The Chicago Bulls are finally almost at the point of tipping off some sort of game action to begin the 2021-22 season. Granted, on the night of Oct. 5, it is only the start of the preseason slate. Nonetheless, this is still something to see what this Bulls team could look like in the second year under head coach Billy Donovan.
But this Bulls team will be severely shorthanded in the preseason opener on this night. As the Bulls take on former players in power forward Lauri Markkanen and shooting guard/wing Denzel Valentine with the Cleveland Cavaliers, they will do so without more than four of their significant players in the rotation.
We already knew that the Bulls would be without point guard Coby White and forward Patrick Williams in the preseason opener against the Cavs. But the news also came on the afternoon of Oct. 5 that the Bulls would be without the duo of small forward Derrick Jones Jr. and center Tony Bradley.
Jones Jr. is set to now miss this game with an ankle sprain. And Bradley will be out with a lower left back sprain. White is also still recovering from a shoulder procedure he had earlier in the offseason. And Williams is coming back from an injury he suffered last month.
Marko Simonovic adds to the Chicago Bulls injury report against the Cavaliers
Marko Simonovic also is likely out. Tweaked his thumb after going through shootaround. https://t.co/qW0YnxsDhT
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) October 5, 2021
According to a pre-game tweet from K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago on the evening of Oct. 5, Donovan and the Bulls will now also be without rookie center Marko Simonovic against the Cavs in this preseason opener. Simonovic, unfortunately, suffered a hand injury during the pregame shootaround.
The Bulls couldn’t even keep their rotation healthy through the start of shootaround ahead of tip-off against the Cavs.
Simonovic was set to make his preseason debut with the Bulls at home on this night. But he will now have to wait at least until the Oct. 8 home meeting with Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans to make his preseason debut with the Bulls.
Showing a lot of promise with the Bulls in the Las Vegas NBA Summer League, there’s a lot of excitement surrounding Simonovic’s actual rookie debut with the team this season.
All in all, there’s no sense in Donovan and the Bulls risking further injury to any of these notable players throughout Training Camp and the preseason. It’s better to give more minutes in preseason game action to non-guaranteed players trying to fight for roster spots in this rotation than risking further injury to solidify guys on this roster.
Donovan and the Bulls will tip-off to open up the preseason slate against the Central Division foe Cavaliers at home at the United Center on Oct. 5 at 7 p.m. CT. The Bulls will now be doing so at least without five key players against the Cavs.