It’s about to get messy. The Chicago Bulls made seven trades in a matter of days, loading up on guards, yet they still haven’t seen the full version of this rotation. Josh Giddey and Tre Jones, two of their most important backcourt pieces, have yet to share the floor with the new-look group due to injury.
The return of Josh Giddey and Tre Jones
Giddey, now Chicago’s leading scorer after Coby White’s departure, has been sidelined since late January with a lingering hamstring strain. The Aussie missed 11 straight games from late December to mid-January, briefly returned for four appearances, then was shut down again.
Jones, meanwhile, is also dealing with a hamstring strain. He’s missed 11 games with the injury but appears close to a return. Recently listed as doubtful rather than out, he’s even participated in pregame shootarounds. With an eight-day gap between the Bulls’ last game and their first contest after the All-Star break, it’s likely he’ll be ready to return to action.
Thus, it’s reasonable to expect Giddey and Jones back for Chicago’s February 19 matchup against the Toronto Raptors. But where do they fit? It almost feels absurd to ask, given that both guards have been pillars of Billy Donovan’s lineups. Still, with a wave of backcourt additions arriving at the trade deadline, it’s a question worth exploring.
In the Bulls’ final game before the All-Star break, guards accounted for nearly half of Chicago’s minutes. None of them fit the traditional 3-and-D mold or even a true guard-forward hybrid. They’re smaller backcourt players who lean offense-first.
Of course, Giddey and Jones don’t neatly fit those categories either. But at 6-foot-8, Giddey enhances Donovan’s lineup flexibility. And while Jones stands just 6-foot-1, he’s a sturdy defender and arguably the closest thing this roster has to a true floor general.
Sorting out the starting backcourt
Still, they’re both guards. Which means the minutes now have to be divided among six of them. Giddey will start and likely push past 30 minutes per night upon returning. He’s one of Chicago’s franchise pillars.
The bigger question is who starts next to him. Donovan has opened with Simons in all four games since the trade deadline, while Ivey has started three, Sexton one, and Dillingham none. Expect the sharpshooting Simons to continue getting the nod at the two, but don’t be surprised if Ivey claims his share of starts as well. Unlike Simons, Ivey is a restricted free agent, which makes him more likely to factor into the team’s long-term plans.
Donovan’s three-guard future
Sexton feels like the odd man out. He’s the more proven player compared to Dillingham, but he’s also six years older and on an expiring deal. Still, production has never been the issue. In three games with the Bulls, Sexton is averaging 17.7 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 30.7 minutes per night. That workload won’t be sustainable once Giddey and Jones return. He should still have a role, but something closer to 20 minutes per game feels more realistic.
Lastly, Dillingham is the least established guard on the roster, which, in turn, makes him the most intriguing, especially as a former top-10 pick. While he likely won’t start barring injuries, he should still see roughly 15-20 minutes per game. With two seasons remaining on his contract, the Bulls will be eager to determine whether he’s a long-term piece.
But wait… what about Jones? The 26-year-old has impressed this season, averaging 12.4 points and 5.8 assists while shooting 55.0 percent from the floor. He’ll still have a role, but Donovan will face a tough challenge pairing him with fellow undersized guards like Dillingham and Sexton. On the bright side, all three are feisty defenders, which helps offset the fact that each stands 6-foot-3 or shorter.
When it settles, expect Giddey and Simons to start, flanked by Isaac Okoro and Matas Buzelis at the three and four. It may seem crowded, but Dillingham, Ivey, Jones, and Sexton should all see meaningful minutes. Donovan will likely lean into three-guard lineups, much like he did when White and Ayo Dosunmu were still in town.