Mike Sutera: LaMelo suffered yet another ankle sprain. If I'm the Hornets I sit him the rest of the year. Tank and help get him healthy. Also read the Raptors have told teams they’re going to do something. Anunoby? More stuff: Indy supposedly open to trading Duarte. Soured on him already. Injured to start the season and really struggling with his shot. Wonder if there is a deal to be made with Knicks. They like Toppin. Knicks were big fans of his during the draft.
Sam: And it’s also past January 15, the day for most of the summer contracts to become eligible for trade. But it’s been quiet; everyone basically waits until the deadline, which is Feb. 9 this season since the league moved a few years ago to before the All-Star game to not make trades the story of that weekend. The Bulls see the Hornets next week for the first time, and the way things are going for them having LaMelo back might not make much difference. I haven’t heard any substance to it, but most around the league seem to be guessing Jordan sells if they don’t get Wembanyama or maybe Scoot. I believe that stuff about the Raptors who seem classic stuck in the middle or less. Anunoby for his defense gets mentioned the most. It seems like Scottie Barnes has regressed; plays too casually. Without size and shooting and Fred VanVleet seemingly on the way elsewhere, it might be a deep dive for them now to also chase Wembanyama. There’s just too many ahead of them. I don’t know what to make of the Pacers; they’re as big a surprise team as any staying above .500 with that roster and trade talk about seemingly everyone but Haliburton and the rookie. Duarte showed some flashes, but has been hurt a lot. I can see that if only because you can see Thibs wants no part of fan favorite Toppin. Let the deals begin! Please? By the way, I’m back. If you didn’t notice (I’m disappointed) there was no Ask Sam last week. My Bulls email was hacked and every email from the last 10 years disappeared. I’m expecting some interesting trade suggestions from the Russians.
Paulie Giuntoli: Now that the league has successfully curbed the "take foul", what do you have next on your Basketball Betterment wish list, specifically in terms of improvement of play, watchability, etc.
Where is "Get rid of the corner three" on that list? Whether it's by widening the court and extending the line at the same distance all the way to the baseline, or simply extending the line at the same distance directly into the sideline. It really does make zero sense to have two random spots on the floor where a typical 2 point shot is worth 3 points. If the corner three is eliminated, what effects would it have on the game.
Sam: I’ve been for moving that line so there’s no space to stand in the corners for the short three. I don’t see it happening since the league likes the scoring, and the kids are so accustomed to the video game aspects of basketball from their, well, video games. It strikes me that analytics and video game playing is similar since in the video games they basically only dunk and shoot threes. The philosophy of the three, frankly isn’t fair. It’s basically saying shooting is the only valuable element of the game and we’re rewarding those guys. Not the guys who get blocks or assists or steals. So why would you blame a guy for shooting a lot? He gets 50 percent more credit for basically the same work. The surprise, actually, is why it took them so long to figure it out. Though the issue with eliminating it could lead to a more cogged court, which was part of the original thinking. Obviously with a court configured when players were much smaller and less athletic, the best remedy for a cleaner game would be to widen the court. Which also isn’t happening with the prices charged for those seats. If you move them back, you still lose a lot of them on the lower level. I’d also like to see that lire contact not rewarded so routinely. But, again, the league likes the points. I'm adjusting; we all have to.
Andrew Brown: What about Lavine and Coby White to the Lakers for westbrook, schroder and their 2 future firsts? Westbrook is wild we know but he is also playing hard and pretty well. Can fill that point guard spot for the year. Plus Schroder for bench scoring. Both ex billy guys. Maybe with Demar saying he wants the max extension he might not be around too long either I’m afraid nothing will happen.
Sam: I know many fans (and now the Russians know, also) would like to see…something. And I might try some things. But as I’s speculated previously, Arturas Karnisovas from the beginning made point of being patient and preferring continuity, which no matter what’s going on suggests he’s not likely to do anything dramatic. Despite the slow start, I get the sense he still believes in this group, would like to see them have a chance to play it out this season even if Lonzo can’t return, or not at a high level or high minutes. I think he also feels he owes it to them to have another chance after last year’s playoff appearance when Zach was hurt. I can see a Tristan Thompson-type of buyout addition, but probably not anything that anyone would consider substantial at the trade deadline. But he doesn’t tell me, so I’m watching, too.
