The Chicago Bulls appear to have finalized their 18-man roster and starting lineup yesterday.
According to Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic, Chicago signed Trentyn Flowers to a two-way deal late yesterday. Flowers replaces Yuki Kawamura on the Bulls minor league roster as Kawamura was released due to a medical condition, per Lorenzi.
Bulls Finalize 18-Man Roster With Addition Of Former Clipper, While Defensive-Oriented Wing Believed To Have Won Starting Job
“Kawamura, who played for the Bulls’ Summer League squad and had secured one of Chicago’s two-way contracts, was indefinitely ruled out midway through the preseason with what was labeled right lower leg pain,” wrote Lorenzi. “The Japanese guard’s timetable to return to the court is unknown, forcing both parties to part ways.”
That is terrible news for Kawamura. Perhaps, if and when he is cleared, the Bulls will give the 5-8 Japanese guard another opportunity. He had become a fan favorite.
Flowers had an outstanding rookie season in the G-League with the San Diego Clippers after going undrafted in 2024. The 6-9 forward did see 27 minutes of action over six appearances for the Clippers. He struggled during the summer league and only appeared in one preseason contest for the Clippers before being released on October 16.
Just 20, Flowers is an ultra-athletic, versatile scorer who is at his best when getting to the rim. While Flowers does need to improve as a perimeter shooter, he excels in off-the-ball situations (i.e., cutting) and transition. Defensively, he can guard multiple positions, though his short wingspan limits his upside on that end. Ball-handling and efficiency are also areas that need improvement.
Flowers is likely ticketed to begin the season with the Bulls’ G League squad, the Windy City Bulls. But of the team’s two-way players, he projects as the one who will see the most time with Chicago, with Emmanuel Miller and Lachlan Olbrich also in the mix.
Kawamura was not the only player waived by the Bulls yesterday. The Bulls signed and waived G-League legend Mac McClung. Before McClung, who wasn’t in any team’s training camp this year, can be assigned to Windy City, the Bulls’ G League squad would have acquired his rights from the Osceola Magic.
Roster and Depth Chart
Chicago finished the preseason with a 126-120 victory over Minnesota, posting a 3-2 record. Matas Buzelis, who had an outstanding preseason, led five players in double-figures against the Timberwolves. Ayo Dosunmu, Josh Giddey, Jevon Carter, Zach Collins, Patrick Williams, and Tre Jones were also good this exhibition season.
Chicago has 18 players under contract, including all three of their minor league spots filled. Don’t expect the Bulls to make a move until closer to the NBA trade deadline, if at all. The Bulls are $13.6 million below the tax line and $18.6 million from being hard-capped at the first apron.
The Bulls are a backcourt-heavy team. However, 3-point shooting and forward spots are their weakest areas. Depth at the center is also an issue with Collins’ injury.
Before training camp, Billy Donovan reportedly had a good idea who would be starting. Giddey, Coby White, Buzelis, and Nikola Vucevic were assured of starting. White hasn’t played during the preseason due to a calf injury, but is expected to be ready by opening night. Williams, Dosunmu, and Isaac Okoro missed the Bulls’ preseason finale, though all three are slated to be ready to go when the regular season starts.
Collins will likely miss the first month of the season after undergoing surgery on Friday to repair a non-displaced fracture in his left wrist, per the team. The 27-year-old will be re-evaluated in four weeks, meaning the earliest he will return to game action is around November 20. He suffered the injury against the Wolves on Thursday.
Who Wins The Fifth Starting Spot?
The Bulls were 7-5 when Giddey, White, Buzelis, and Vucevic started together last year. However, the foursome wasn’t particularly efficient over the 258 minutes together, as 10.3 points per 100 possessions outscored them. While the group was excellent offensively, ranking in the top 10 on that end, and liked to play fast, they struggled on defense.
Kevin Huerter, Dosunmu, Okoro, and Jones were all reportedly considered candidates for the fifth starting spot. Okoro, Dosunmu, and Jones are defensive-oriented players. All three have experience starting during the regular season.
According to Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times, Okoro is likely to start the season with the first unit. Of the foursome, Okoro played the most games of the group (four), while Jones began with the first unit three times. Dosunmu and Huerter were in the starting lineup once apiece. Jones had the best preseason of the bunch and was the most efficient.
Why Start Isaac Okoro?
Okoro saw his production dip last year and struggled during the preseason. However, his defensive versatility intrigues Donovan. The 6-5 wing is a capable 3-point shooter, averaging one triple a game at a 35% clip.
“He [Okoro] is a guy that has come off the bench, he has started, so I feel really comfortable with him in the starting lineup or coming off the bench,” Donovan told Crowley after the game against the Timberwolves. “One through four, he has pretty much [guarded] every position; you feel comfortable with him doing that.”
“As you look at trying to match up rotations and things like that, I think we have to use the depth on this team,” Donovan continued.”The one thing that’s been demanding and a little challenging for us is that we just have not been whole [in the preseason], and I have not been able to see as many different combinations as I would have liked to. I think in a lot of situations when you’re dealing with first-unit guys, [Okoro’s] a guy you would feel comfortable defending the other team’s best player because he has done that.”
However, Jones, Huerter, and Dosunmu could get several spot starts.
“Probably over 82 games, there will be a consistent group that starts, but maybe some nights we have to change the starting lineup,” Donovan added. In my opinion, we have to change starting lineups based on who we’re playing and what the matchups look like for us.”
Projecting Bulls Top 2 Units
Last year, Donovan used 24 different starting lineups, with his most-used first unit playing together for 22 games. Additionally, 16 players averaged at least 12 minutes per contest. Donovan typically uses a nine or 10-man rotation.
Starters
PG: Josh Giddey: Can play 1-4, though offensively, he is the Bulls’ primary playmaker and initiator.
SG: Coby White: Top-scoring option and secondary creator.
SF: Isaac Okoro: Versatile defender who will guard the opposing team’s best offensive player. Not a threat offensively except for an occasional three-pointer.
PF: Matas Buzelis: Athletic secondary scorer who can play either the 3 or 4. Decent rebounder.
C: Nikola Vucevic: Despite advanced age, still a reliable double-double machine who anchors the interior.
Second Unit
6th Man: Ayo Dosunmu: A high-energy combo guard who can defend and initiate the offense.
7th: Patrick Williams: Provides defensive versatility upfront.
8th: Tre Jones: Secondary ball-handler who excels at running an offense and is a quality defender.
9th: Kevin Huerter: Good-sized wing who can knock down perimeter shots when he gets going.
10th: Jalen Smith: Stretch-big who is an excellent rebounder and solid rim-protector. Will see more floor time with Collins out.
10th: Zach Collins: Rim-protector, solid interior defensively. Out for a month with a wrist injury.
Extras
12th: Jevon Carter: Veteran combo guard who is a pesky defender
Developmental Players/Injury Replacements
Trentyn Flowers
Emmanuel Miller
Lachlan Olbrich
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