Chicago Bulls Summer League: What to Watch for Headed to the Weekend

Many of the players remain the same, but it is a new era for the Chicago Bulls. New coach Fred Hoiberg is expected to bring a new philosophy to the organization, and it begins in summer league.

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Hoiberg is one of the only coaches to participate in summer league, but it will give fans an early opportunity to see how he adjusts to the pro game. Perhaps more importantly, it will also give Hoiberg a head start on leading the way for the Bulls from the sidelines.

Here’s a look at the top storylines to watch heading into Saturday’s Chicago Bulls summer league opener. The Bulls have three scheduled games starting on Saturday, with at least two more guaranteed before the 20th.

1. Doug McDermott’s shooting. Former coach Tom Thibodeau had an unofficial policy against playing rookies, which was especially true after McDermott had major knee surgery in the middle of the season. From that point on, he never cracked the rotation again.

However, his skillset fits perfectly in the dynamic motion offense employed by Hoiberg. McDermott was one of the most prolific scorers in college basketball history, and averaged 18.0 points and shot 44 percent from the 3-point line in the 2014 Las Vegas Summer League. This is a great opportunity to show off the multiple ways he can score.

2. Bobby Portis’ offensive game. The Bulls’ first round pick Bobby Portis was named SEC Player of the Year after averaging 17.5 points per game at Arkansas last year. However, it remains to be seen whether his offense will translate to the next level. Summer league would be an opportunity to prove himself. Portis has some skills that would seem to be translatable.

He has great length and quickness for a player of his size. Perhaps most importantly, he can step out and hit a jump shot if given space. This will also be a great barometer to see how his post game fares against better competition.

The NBA game is centered primarily around pick-and-roll, but Portis could dominate in the pick-and-pop game from day one. If he hits his jumper consistently, Portis will find minutes when he gets to Chicago.

3. Will anyone else emerge? Chicago’s roster currently sits at 14, including point guard E’Twaun Moore and center Cameron Bairstow. However, that means the Bulls have some wiggle room if players emerge in summer league, even if just for a training camp invite.

Former NBA point guard Diante Garrett played at Iowa State under Hoiberg and will have an opportunity to step up and run the offense. Another name to watch could be former Illinois SG Rayvonte Rice, who averaged 16.5 points per game and shot 44 percent from the three-point line.

Next: Breaking down the Chicago Bulls Summer League roster

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