Hello Bulls Nation! and Welcome to the Bulls Podcast, the official podcast for Chicago Bulls fans. This is where we’ll be bringing you the latest news, reviews, rants and opinions on the players, coaches and front office of the Chicago Bulls.
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Intro to your hosts, Marcus Couch and Wyse Black
This is the first episode. We are going to ramp up the show production as we go on. Expect a nicely finished package by the time pre-season starts. In addition to the podcast, we’re going to feature even better ways to get closer to our listeners and those in Bulls Nation. We’re planning on doing a number of things throughout the season, including online game watching parties where you can watch the game along with us and make comments and reactions. We’re also planning live post-game reactions and game analysis via Facebook Live video, and a lot of other cool things to interact with YOU, the Chicago Bulls FAN.
Stories Discussed:
Bulls Draft Picks
Wendell Carter Jr. (Duke)
Chandler Hutchison (Boise State) (HUTCH IS ON)
Picks that never happened
Michael Porter Jr. hype. Second back surgery just happened. Thank you GarPax!
Trading up? What would have we traded for?
Summer League Discussion
Wendell Carter Jr: He was one of the stars of the Summer League, something of a surprise as the No. 7 overall draft pick. He impressed team officials and scouts league-wide with his sophisticated play while still a teenager, his toughness and defensive instincts. ESPN commentators raved about his play. He averaged 15 points, 9.4 rebounds and almost three blocks per game. That soul-stealing two-handed block he had was something we haven’t seen from a Bulls player in at least 20 years.
Chandler Hutchison: He improved as the week went on, averaging 11 points and seven rebounds. He was hesitant at times to shoot. He did show nice passing and rebounding instincts and when he had the ball on the fast break was impressive gaining ground. He had difficulty finishing and often didn’t go to the basket strong.
Antonio Blakeney: The star of the team, Blakeney averaged a team-best 21 points per game. He continued to show an impressive ability to get off shots and score, though often he isn’t efficient. He’s improved his passing but doesn’t move much once he passes. I think the front office was pretty impressed and rewarded him with a new deal, which we’ll talk about in just a minute.
Overall Impressions of Summer League
Free Agent Signings
Bulls – Zach Lavine
4 Year $78 Million Deal, matching the offer sheet from the Sacramento Kings.
Vincent Goodwill did a great 1 on 1 interview with Zach Lavine and he revealed quite a bit, including the fact that he wants to be the one to lead the Bulls back to a championship. He wants to be the guy. In his words, he wants to be great. An excerpt of Vincent Goodwell’s Zach Lavine interview on NBC Sports Chicago.
Bulls – Jabari Parker
Coming back from two torn ACLs, Jabari suffered from the rise of Yannis in Milwaukee.
Moving over to the 3 for the Bulls. Can he make the switch back to his college days?
Derrick Rose is a legend! Jabari isn’t having any reporter disrespect for D.Rose.
Players don’t get paid to play defense [Clip]
Bulls – Antonio Blakeney
AB gets a 2 year minimum contract with the Bulls. This after KD himself tweeted that there is no reason for AB to be on a two-way deal.
Bulls – Antonius Cleveland (Atlanta) claimed off waivers
He’s played for several teams including Golden State, Dallas and Atlanta. Not much action seen in the NBA so far. He’s been played mostly in garbage time at the end of the game, but he’s SUPER athletic shooting guard.
Bulls – Rawle Alkins (Arizona)
Rawle Alkins and Lauri Markkanen played 37 games together at Arizona during the 2016-17 college season. The pair was known together as “The Savage Life” Alkins suited up for the Raptors in Las Vegas Summer League where he averaged 9.0 points and 4.7 rebounds in six games, including a quite impressive 25-point, 11-rebound outing. Everyone is Arizona is freaking out about this pickup. Here’s a rare clip of Lauri and Rawle in college explaining the savage life.
SAVAGE LIFE
Maybe we’ll get rewarded with Lauri taking it up another notch? You know Lauri is going to want to get in the game to play with his old classmate and revive “The Savage Life.” in Chicago. Could this be a new Chicago Bulls Meme? Lauri just shot out the #savagelife hashtag with a video of Rawle doing a crazy dunk. This may be the new #holdat! If you want to watch the full clip of Lauri and Rawle talking about Savage Life, go to BullsPodcast.com/savagelife and you’ll be taken right to it.
