Chicago Bulls: This is Luke Kornet’s opportunity to shine

In a crucial showdown that is nationally televised on ESPN between the Chicago Bulls and Philadelphia 76ers, the play of Luke Kornet will be an x-factor.

On Jan. 17, the Chicago Bulls have a very important test against the Philadelphia 76ers on the road on national television. This Friday night showdown between the Bulls and the Sixers is going to have a key focus on the frontcourt matchups. And the Sixers should have the decisive advantage in this frontcourt matchup with the Bulls.

One of the players to watch for the Bulls that is key to watch that will get an increase in playing time against the Sixers is the former New York Knicks seven-footer and 24-year-old center Luke Kornet. Amid a myriad of injuries in the Bulls frontcourt rotation, the playing time is going to have to get shifted around a good amount in the next few weeks.

Due to two bad injuries to the Bulls top two centers, rookie Daniel Gafford and second-year big man Wendell Carter Jr., Kornet is going to get a bigger role under head coach Jim Boylen. The Bulls should also be giving heavier roles to power forward Lauri Markkanen and veteran power forward Thaddeus Young.

So far this season, Kornet is averaging 3.4 points per game, 1.8 rebounds, and 0.5 assists, while shooting 36.4 percent from field and 25.5 percent from three-point range. His numbers are down from his two seasons with the Knicks previous to signing with the Bulls in free agency last offseason.

Kornet is not shooting as well as he did during his two seasons with the Knicks. And while his block rate improved this season with the Bulls, there are times where he just looks out of place on defense since he’s not the most fleet-of-foot.

But the 7-foot-2 and 240 pound Kornet needs to be better utilized now to maximize his skill set. He’s a solid rim protector and can be a good outside shooter that fits more of the Brook Lopez-mould with the Milwaukee Bucks. Boylen is using him at the moment like he is a carbon copy of WCJ in the sense that he’s having to cover a lot of ground on defense.

Part of the success of Kornet in this elevated role will put pressure on his shoulders, and the rest will be on Boylen and the Bulls coaching staff to make adjustments. Kornet needs to be less active outside of the paint on defense, but the ultra-aggressive scheme Boylen uses needs him to do that. Give Kornet more open looks on the outside while maximizing his output on defense and his efficiency should shoot through the roof.