficult. Other teams are sitting there feeling like they did a great job with their draft and the direction they’re going.’’</p><p>Maybe, but not all of them should be. Here is a look at the winners and losers in the 2019 NBA Draft.</p><h3>WINNERS</h3><p><b>Pelicans</b></p><p>Even if they simply had drafted <b>Zion Williamson </b>first overall, they would have been sitting atop this category. But they did so much more.</p><p>New exec David Griffin previously had traded star big man Anthony Davis to the Lakers for the fourth overall pick — plus two future first-round picks — as well as Lonzo Ball, Josh Hart and Brandon Ingram, then traded back with that fourth pick to land big man <b>Jaxson Hayes </b>and versatile guard <b>Nickeil Alexander-Walker</b>.</p><p>Oh, by the way, the Pelicans also cleared cap space, so they have about $30 million to spend in free agency if they get that itch.</p><p><b>Cavaliers</b></p><p>They landed <b>Darius Garland</b>, who might turn out to be one of the better shooters in the draft, and are trying to copy the Trail Blazers’ backcourt model.</p><p>But the real work came later, when they nabbed pure scorer <b>Dylan Windler </b>and traded back into the first round to grab the biggest risk/reward player in the draft in <b>Kevin Porter Jr.</b></p><p><b>Hawks</b></p><p>They had targeted <b>De’Andre Hunter </b>and did exactly what they needed to draft him, moving up to fourth overall to grab one of the more starter-ready players in the draft.</p><p>They then landed the enigmatic <b>Cam Reddish </b>10th overall, gambling that he will become an elite forward now that he is away from the shadows of Coach K and Duke.</p><p>The best young offense in the Eastern Conference now has some defense.</p><h3>LOSERS</h3><p><b>Suns</b></p><p>They traded back from sixth to 11th and selected Cameron Johnson, a player they could have gotten late in the first round. Plus, they still didn’t address their point-guard problems.</p><p><b>Kris Dunn</b></p><p>The Bulls point guard said he wouldn’t be giving up his starting position without a battle. Well, a battle is coming.</p><p>In drafting Coby White seventh overall, the Bulls sent a message to Dunn that his play hasn’t been dynamic enough. To make matters worse, a source told the Sun-Times the Bulls will be shopping for a proven veteran in free agency to mentor White.</p><p>Dunn might be elsewhere by the start of training camp.</p><p><b>Bol Bol</b></p><p>No player built up more sympathy as the night went on than the son of late NBA big man Manute Bol. Whether it was his injury history or his lack of fire on the court, the 7-2 Bol fell out of the first round and was selected 44th overall by the Heat, who immediately traded him to the Nuggets.<br></p>
https://chicago.suntimes.com/bulls/2019/6/22/18713788/with-2019-nba-draft-over-talk-winners-and-losersJoe Cowley2019-06-21T14:13:30-05:002019-06-21T19:29:00-05:00NBA Draft 2019: Jim Boylen better open up Bulls’ offense to accommodate Coby White
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<img class="Image" alt="Iona v North Carolina" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/4dc4c15/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4234x2376+0+223/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2F7XNAkawn790njrFuCmj4kzi4oiY%3D%2F0x0%3A4234x2823%2F4234x2823%2Ffilters%3Afocal%283214x700%3A3215x701%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16447401%2F1137671306.jpg.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/257492f/2147483647/strip/true/crop/4234x2376+0+223/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2F7XNAkawn790njrFuCmj4kzi4oiY%3D%2F0x0%3A4234x2823%2F4234x2823%2Ffilters%3Afocal%283214x700%3A3215x701%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16447401%2F1137671306.jpg.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
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<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>North Carolina’s Coby White drives against Ben Perez of Iona during the first round of the 2019 NCAA Tournament.</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images</p></div></div>
