A postponed game against Miami last week is affecting the Bulls‘ plans for Coby White, according to Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times (subscription required). The game was rescheduled for January 29, giving the team an extra back-to-back and increasing the likelihood that White will sit out one of those contests.
“The feeling was if the Miami game would have taken place (last week), (White) would have played all the way through the All-Star break,” coach Billy Donovan said. “With that back-to-back there now and the number of games being condensed at the end of January, they’re going to have to look at that. I’m not saying he’s playing, I’m not saying he’s not, but that’s a concern. … “If the Miami game was played, the next back-to-back wasn’t until March, and if he would have continued on a good track, he would have played in that back-to-back.”
The Bulls are being cautious with White as he works his way back from a right calf injury. Cowley points out that the team also wants to ensure that White stays healthy through the February 5 deadline, as his $12.9MM expiring contract makes him an attractive trade candidate. Cowley has reported that the Timberwolves expressed interest in dealing for White, but he says those talks have “cooled.”
There’s more on the Bulls:
- Zach Collins consulted with multiple doctors on Tuesday as he explores treatment options for his sprained toe, Cowley adds in the same piece. It appears the backup center will be out of action longer than the team expected. “The problem is the (walking) boot,” Donovan said. “They want to keep him in the boot, but really no one has made a decision on how long he needs to be in the boot and what will happen. And then, if he is in the boot, what can they do to maintain strength in his calf? Because if he stays in that boot for an extended period of time, they’re worried about him losing strength and some muscle in that calf. That can take a period of time to build that back up.”
- Cowley observes that Kevin Huerter was better as a starter after the Bulls traded for him last February, but this season he’s been more productive in a reserve role. “I think I’ve been really effective at times for this team coming off the bench,” Huerter said. “To be honest, my minutes and my role don’t change, whether I’m coming off the bench or starting, and that’s not the same for every team or every coach across the NBA. The way that we sub and play on this team, the lineups we use, it doesn’t matter that much.”
- Other teams may see Ayo Dosunmu as a potential steal with a $7.5MM expiring contract, but Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune (subscription required) believes the Bulls value the fifth-year shooting guard too highly to give him up without a significant return.