Chicago Bulls: Projecting the preseason starting five

Chicago Bulls sixth man

There’s a few candidates that could be in line to be the Bulls sixth man throughout the preseason, and heading into the 2020-21 regular season. But the one that sticks out, at least at the outset of the preseason, is the lengthy 6-foot-7 and 210 pound 29-year-old combo guard Tomas Satoransky. This wouldn’t be all that much of a regression from the role that Sato held for most of last season, all things considered.

Last season, the de facto regular season finale win over the Cavaliers was the first game where Sato did not get the start at point guard. That is likely to hold true this season, unless Sato really heats up and the Bulls projected starter at the position really falters early on. But none of this necessarily means that Sato is going to have a tremendous regression this season.

During the shortened 2019-20 regular season, Sato played in all 65 games with the Bulls (all but the final one of which he started in). And he averaged 9.9 points per game, 3.9 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.2 steals, and 0.1 blocks. Sato shot 43.0 percent from the field, 32.2 percent from beyond the arc, and 87.6 percent from the free-throw line.

If the confidence of Sato holds up and his shooting efficiency, especially from deep, are improved at the outset of this season then his value might rise. It is really difficult to foresee, though, a spot where Sato moves back into the starting five during the 2020-21 regular season, barring any big injuries or trades.