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<p>All we’ve heard about Coby White is that he’s fast. ‘‘Blazing’’ and ‘‘lightning’’ have been used to describe his speed. And if you watched him go all-out, his very tall hair bowing to the breeze he creates when he’s running, you know those words to be accurate.</p><p>Here’s hoping Bulls coach Jim Boylen sprinted, White-like, to his chalkboard when the team took the North Carolina guard with the seventh overall pick Thursday in the NBA Draft. If Boylen doesn’t amp up the Bulls’ 10 mph-under-the-speed-limit offense, then White’s talents will be wasted. Handing the kid the keys to a methodical attack would be like handing a songbook of folk standards to Yo Gotti. And, yes, I did just do a Google search of rappers.</p><p>‘‘Jim wants to play faster,’’ Bulls vice president of basketball operations John Paxson said Thursday. ‘‘Jim has a philosophy [that] the multiple-ballhandler system is something that lends itself to playing faster because you can grab the ball off the board, hopefully, and guys can push it themselves.</p><p>‘‘But you need a commitment to running. And I don’t think we’ve always had guys committed to running. And that will be something from training camp and hopefully this summer [that] I know Jim wants to emphasize.’’</p><div class="RelatedList Enhancement" data-module data-align-floatRight>
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<p>The debate about what White is, a point guard or a shooting guard, isn’t really a debate. He’s a 6-5 blur when he’s zooming upcourt with the ball. He should be doing that often with the Bulls and dragging Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr. and Otto Porter Jr. with him. Who’s playing what position won’t matter much when everyone is on the run.</p><p>White can get to the basket or dump the ball to his shooters. I worry that his 185-pound frame won’t be able to take the pounding that comes with going to the hoop in the NBA. Then I think about Stephen Curry’s regular forays into the lane, and the worry eases a bit. But just a bit.</p><p>We’re always looking for comparables in sports, which is why I just ventured into Curry territory. That’s unfair, heading toward ridiculous. There’s no one like Steph. No one has his shooting touch. But lost in all the talk about White’s speed is his jumper. He has a sweet stroke. The combination of a track star’s burst and a shooting guard’s touch is why he broke Michael Jordan’s freshman scoring record at North Carolina. And now I’ve mentioned Curry <i>and</i> MJ while discussing White. Good luck, Coby!</p><p>Rebuilding teams need to hit on their lottery picks. Did the Bulls hit on this one? I don’t like to waffle, but I’m going to go all Eggo on you here. I like the idea of this pick. I like the idea of a speedy guard who hopefully will prod Boylen out of his old-school, half-court mindset. I like that White has an outside shot and isn’t a sawed-off Ben Simmons.</p><p>But I do worry about the abuse his body is going to take at the next level. That was always the concern about Derrick Rose, who attacked the basket first and thought about his body second, if not fifth. And White has a much more willowy frame than Rose does.</p><div class="Enhancement" data-align-floatLeft>
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<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Bulls coach Jim Boylen</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Nick Wass/AP Photo</p></div></div>