Alejandro Stambulis: I would like to write you many times, but I know a little English. Everyone says that the problem with Chicago Bulls is Balls and DeRozan’s injuries, obviously very importants, but they lost against Washington Wizards without Beal, Porzingis and Gafford. Is Mr. Donovan is trying to play every much with the same strategy, many times without having the players he need to do it , regardless, each team is different, and if you don’t get the results, shouldn’t try to change it. Most of the matches are the same, serious defensive problems, loosing in rebounds and as a result a lot of points in the paint and the threes'. David could win Goliath using the right strategy.
Sam: There’s an old saying about leaving the dance with the one who brung ya (not proper English, by the way..except in Brooklyn). Billy always says he likes the team he has, but it’s without Ball not exactly the team he feels most comparable with, it would seem. His history is wanting to play fast, steals and transition and aggressive defense like the start of last season. He can’t quite without Ball, so he’ll opt often to go small in hopes of speeding the game with Derrick Jones at center or Javonte Green when healthy. He could try Drummond with Vucevic, but you can see he’s uncomfortable with that and usually quickly defaults to his smaller groups. For now, I don’t expect much different.
Mike Metz: Meyers Leonard and DeMarcus Cousins worked out for the Lakers.
Sam: You know they’re going to make some additions, or changes. The guy I hope gets another shot is the Illini, Leonard. He ran afoul of the language guardians, and I understand it was what would be considered a slur, but it seemed pretty obvious he didn’t know what he was talking about and was using it like the street curse those who use it don’t mean it literally. He mea culpa to great extent with seminars and appearances to apologize and learn. Now given the way the league is now there’s a lot less need for a even footer on the lumbering side, and be’s been out awhile. But it at least would be an appropriate close to his career to finish it with an NBA team.
Art Alenik: Gotta give Zach some credit. With the hand hurting his shot, he’s been relentlessly getting to the FT line. What is he, 26-29, in the last two games before Paris?Coby’s shooting well and scoring better at the rim. His handle is much improved and his D somewhat too. Starting to look like a keeper again, if not quite a ‘microwave’.
Sam: Coby’s going to be an interesting decision for the Bulls. As a player from the former management and after a disappointing season last year with free agency conga up, the consensus (at least media and fans) was that he was most likely to be a former Bull. Last season as he struggled to return from that shoulder surgery, I warned you’d need that type of shooter in the playoffs, so don’t be so quick to move on. Then he had an awful playoffs, but he went to work. His dribble is much better, he’s plated tougher and more aggressive, and coming off the bench he’s basically the only guy who can regularly shoot, especially from range. The old good problem to have? Glad you’re go ing it to Zach; he deserves it. He doesn’t get appreciated as much as he should. Sure, there are flaws, but you give up on that talent you may regret it for years.
Parker Lerdal: Should we trade for Kyle Lowry this season and reunite him with DeMar DeRozan?
Sam: DeMar probably would like that, at least from a personal connection since Lowry’s probably his closest NBA friend. But he’d have to let Kyle down easy. I think Lowry makes about $30 million, is injured frequently, and no longer is able to outpace his skill deficiencies with his toughness. There are a lot of rumors surrounding him since you know Miami knows it needs an upgrade.
Jeffrey Pierce: Is Wiseman really available? Why doesn’t he play more? Besides being injured all the time what are is limitations? Are the Mavericks making Hardaway available? Always seemed like a good player. Would you trade for him?
Sam: Wiseman’s the interesting one in a draft that looks poorer and poorer with LeMelo being hurt so much. There’s the injuries, as you note, and there has been talk about rebounding and defense and being alert. I’d take a run at him, but Golden State has so much invested with the high picks they used instead of trading them for veterans which so many were suggesting to extend Steph and Klay. That seems to have backfired since they obviously aren’t thinking about building around those guys. Haven’t heard about Hardaway, but the Mavs problem is getting more players who can score and help Luka after losing Brunson, and not fewer.
Michael Worth: You have to think we got to stop giving this No. 2out to players. Never thought it was cursed until now with Lonzo hurt.
Sellers: bust
Hopson: let down
Eddy Curry: let down and heart issue
Others: Mark Bryant, Thabo, El Amin, Tim Thomas, Jabari Parker, Jerian Grant, Luke Kornet.
My lord
Only decent ones were Nate Robinson and Lonzo until the knee.
Remember MJ told Ron to switch from #2 to #9.
Ban the jersey number
Sam: Norm Van Lier was the first to wear it, and he’s maybe the second best point guard in franchise history. I don’t consider numerology much, but that’s a worrisome one. The Bulls have stopped giving out No. 1 without committing to anything. Maybe time to move on from No. 2 That’s scary.
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