3) Chicago Bulls off to the worst start through 6
Chandler Hutchison, Small Forward
The news that emerged on Jan. 1 that the Bulls would be without the former Boise State Broncos third-year small forward Chandler Hutchison, since he tested positive for COVID-19, did thin out their depth in the wing rotation. Donovan and the Bulls do have some depth on the wing to make up for the loss of Hutch for a good while in the rotation.
At least it wasn’t someone like rookie forward Patrick Williams, veteran small forward Otto Porter Jr., or forward Thaddeus Young, wasn’t the one that will be absent in this portion of the rotation for the Bulls. Granted of course we hope for the best in the recovery of Hutch from the COVID-19 case.
However, Hutch did not get off to a productive or efficient start this season in almost any sense. He’s played in four games so far this season for the Bulls (starting in none of them), and only playing in just over a dozen minutes per game. Hutch averaged 3.3 points per game, 4.3 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.3 steals, no blocks, and 0.8 turnovers. And he’s shot just 31.3 percent from the field, 33.3 percent from beyond the arc, and 100.0 percent from the free-throw line.
All of that amounted to a less than stellar 4.0 player efficiency rating, -.072 win shares per 48 minutes, -0.1 total win shares, 38.5 true shooting percentage, and a 79 offensive rating/113 defensive rating.
The Bulls are still pretty thin on the wing, so they’ll need Hutch to play a more efficient role in this rotation once his time to return to the lineup does arrive likely later this month.