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</div><p>White was sloppy with the ball in his one season of college, and that’s not going to work in the NBA. It hasn’t worked for Kris Dunn, who was supposed to be the Bulls’ point guard of the future but wasn’t. There’s a looseness to White’s game that leads to turnovers and other mistakes. He needs to tighten that up.</p><p>Inside those criticisms are a couple of quandaries for White and the Bulls: If he puts on more muscle to withstand the NBA grind, will it take away from his speed? And if he buttons down his game to become a more responsible guard, will he cease being the player who energized the Tar Heels and their fans?</p><p>That’s for Boylen and Paxson to figure out. Bears coach Matt Nagy’s mantra to his players is ‘‘Be You.’’ Do the things that got you to where you are now. Do them to the best of your ability. So the questions involving White are: Will Boylen loosen up the offense enough for White to be himself? Will White be able to streamline his game without losing what made him so effective in college?</p><p>This is what happens when you choose seventh in the first round. There’s no slam-dunk pick at that stage of the draft. After the first few selections, everyone has question marks. There’s no running away from those questions, but a good first step by Boylen would be letting White try. Run, Coby, run. And take the Bulls with you.<br></p>
https://chicago.suntimes.com/bulls/2019/6/21/18701156/jim-boylen-had-better-open-up-the-bulls-offense-to-accommodate-speedy-coby-white-john-paxsonRick Morrissey2019-06-21T13:06:34-05:002019-06-23T18:19:05-05:00Bulls go back to Arkansas to land high-energy big man in second round
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<p>The last time the Bulls drafted a high-energy big man from Arkansas, it was <b>Bobby Portis</b>.</p><p>Second-round pick <b>Daniel Gafford</b>, selected Thursday night, isn’t expected to have the impact Portis did, especially early on, but that doesn’t mean the 6-11 rim-runner won’t be pushing for backup minutes.</p><p>“He’s a defensive rolling center, high energy, can run the floor,” Bulls vice president of basketball operations <b>John Paxson</b> said of Gafford, who was taken 38th overall. “He’s very athletic. His rebounding numbers, analytically, his shot-blocking numbers were really high. He played in a really difficult conference [the Southeastern Conference] and produced.</p><p>“He’s a young man that’s going to have to earn his stripes. But we like him as a basketball player.”</p><p><b>What’s not to like?</b></p><p>Gafford finished first-team All-SEC last season, averaging 16.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. His athleticism in the paint is that of a late-first-round talent, but his lack of any sort of shooting touch outside the paint — not to mention his free-throw shooting — relegated him to the second round.</p><p>His selection by the Bulls all but guarantees center <b>Robin Lopez</b> won’t be coming back in free agency, not that anyone should be shocked by that. But now there’s also pressure on <b>Lauri Markkanen</b> and <b>Wendell Carter Jr. </b>to step up, as Gafford is already more athletic than backup big man <b>Cristiano Felicio</b>.</p><p>There are minutes to be won for Gafford, even if the Bulls add more depth to the frontcourt in free agency.</p><p>“We’re still very young,” Paxson said. “We’ve recognized that for the last couple years. We know this offseason, we have to address some veteran players that can fit into the group that we have, help us win basketball games. It’s something that’s exciting for us.</p><p>“Talking [on Thursday night] as we sat as a group, [general manager] <b>Gar</b> [<b>Forman</b>] and [coach] <b>Jim Boylen</b>, we’re really excited about the possibilities. Jim often talks about [how] he wants the competitive guys — he wants the tough guys, the tough-minded people. I think we got two tough-minded young people [in Gafford and first-round pick <b>Coby White</b>]. We have to approach it the same way as we get into free agency.”</p><p><b>Staying mum</b></p><p>With free agency less than 10 days away, Paxson remained mum on details of what the Bulls will be shopping for.</p><p>“We’ve already had a ton of dialogue as a staff,” he said. “We have a very good understanding of the direction we want to go and how we want to use our money. We’re going to attack that at the proper time. </p><p>“We have ideas in free agency. They’ve got to be the right type of guys for us.’’</p><p>Shortly after the end of the season, the Bulls were eyeing second- and third-tier point guards for free agency, and White’s selection hasn’t changed that. <b>Patrick Beverley</b> would be a great fit, but a source again told the Sun-Times on Thursday that the cost could be high. The same can be said for veterans <b>Ricky Rubio</b> and <b>Darren Collison</b>.</p><p>Meanwhile, <b>Cory Joseph</b> and <b>Ish Smith</b> are two names that continue to come up on the Bulls’ radar. <br></p>
