Jalen Smith has been getting scrimmage runs with the starters.
But before the Nikola Vucevic haters scurry out of the woodwork, so has reserves like Ayo Dosunmu and rookie Matas Buzelis.
Bulls coach Billy Donovan admitted as much on Wednesday, and then quickly dismissed any idea that Smith could somehow displace Vucevic in the starting lineup, even with the team taking on a philosophy to get up and down the court at a quicker pace.
“We’ve done stuff in practice where we’ve mixed and matched teams,” Donovan said. “We’ve moved guys around. We have done that. But I would envision Vooch starting and (Smith) backing him up. And then (Smith) gives us a little different dynamic in terms of the small-ball five.”
The good news was Donovan had Smith back in action against the Timberwolves after the free-agent signee was dealing with knee soreness the last week.
Where it could get interesting is when Donovan wants to go with a big lineup like he did last season, starting Vucevic and former Bull Andre Drummond.
Because of their skillset, Donovan could see a scenario where Smith and Vucevic are on the floor at the same time.
“With the way (Smith) can stretch the floor, I’m not opposed to him and Vooch playing together some,” Donovan said. “I think because we’ve been pretty cautious with him with some of the soreness he’s had in his knee, he hasn’t had a lot of opportunities in the preseason to play a lot.”
As far as Vucevic a starter long-term? Unless the front office can trade him this season – something they will look to do – because of his ability to stretch the floor as well as play-make, it won’t change.
Vucevic will make $20 million this season and $21.5 million in 2025-26 – the final year of his deal. Smith signed a three-year, $27-million deal in July.
Still on the mend
Youth wasn’t able to be served much against the Timberwolves, as a handful of the younger rotation players were sidelined and dealing with injuries.
Ayo Dosunmu missed his second game with a sore shoulder, Buzelis was kicked in the shin in Monday’s loss to Milwaukee and was still dealing with soreness, Julian Phillips had to leave the Bucks game early with sore ribs, and Dalen Terry was slowed with knee soreness.
Donovan said none of the injuries were serious and it was more about the team being cautious. The Bulls wrap up the preseason on Friday when they host the Cavaliers, and the coach would know more about availability then.