Chicago Bulls: 3 players with the most to prove in Training Camp

3) Chicago Bulls with most to prove in camp

Just because a player has a lot to prove in Training Camp for the Bulls doesn’t mean that is has to be someone that is returning from last season’s team. There are a few players that will have to prove themselves in Training Camp that are among the new faces at the Advocate Center this year. One of those is a former Bulls big man, and the 6-foot-10 and 260 pound 25-year-old power forward/center Noah Vonleh.

The contract that Karnisovas and the Bulls signed with Vonleh is a one-year non-guaranteed deal. Although this contract does become guaranteed if Vonleh is on the Bulls roster on opening night of the 2020-21 regular season. The Bulls tip off their regular season against the Atlanta Hawks on Dec. 23.

Moreover, Vonleh is already a career journeyman in the NBA. He’s already had one go-around with the Bulls, back during the 2017-18 regular season. During that campaign, Vonleh played in 21 games with the Bulls (four of which he started in). And he averaged 6.9 points per game, 6.9 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.3 blocks.

Vonleh’s 2019-20 campaign saw him split time between the Minnesota Timberwolves and Denver Nuggets. Between his time with the Nuggets and Timberwolves, Vonleh played in 36 games during the shortened 2019-20 regular season (just one of which he started in). And he averaged 3.7 points per game, 3.4 rebounds, 0.8 assists, 0.3 steals, and 0.2 blocks. Vonleh shot 56.5 percent from the field, 20.0 percent from beyond the arc, and 78.1 percent from the free-throw line.

For Vonleh to move up the depth chart to the point where he would get enough playing time in the 15-man rotation, he would have to have a solid run in Training Camp and during the regular season.