https://chicago.suntimes.com/bulls/2019/6/21/18701101/bulls-back-to-arkansas-land-high-energy-big-man-daniel-gafford-second-roundJoe Cowley2019-06-21T12:24:12-05:002019-06-21T23:03:08-05:00Bulls VP John Paxson is prepared for the White-Dunn camp showdown
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<p>Bulls vice president of basketball operations John Paxson swore it was simply an oversight due to the combination of a long day and the anxiety that the NBA Draft engenders.</p><p>As Paxson was rattling off the key pieces to the Bulls’ rebuild late Thursday night, one name was left out.</p><p>You think Kris Dunn had a chip on his shoulder before the draft? Just wait.</p><p>“I’ve mentioned many times since the season ended that we haven’t given up on Kris,’’ Paxson said when it was pointed out that Dunn wasn’t mentioned. “He’s a good basketball player. I should’ve mentioned him earlier. I apologize. Long day. Brain is fried. We still value Kris very much.’’</p><p>Those words will be tested.</p><p>With speedy Coby White taken with the No. 7 pick, the Bulls continued sending the message to Dunn that his 2018-19 season was not good enough. They have had questions about Dunn as their point guard since last offseason, but after the selection of White, all the talk and speculation became reality.</p><p>A source indicated that, for now, the Bulls don’t plan to move Dunn — even if there was a trade market calling for him — and Paxson said they feel comfortable going into the season with White and Dunn battling it out in training camp.</p><p>“Competition is a part of this business,’’ Paxson said. “You have to have that. The goal for us is to be deeper, more talented. You see in our game today, the successful teams have versatile rosters. We respect Kris Dunn. We want him to come in and work. But nothing can be given to you in this game. And, hey, if he comes in, as we hope, in training camp in great shape and ready to roll, he has every chance to earn any spot he wants — just like any of our guys do.’’</p><p>Anyone who knows Dunn, however, knows he will make this personal.</p><p>He’s admittedly a “dawg’’ and has insisted several times that he wouldn’t back down from anyone the Bulls bring in to try to take his starting job.</p><p>White is not a pure point guard and has some growing to do in key aspects that the Bulls demand from that position, so that works in Dunn’s favor.</p><p>“First of all, [White is] 19,’’ Paxson said. “We have to keep that in mind. Most of the guys in this draft aren’t finished products, not anywhere close. Do we believe he will learn and grow? Absolutely. All of our background on him is he’s the type of young man who will take the challenge on.</p><p>‘‘I do believe, as we talk as a staff, the way we want to play is you have to play faster in today’s game. You have to get the ball up the floor. This young man can play an up-tempo game.</p><p>“Coby White will get better. He’s just starting his career. Our job is to develop him and help him become the best player he can be.’’</p><p>Dunn and White share the same agent — Ty Sullivan — but it’s not like White is looking to back down from the situation that awaits him in camp, either.</p><p>“I’ve been competing all my life within the team,’’ White said. “When I got to [North Carolina], I had to compete for a starting spot. I had to compete for a point-guard spot. Competing is in my blood. It’s in my DNA. We’re going to go at it, for sure. Kris Dunn is a great, great player. I can’t wait to get there and get to work.’’<br></p>
https://chicago.suntimes.com/bulls/2019/6/21/18701020/bulls-vp-john-paxson-prepared-for-coby-white-kris-dunn-camp-showdownJoe Cowley2019-06-20T22:41:21-05:002019-06-21T00:03:23-05:00NBA Draft results 2019: Bulls select Daniel Gafford with No. 38 pick
