Thaddeus Young, PF
A major problem facing Donovan and the Bulls since the trade deadline is configuring the pecking order in the new frontcourt rotation. Donovan made a significant move in the frontcourt rotation last month by moving fourth-year power forward Lauri Markkanen to the bench for the first time in his career to date.
But now, the Bulls need to figure out how to distribute minutes for the rest of the frontcourt. Adding Theis to the frontcourt rotation, along with Vucevic, was big for the Bulls. But they also lost out on the likes of third-year center Wendell Carter Jr., center Luke Kornet, and flipped Mo Wagner to the Celtics at the deadline.
There is some lost depth in the Bulls new frontcourt rotation with the decline in Markkanen’s role.
With that in mind, one point of emphasis for the Bulls will continue to be the play of veteran 32-year-old forward Thaddeus Young. The New Orleans, LA, native and former Georgia Tech Yellow Jacket Young is having a true bounce-back season after his inaugural run with the Bulls last year didn’t go so well under the direction of former head coach Jim Boylen.
There was never really a point this season at which Young was consistently off his game. But he’s still played well for the Bulls post-All-Star Break. In 13 games played since March 11 (all but three of which he’s started in), Young averaged around 14 points per game, eight rebounds, four assists, one steal, and one block. Young sticking around in the starting five down the stretch, if he continues to play this well, could be a key to the Bulls staying in the playoff picture in the East.