2) Chicago Bulls reserves that should get more minutes
Adam Mokoka, Shooting Guard/Wing
It’s really difficult to not put the former Arkansas Razorbacks second-year center Daniel Gafford on this list of Bulls players that should get more minutes off the bench this season. But it’s hard to say that Gafford is a reserve player for the Bulls when he is already getting so many minutes, and should already be garnering a bigger role in the next couple of games given the struggles of third-year center Wendell Carter Jr.
So if Gafford is already likely to garner more minutes in the near future (assuming that is the move for Donovan and his staff), what spot in the rotation next needs the most help?
The Bulls could definitely use some help on the wing since the third-year former Boise State Broncos small forward Chandler Hutchison isn’t playing well out of the gates this season. And it looks like the Bulls will continue to get mixed results on the wing in the starting five from the rookie forward Patrick Williams.
About the only constant that the Bulls have on the wing on both ends of the floor right now is the veteran small forward Otto Porter Jr. Behind OPJ and Williams, maybe the next solution for Donovan and the Bulls could be one of their two-way contract players. Second-year French shooting guard/wing Adam Mokoka showed flashes in the past and might be a good option on the wing in this rotation.
Since the Bulls G-League affiliate Windy City Bulls won’t be participating in the bubble in Atlanta this season, Mokoka’s lone playing time is going to come in the NBA rotation. He’s a good defender and has some athleticism and explosiveness that is a bit surprising to his game on the offensive end. It might be worth giving him more of a look early on this season.