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<img class="Image" alt="Arkansas player Daniel Gafford speaks during the Southeastern Conference men’s NCAA college basketball media day, Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2018, in Birmingham, Ala. (AP Photo/Butch Dill)" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/d671ea0/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3541x1987+0+351/resize/490x275!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2Fu7TXlgLP-rNpkJ-zP3hPt3pUVrI%3D%2F0x0%3A3541x2689%2F3541x2689%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28731x1126%3A732x1127%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16445834%2FSEC_Media_Day_Basketball.jpg 1x,https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/f8dae24/2147483647/strip/true/crop/3541x1987+0+351/resize/980x550!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fthumbor%2Fu7TXlgLP-rNpkJ-zP3hPt3pUVrI%3D%2F0x0%3A3541x2689%2F3541x2689%2Ffilters%3Afocal%28731x1126%3A732x1127%29%2Fcdn.vox-cdn.com%2Fuploads%2Fchorus_asset%2Ffile%2F16445834%2FSEC_Media_Day_Basketball.jpg 2x" width="490" height="275"
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<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Gafford averaged 16.9 points, 8.7 rebounds and two blocks during his sophomore season at Arkansas. </p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>AP Photos/Butch Dill</p></div></div>
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<p>The Bulls added necessary frontcourt depth with their second-round pick in the 2019 NBA Draft. </p><p>With the No. 38 pick, the Bulls selected Daniel Gafford out of Arkansas. Gafford averaged 16.9 points, 8.7 rebounds and two blocks during his sophomore season. He shot 63.5% from the field during his career with the Razorbacks. </p><p>Gafford projects to be a rim-running, shot-blocking big man. </p><p>At 6-11, 233 pounds with a 32.5 inch standing vertical leap, he’s an explosive athlete who finishes strong above the rim. </p><p>His wingspan — 7-feet-2.5-inches — was the 12th longest from the draft combine and should help him continue to alter shots in the NBA. </p><p>Gafford should be a reliable threat as a roll man out of the pick-and-roll. He made over 70% of his shots at the rim during his sophomore season. Gafford has a knack for drawing fouls — averaging six free-throws during the 2018-19 season. </p><p>He’s raw offensively. Gafford won’t be a threat to score outside of the paint. He didn’t attempt a single three-pointer during his two seasons at Arkansas and was a poor free-throw shooter at 56.2% during his collegiate career. </p><p>In order to stay on the floor, Gafford will need to show more discipline on defense and stop carelessly committing fouls. He averaged 4.7 fouls during his two seasons at Arkansas. </p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p>
https://chicago.suntimes.com/bulls/2019/6/20/18700201/nba-draft-results-2019-bulls-daniel-gaffordKhobi Price2019-06-20T22:03:35-05:002019-06-21T00:07:33-05:00Bulls stay the course at No. 7 and land speedy UNC guard Coby White
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<p>Vice president of basketball operations John Paxson promised that the Bulls would get younger and more athletic.</p><p>Who cares that it took him three years to finally deliver.</p><p>Sorry, Fred Hoiberg.</p><p>A draft with no mystery at the top turned into a game of chess starting with the fourth overall pick. The Bulls stayed the course at No. 7, landing speedy guard Coby White from North Carolina on Thursday.</p><p>Yes, the same White who’s always reminded that he broke Michael Jordan’s freshman scoring numbers at UNC with 562 points.</p><p>But the selection of White didn’t really address the need for a point guard.</p><p>The 6-5 White eventually could turn into a starting NBA point guard, but he was a converted shooting guard for the Tar Heels and has a lot of work to do on his passing and decision-making.</p><p>‘‘I mean, everything is going to be a transition for anyone because you’re playing against such higher competition, more athleticism, better players,’’ White said after he was selected. “But I feel like my transition will go over well. I learn quickly.’’ </p><p>Speed is one aspect he doesn’t lack, however. No player is quicker with the ball, and his ability to drive by defenders will make him as exciting a backcourt player as the Bulls have had since Derrick Rose was blowing by opponents. White also can play off the ball, using his speed in catch-and-shoot situations.</p><p>It’s that off-the-ball ability that Kris Dunn lacked this past season, forcing the Bulls to look for backcourt help. With coach Jim Boylen leaning on an offense with multiple ballhandlers, Dunn often looked uncomfortable setting up for a corner three or moving without the ball, especially when Boylen wanted Zach LaVine to take over as the playmaker.</p><p>Boylen grew unhappy with Dunn’s decision-making and ball security and leaned on LaVine late in games.</p><p>Hoiberg, replaced by Boylen in December, always coveted a dynamic point guard for his high-octane offense but was never provided with one.</p><p>The intrigue with White centers on how, and if, he’ll make the conversion.</p><p>As for the rest of the draft, the top three picks went as advertised. The Pelicans grabbed Zion Williamson with the No. 1 pick, Ja Morant went to the Grizzlies at No. 2 and the Knicks landed RJ Barrett with the third pick.</p><p>The machinations, however, started in the hour leading up to the draft when the Hawks moved up four spots to No. 4 and the Timberwolves jumped up from No. 11 to the sixth overall spot.</p><p>All the moving and shaking might have helped the Bulls, with the Hawks targeting De’Andre Hunter as a must-get to address their defensive woes, then the Cavaliers taking a point guard — Vanderbilt’s Darius Garland — for the second consecutive season in the first round.</p><p>The T-wolves became the wild card, almost making up the Bulls’ mind for them when they nabbed swingman Jarrett Culver. That flushed White, whom they welcomed with open arms, down to the Bulls.</p><p>The feeling was mutual, especially when White met with Boylen last week in a predraft interview.</p><p>“I learned that he’s my type of coach,’’ White said. “Straightforward, he’s very hands-on, which I loved. He even studied my game, showed me film, showed me everything I can work on, everything that’s going to translate, and I loved it. I told my agent and my family after the meeting with coach Boylen that it was . . . the best individual meeting I had with a coach.’’</p><p>With their second-round pick (38th overall), the Bulls added big man Daniel Gafford for some physicality around the rim.<br></p>
https://chicago.suntimes.com/bulls/2019/6/20/18698762/bulls-stay-course-no-7-land-speedy-guard-coby-whiteJoe Cowley2019-06-20T21:53:01-05:002019-06-20T21:53:03-05:00NBA Draft 2019: Full results for Round 1
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<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>Zion Williamson</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Gerry Broome/AP Photo</p></div></div>
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<p>The 2019 NBA Draft went down Thursday at Barclays Center, home of the Nets, in Brooklyn. It was a big night for the league, which welcomed Zion Williamson, Ja Morant and others into its ranks. </p><p>The Pelicans did as expected by taking Williamson with the No. 1 overall pick. The 19-year-old was noticeably emotional in his television interview afterwards, fighting back tears as he credited his mother for supporting him so much.</p><p>The Grizzlies and Knicks also provided no surprises by taking Morant and R.J. Barrett, respectively.</p><p>The Hawks were the team to deliver the first big surprise by trading up with the Pelicans to No. 4 to take Virginia forward De’Andre Hunter. There were reportedly several teams in the hunt for that selection before Atlanta made its move to bolster a core led by Trae Young, John Collins and Kevin Huerter.