That’s right, the Chicago Bulls also played a game today.
On top of the two trades that took place earlier on Tuesday afternoon, the Bulls played in Milwaukee — a 131-115 loss to the Bucks, which very much felt secondary.
Down 26 at halftime, the Bulls quickly cut the lead down to six as Coby White (21 points, 10 rebounds) and Ayo Dosunmu (17 points, eight assists) ran circles around the Bucks in the third quarter. Matas Buzelis (22 points, five blocks) had the freedom to run free and scored. But the Bucks red hot shooting (23-of-38, 60.5 percent) carried them home.
With the roster in extreme flux, Tre Jones (hamstring) was available but did not play. Jalen Smith (calf) returned from injury on a 20-minute limit and scored 16 points. Julian Phillips (wrist) and Josh Giddey (hamstring) remained out alongside long-term injured Bulls, Zach Collins (toe) and Noa Essengue. Reporters in Milwaukee noted that Billy Donovan said pregame that Collins may miss the remainder of the season.
Of course, Nikola Vucevic and Kevin Huerter were not with the team after being traded earlier this afternoon. Jaden Ivey, Mike Conley and Anfernee Simons are not yet with the team.
As the Bulls head into the Feb. 5th deadline, they are 24-27, 10th in the East, with a roster very much incomplete.
Tune into the CHGO Bulls postgame live:
Up next: The Bulls face the Raptors in Toronto on Thursday evening.
Could this be White and or Dosunmu’s last game with the Bulls?
The Bulls finish the day with three more guards than they started with and one fewer center and wing. They’re incredibly deep in the backcourt, with Ivey and Giddey presumably the long-term pieces, Tre Jones, Simons, Dosunmu and White are hanging in the balance. That’s not even to mention Conley Jr. (who is reportedly not expected to join the team) and Yuki Kawamura, who has played well in limited minutes.
The roster is clearly in flux — there is no more starting center and very limited front-court depth. And with t-minus 36 hours until the deadline, it’s hard to imagine them going through their final 29 games with this roster.
Both White and Dosunmu are true organizational success stories. White, the 7th overall pick in 2019, emerged as a fringe All-Star caliber player unusually late, given all the changes to his role over the years. He has emerged as a core voice in the locker room and a steady contributor on the court. Same for Dosunmu, the hometown kid, the Illini legend and the 38th pick in the draft. Dosunmu is playing the best basketball of his career. If this was either of their final performances with the Bulls, it was a nice send-off.
If the Bulls were set up better, both players could and should be long-term fixtures in the organization, but given their standing as perennially mediocre, acquiring assets may be the best decision.
What a day, Bulls Nation! Two trades AND a game! Technically a game. The Bulls dressed just nine players (including Jones, who did not play), given their combination of injuries and soon-to-depart trade pieces. The Bucks took that opportunity — shorthanded themselves, mind you — to drop 77 first-half points on the Bulls.
Dosunmu and Buzelis both shot the ball well. Will these two become even bigger focal points of the offense on a nightly basis after the trade deadline passes on Thursday?
Why did White play that many minutes? I know the Bulls were short-handed, but this guy is almost certainly getting traded in the next 36 hours. Seems like an unnecessary risk to me. Matas, though? Play that young man AAAAALL the minutes the rest of this season.
…Play Patrick Williams none of the minutes.
Was this game the beginning of the end of the Play-In Tournament Curse? Boy, would I be happy if so. Let’s go Hornets. Let’s go lottery pick!
Shoutout Vooch. Best of luck in Boston, buddy. But also, screw the Celtics always.
Wait, there was a game tonight?!?!?
This game was ridiculous. The Bucks were on fire tonight from three. The Bulls played like a team that made a lot of trades today. Nothing was working for them in the first half. They did make a nice comeback.
Dosunmu continues to be absolutely incredible. Non-stop energy and great three-point shooting. I truly love watching him play in a Bulls uniform.
Patrick Lee Williams is AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
The trades the Bulls made were long overdue. I’m happy they made them, though. Huerter was trash from three, shooting 31 percent. The fact that they got positive value for him is really good.
Vucevic is a professional. It’s that simple (it’s a simple game). He is a walking double-double with five assists. He helped the Bulls massively and I’m glad he’s gone because it signals the end of an era. A short, sad era, but an end of one nonetheless.
I have always been an Ivey fan. Wanted the Bulls to get him coming out of college. The injury really set him back and he will have a chance to show that he has some real value and upside these last 30 games or so. Excited to see what he does.
I don’t think that Simons or Conley will stay with the team. I really feel the Bulls are taking a swing at something bigger. Seven guards, a ton of second-round picks and no center? They doing something IMO.
— Big Dave