Bulls Departures
Jerian Grant followed in the footsteps of Uncle Horace Grant and was sent to Orlando in a three team trade. He is coming off a 2017-18 season with the Bulls in which he averaged career highs in points (8.4), assists (4.6), rebounds (2.3) and steals (0.9). He’s started 60 of his 213 career games and he’ll do battle with the incumbent Former Bulls point guard D.J. Augustin and free-agent signee Isaiah Briscoe for Orlando’s starting point guard job.
Paul Zipser
Back in June, Paul did an interview with a German newspaper telling them that he would most likely not be back in a Chicago Bulls uniform. Thankfully, his prediction came through. So far no one has picked up on Zipser in free agency. This may be the last we hear or see of him.
Ryan Arcidiacono – PG
Ryan had a great summer league showing this year in Vegas. I’m sure we’ll see Ryan around the league for the next few years. In his time with the Bulls last year, Ryan had 24 GP, 12.7 Min, 2.0 Pts, 41.5 FG%, 1.0 Reb, 1.5 Ast. He was also seen throughout the season in the G league.
OTHER ROSTER QUESTIONS
Why haven’t we dumped Cam Payne? (Nicknamed CP22)
Where is David Nwaba in all this?? Why have GarPax let this slip?
Will we be able to finally dump Felicio this year? Or will he make a comeback?
Down to one of the most important Chicago Bulls fan concerns.. Will Megan, Nicole and Ariana from the Luv-A-Bulls be back this season?
Other Teams – Free Agent Signings
Lakers – Lebron here, LA is unimpressed so far.
Warriors – DeMarcus Cousins, One year, $5.3 million
Spurs/Raptors Trade: Kawhi Leonard for Demar Derozan
Cleveland resigns Kevin Love to a 4 year, 120 Million dollar contract extension deal. Does he become the best power forward in the East?
Dwight Howard to the Wizards. Hopefully D12 will call it a career after this year.
DeAndre Jordan to Dallas, joining Dirk Nowitzki who will re-sign with Mavericks for one last year, $5 Million.
Carmelo Anthony will sign for veteran's minimum with Rockets. One year, $2.4 million.
Michael Beasley signs with Lakers, One year, $3.5 million.
Marcus Smart will re-sign with Celtics, 4 years, $52 million.
Tony Parker will sign with Hornets, 2 years $10 million.
Devin Booker signs extension with Phoenix Suns for 5 years, $158 million
Brook Lopez will sign with Bucks (Creating an interesting brotherly Bulls/Bucks rivalry with our neighbors to the north)
Zaza Pachulia will sign with Pistons, joining Blake Griffin. Bad Boys 3.0?
Bulls Preseason Schedule
The Bulls Preseason Schedule just dropped. First game is September 30th.
Sunday, Sept. 30 vs New Orleans Pelicans (The Niko Mirotic / Bobby Portis Battle is on!)
Wednesday, Oct. 3 at Milwaukee Bucks (Lopez Brothers face off)
Monday, Oct. 8 at Charlotte Hornets (First look at Miles Bridges)
Wednesday, Oct. 10 vs Indiana Pacers (Aaron Holiday vs Justin Holiday)
Friday, Oct. 12 vs Denver Nuggets (MPJ in a back brace)
We’re @bullspodcast on Twitter and Instagram. Come and join the conversation in our all new Bulls Podcast Facebook group. Go to bullspodcast.com/facebook and you’ll be taken right to the group page where you can join and chat with us. We’re just starting things out on social, so your support right now is super critical for us. Help us out
Next show we’re going to be giving a player by player rundown of the entire Bulls roster and listing out everything we think they need to do to make improvements this season, and some WILD mid-season player trade proposals that might be controversial, but game changers for the Bulls Roster. In addition to our predictions for which Chicago Bull will make the All Star team this year.
Remember to subscribe to the podcast. Go to BullsPodcast.com/subscribe for links to everything you need to get the show delivered right to you on a regular basis.