</p><p>Here are complete results for the first round of the draft. </p><h3>2019 NBA Draft, Round 1 results</h3><ol><li id="keQDa2">Pelicans – <b>Zion Williamson, Duke</b></li><li id="E2kwrZ">Grizzlies – <b>Ja Morant, Murray State</b></li><li id="flF4JV">Knicks –<b> R.J. Barrett, Duke</b></li><li id="to0PKw">Hawks (via Pelicans/Lakers) – <b>De’Andre Hunter, Virginia</b></li><li id="iNeT7e">Cavaliers – <b>Darius Garland, Vanderbilt</b></li><li id="FV66Xb">Timberwolves (via Suns) – <b>Jarrett Culver, Texas Tech</b></li><li id="vRlams">BULLS – <b>Coby White, North Carolina</b></li><li id="GhESvM">Pelicans (via Hawks) – <b>Jaxson Hayes, Texas</b></li><li id="R4ubUj">Wizards – <b>Rui Hachimura, Gonzaga</b></li><li id="cWhrI2">Hawks (via Mavericks) – <b>Cam Reddish, Duke</b></li><li id="YZMWTk">Suns (via Timberwolves) – <b>Cameron Johnson, North Carolina</b></li><li id="xLgWqh">Hornets – <b>P.J. Washington, Kentucky</b></li><li id="2haVfe">Heat – <b>Tyler Herro, Kentucky</b></li><li id="s72K1g">Celtics (via Kings) – <b>Romeo Langford, Indiana</b></li><li id="Lg0uwv">Pistons – <b>Sekou Doumbouya, Limoges CSP (France)</b></li><li id="qIEAKs">Magic – <b>Chuma Okeke, Auburn</b></li><li id="5AUkkP">Pelicans (via Hawks/Nets) – <b>Nickeil Alexander-Walker, Virginia Tech</b></li><li id="Mp9EHs">Pacers – <b>Goga Bitadze, Mega Bemax (Georgia)</b></li><li id="H39s7b">Spurs – <b>Luka Samania, Petrol Olimpija (Croatia)</b></li><li id="5yxPCt">76ers (via Celtics/Clippers) – <b>Matisse Thybulle, Washington</b></li><li id="tt0Gnk">Grizzlies (via Thunder) – <b>Brandon Clarke, Gonzaga</b></li><li id="n4EJY9">Celtics – <b>Grant Williams, Tennessee</b></li><li id="v1uSPh">Thunder (via Grizzlies/Jazz) – <b>Darius Bazley, Princeton HS (Ohio)</b></li><li id="C0f3R1">Suns (via Celtics/76ers) – <b>Ty Jerome, Virginia</b></li><li id="jbmGaK">Trail Blazers – <b>Nassir Little, North Carolina</b></li><li id="RfkGVR">Cavaliers (via Rockets) – <b>Dylan Windler, Belmont</b></li><li id="qPtC2B">Clippers (via Nets/Nuggets) – <b>Mfiondu Kabengele, Florida State</b></li><li id="045ZAE">Warriors – <b>Jordan Poole, Michigan</b></li><li id="eaQuYg">Spurs (via Raptors) – <b>Keldon Johnson, Kentucky</b></li><li id="IPEQSc">Cavaliers (via Pistons/Bucks) – <b>Kevin Porter Jr., USC</b></li></ol>
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/6/20/18693537/nba-draft-2019-results-picks-live-trackerSatchel Price2019-06-20T21:48:24-05:002019-06-20T21:48:26-05:00NBA Draft 2019: Trade tracker for completed deals
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<div class="Figure-content"><figcaption class="Figure-caption"><p>T.J. Warren</p></figcaption><span class="line"></span><div class="Figure-credit"><p>Nam Y. Huh</p></div></div>
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<p>With the 2019 NBA Draft finally here, teams have their last chance to pull the trigger on deals involving picks before they happen. It always creates some excitement throughout the proceedings, whether it’s a team moving up to take a top prospect or a veteran star finally sent packing. </p><p>Two of the biggest trades for this offseason already happened recently. The Anthony Davis saga in New Orleans finally reached its natural conclusion with the Lakers acquiring the All-Star big man for a huge haul. The Grizzlies also moved on from Mike Conley, sending the guard to the Jazz in a bid to boost their rebuild.</p><p>Both of those trades impacted the 2019 draft in big ways. The Davis deal sent the No. 4 overall pick to New Orleans, which now has two of the top four selections. Pelicans GM David Griffin stands in a strong position entering Thursday evening. </p><p>The Conley deal, meanwhile, cemented Ja Morant as the No. 2 overall pick and sent the No. 23 overall pick to Memphis.</p><p>There will be more trades on the way Thursday, so here’s a rundown of them as they’re reported.