2) 3 things Chicago Bulls want to leave behind in 2020
Playing time for inept big men
Something Bulls fans got very accustomed to in a bad way in recent years was way too much playing time being given to big men that had no business being regulars in any quality NBA rotation. The first name that usually comes to mind in this regard for Bulls fans of late is the overpaid Brazilian big man Cristiano Felicio.
As the biggest deadweight contract on the Bulls current cap sheet, newly hired executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley have to see out the last year of Felicio’s $8 million salary. The former front office regime of John Paxson and Gar Forman handed out way too big of a contract extension too early for Felicio a few years back.
During the shortened 2019-20 regular season, Felicio played in 22 games for the Bulls (none of which he started in). And he averaged 3.9 points per game, 4.6 rebounds, 0.7 assists, 0.5 steals, and just 0.1 blocks. Felicio shot 57.2 percent from the field and 67.9 percent from the free-throw line.
At least Felicio has not played in a single minute during this regular season slate for Donovan and the Bulls.
Meanwhile, another big man that got too much playing time in bad spots last season for Boylen and the Bulls was the former New York Knicks seven-footer and center Luke Kornet. Although he wasn’t as bad as Felicio last season, it would be the best case scenario if the Bulls don’t find themselves in a spot where they need to give Kornet too much playing time this season.
He averaged 6.0 points per game, 2.3 rebounds, 0.9 assists, 0.3 steals, and 0.7 blocks, in three dozen games played last season. Kornet and Felicio both have not played at all so far this season.