Chicago Bulls: Veterans get day off at practice

MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 30: Robin Lopez #42 of the Chicago Bulls looks on from the baseline during the game against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on January 30, 2019 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - JANUARY 30: Robin Lopez #42 of the Chicago Bulls looks on from the baseline during the game against the Miami Heat at American Airlines Arena on January 30, 2019 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Getty Images) /
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Head coach Jim Boylen made the move to give some players for the Chicago Bulls like veteran center Robin Lopez the day off for practice on Feb. 28.

The Chicago Bulls get an interesting matchup with talented rookie guard Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks on March 1. To round out the month of February, the Chicago Bulls actually ended things on a good streak. This team won four of its past five games after the latest result against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Two of the past four wins for the Chicago Bulls came over the likes of the Grizzlies. The other two wins came over the Boston Celtics and Orlando Magic. The Hawks would be a nice addition to this streak the Bulls are on lately. However, the best move for this franchise long-term might not be to win more games.

At this point of the regular season, the Chicago Bulls should have the full focus on the rebuild despite things going well on the court. It would be much nice to see this team put it all together on the court at the beginning of the 2019-20 regular season, since it didn’t come at any pivotal point this season.

However, the Chicago Bulls and Hawks are both at the same point now. The Hawks have a player the franchise is trying to build around for the future with the former Oklahoma Sooners freshman standout Young. Meanwhile, the Bulls are now looking to potentially build around the rising power forward Lauri Markkanen.

Chicago Bulls head coach Jim Boylen decided to turn some of the focus to the veterans on practice for the final day in February to give them a much earned break. Center Robin Lopez got a break from both practice and the buyout market rumors on Feb. 28 thanks to this move from Boylen.

According to the Chicago Tribune, Lopez and the Bulls don’t have any legitimate backing to a buyout in the works. The Bulls seem to be planning to keep Lopez around at least until the end of this regular season. That might be good considering the looming thumb injury to rookie center Wendell Carter Jr.

Lopez even played well when the Bulls lost its only outing for the past five tries, against the Milwaukee Bucks on Feb. 25 where he tied for a team-high 26 points. The front court efforts for the Bulls are actually going really well of late.

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This type of unity for this team with some players returning from injury and things falling together nicely at the back end of the regular season is a good sign for the fans. If the Bulls have a successful summer, this rolling momentum could keep through the 2019-20 campaign.