</p><h3>2019 NBA Draft trade tracker</h3><p><b>Cavaliers get</b>: No. 30 overall<br><b>Pistons get</b>: Four second-round picks, cash considerations</p><p><b>Wizards get</b>: Jonathan Simmons, No. 42 overall pick<br><b>76ers get</b>: TBD</p><p><b>Clippers get</b>: No. 27 overall pick<br><b>Nets get</b>: No. 56 overall pick, 2020 first-round pick</p><p><b>Suns get</b>: No. 24 overall pick, Aron Baynes<br><b>Celtics get</b>: 2020 first-round pick</p><p><b>Grizzlies get</b>: No. 21 overall pick<br><b>Thunder get</b>: No. 23 overall pick, 2024 second-round pick</p><p><b>76ers get</b>: No. 20 overall pick<br><b>Celtics get</b>: No. 24 overall pick, No. 33 overall pick</p><p><b>Timberwolves get</b>: No. 6 overall pick<br><b>Suns get</b>: No. 11 overall pick, Dario Saric</p><p><b>Hawks get</b>: No. 4 and No. 57 overall picks, Solomon Hill<br><b>Pelicans get</b>: No. 8, No. 17 and No. 35 overall picks, 2020 first-round pick</p><p><b>Pacers get</b>: T.J. Warren, No. 32 overall pick<br><b>Suns get</b>: Cash considerations</p><p><b>Warriors get</b>: No. 41 overall pick<br><b>Hawks get</b>: 2024 second-round pick, $1.3 million<br></p>
https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/6/20/18693553/nba-draft-2019-trade-rumors-completed-dealsSun-Times staff2019-06-20T19:38:03-05:002019-06-21T00:10:03-05:00NBA Draft 2019: Bulls pick guard Coby White but more work to be done
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<p>Call Thursday night’s NBA Draft simply recess.</p><p>Aside from the Pelicans and Grizzlies, franchises that believe they’ve added organizational game-changers in Zion Williamson and Ja Morant, most of the remaining lottery teams have a lot of work to do.</p><p>Bulls vice president of basketball operations John Paxson and general manager Gar Forman know that business is poised to pick up in the next few weeks when free agency begins June 30.</p><p>Lightning-quick North Carolina guard Coby White is another key addition for the rebuild, but the front office and coaching staff realize that with more than $20 million in cap space and serious holes to fill, important pieces are there to be had.</p><p>No wonder coach Jim Boylen walked through the Advocate Center on Thursday as if he was already in midseason grinding form.</p><p>No time to chat; he had places to be.</p><p>Boylen has been adamant with management about the additions he’d like to see for his team, but he has mentioned several times that whichever direction the front office goes will be embraced because it will be a roster that he gets to coach from the first day of training camp.</p><p>That wasn’t the case last season, when he took over from Fred Hoiberg on Dec. 3.</p><p>“I can tell you that the thing that excites me about our direction with [Boylen] is his passion and his care level for our players and this organization,’’ Paxson said after 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.</p><p>“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.’’</p><p>So far, so good for Boylen with the players on the roster. Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen have been working out at the Advocate Center this summer.</p><p>The draft added more to the puzzle, but that puzzle still has some serious edge pieces missing.</p><p>The Sun-Times reported right after the season that the Bulls were eyeing second- and third-tier point guards in free agency, and that hasn’t changed.</p><p>Chicago native Patrick Beverley would be a great fit for what the Bulls want at point guard, but a source said Thursday that Beverley might end up being too pricey, considering the interest building around him.</p><p>Veterans Ricky Rubio and Darren Collison 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.</p><p>Two names that keep coming up on the Bulls’ radar are Cory Joseph and Ish Smith.</p><p>Joseph specifically fits what Boylen wants to do, finishing last season fourth in defensive RPM (real plus-minus) for point guards, as well as showing the ability to run a team and get players in the best position to succeed.</p><p>Smith also showed the ability to see the floor and run a team, as well as knowing when to score and when to get teammates involved.</p><p>Kris Dunn has been inconsistent in those two areas, and White won’t have a grasp of them yet.</p><p>Joseph and Smith would allow the Bulls to add more shooting and defense off the bench, with Wayne Ellington still on their radar.</p><p>So the draft helped, but come free agency, playtime is over.<br></p>
https://chicago.suntimes.com/bulls/2019/6/20/18693699/bulls-coby-white-7th-overall-pick-work-to-be-doneJoe Cowley