NBA Summer League 2017

Bulls.com

At forward for the Bulls, No. 25, C. Walker.

Yes, it sounded like 1971 again Friday in Las Vegas as the Bulls closed out their 2017 Summer League schedule with a 99-82 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers. The Bulls concluded with a 2-3 record.

They were led Friday by Baylor’s—and Canada’s--6-2 guard Brady Heslip with 28 points, including eight of 15 threes. He was the Bulls most prolific three-point shooter in Summer League with 14 of 33 threes. He’s played the last three seasons in Europe and the G-league after not being drafted. Denzel Valentine had 21 points as the only Bulls regular to play in all five games. He led the team in rebounds and assists in the Summer League and averaged 13 points, third to leader Antonio Blakeley and rookie Lauri Markkanen.

It’s not unusual for roster players to sit out late in Summer League with nothing to play for as the Bulls were eliminated from the tournament with their Wednesday loss. Kris Dunn and Cameron Payne were not with the team for personal reasons and Markkanen, Blakeney and Paul Zipser didn’t play Friday.

It proved a profitable week for Blakeney, who Friday signed a two-way contract with the Bulls. That will enable him to play this season in the G-league and with the Bulls. It means while in the NBA he will get an NBA salary in a new rule in the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Blakeney averaged a team best 16.8 points and shot nine of 14 on threes. He averaged 25 the two games he started. Markkanen averaged 14 points.

And then Chet Walker called me to say he was watching the Bulls in Las Vegas and who was that Walker wearing his number, 25. Chet said Chris looked pretty good, if not much offensively.

“I’m hoping to get a two-way (G-league/NBA deal) with the (Bulls) or get a training camp invite,” said Walker, who was playing in his third Summer League out of the U. of Florida. “I feel I got better each game; wish we’d won more games. I feel like I rebounded the ball well, blocking shots or trying to contest.”

Walker led both teams Friday with 11 rebounds and three blocks and has shown excellent athletic ability on defense in the last week. He’s a limited offensive player who had nine points Friday and averaged about five points in the Summer League.

But he provided a bit of nostalgia for long time Bulls fans, Walker on the floor wearing the No. 25.

“I hadn’t heard of him,” admitted Chris Walker, “but tell him I said hey and ask him to put in a good word for me.”

The good word for probably the third best Bulls player of all time is he’s doing relatively well fighting off the usual health issues for a man closing in on 80. Walker lives in Los Angeles and keeps up with the Bulls games. Seeing, “Walker, 25” was quite the surprise, he admitted, but just a coincidence.

Equipment Manager John Ligmanowski keeps a list of numbers for current players and brings iron-on numbers for Summer League. Since Walker retired in 1975, seven Bulls players have worn No. 25: Earl Cureton, Chuck Nevitt, Steve Kerr, Corey Benjamin, Darius Songaila, Marquis Teague and Spencer Dinwiddie. It wasn’t being used on the current roster, and Ligmanowski said he just happened to provide it for this week’s Walker.

He is likely the third most decorated and successful player in Bulls franchise history after Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen.

After seven years with the 76ers (one season in Syracuse) that included starting for the championship 1967 team, Walker came to the Bulls in the 1969 trade that turned the team from an expansion pretender to a championship contender.

Walker made four All-Star teams with the Bulls (seven overall), the most tied with Artis Gilmore of any Bull other than Jordan and Pippen. Chet is the only player other than Jordan to score more than 55 points in a game for the Bulls, was regarded as perhaps the premier clutch shooter of his era, and is one of five players in Bulls history to be in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame with Jordan, Pippen, Gilmore and Dennis Rodman.

Chris Walker’s not joining them, but he wore the name and number proudly Friday.

So as the Bulls closed Summer League 2017, here are some observations:

---Blakeney: He was the team star with back to back big time scoring games after going into the starting lineup when Payne left. He was the most aggressive scorer and athletic player, and it earned the undrafted free agent from LSU a two-way G-league and Bulls contract for the coming season. He’ll have training camp to earn a roster spot to start the season.

--- Markkanen: After a poor shooting Game 2 and some national derision, he bounced back with a 20/10 game and four three pointers. He showed aggression in dunking the ball on passes in close and a sweet shooting stroke. He was shut down after his strong Game 3 as he and Blakeney led the Bulls to their first win. He needs to get stronger, and probably will start the season coming off the bench depending on the contract progress of Nikola Mirotic. He showed, however, he already could stand up to the physical play with a competitive streak.

---- Dunn: He had a family emergency and left after playing one game, scoring 11 points on three of 12 shooting. He didn’t get much chance to lead the team, leaving after one game as he did in 2016 when he suffered an ankle injury while with Minnesota. The Bulls are counting on him to be a significant factor from the Jimmy Butler trade.

---- Payne: He had a pair of erratic games, averaging 11.5 points, shooting nine for 26 and two of 12 on threes in a disappointing pair of games before he also left with a family emergency. He should get another chance in training camp to be, presumably, a backup to Dunn in a competition with Jerian Grant.

--- Valentine: He had a big finish with 21 points, six assists and five rebounds Friday. He handled the ball out of the backcourt often and players said he acted as the team leader with pregame pep talks and on court directions. He was just 10 of 38 on threes, but did show more versatility than during last season. He has a chance to be the starting shooting guard for the regular season depending on the status of Dwyane Wade.

--- Zipser: Suffered an ankle injury in an inconsistent Game 1 with 10 points on three of 11 shooting and then didn’t play the rest of the games. He still tends to play a lot of isolation, but has strong moves to the basket.

--- Among the others hoping for camp invites, rugged big man Nikola Jovanovic showed some aggression inside, though limited movement. NCAA star Ryan Arcidiacono came on starting at point guard after Dunn and Payne left. He had his best game Friday with 16 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and two steals and ran the team confidently while involving other players. He has nice point guard instincts. He made three of four threes Friday. Heslip has NBA three-point shooting range, averaging three made per game, though, like Arcidiacono, will have issues with defense. And then there was C. Walker, No. 25. The Bulls sure could use that guy.

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Bulls Win To Close Out Summer League

Ryan Arcidiacono knows acronyms. He was BMOC at Villanova, captain of the basketball team as a freshman and all four years. He was MOP of the 2016 Final Four thanks to his 16 points in the championship game and his assist to Kris Jenkins for the walk off winning three pointer.

Arcidiacono was perhaps the most famous basketball player in the country a little over a year ago. Now, as a Bulls starter the last two games, he’s just another Summer League hopeful trying to figure out a way to get NBA on his pay check.

Though Arcidiacono’s journey is more so the story of Summer League than that of the big names, Ball, Fultz, Tatum, Fox. He’s among the hundreds of players, long shots most, trying to draw to the basketball version of an inside straight, the NBA jackpot that they all dream about.

Though it’s perhaps more stark for Arcidiacono given the way he’s traveled so quickly from basketball celebrity to apprentice.

“Hopefully get invited to a training camp,” Arcidiacono was saying with the Bulls set to play their final 2017 Summer League game Friday. “Whether it’s the Bulls or someone else, just looking to showcase what I can bring to an NBA roster and go from there.”

Such is the fate of so many collegiate stars, one day celebrated nationally for their basketball abilities, the king of campus, the stars of the TV highlight shows. Then a few months later it’s riding the buses and bunking in the budget hotels as Arcidiacono was last season playing in the now G-league for the Austin Spurs.

Arcidiacono, a 6-3 guard who relies more on spirit than spring, wasn’t drafted. He made it through three preseason games with the Spurs last year and then spent the season in the Developmental League. He joined the Bulls Summer League team to, if not so much land a spot with the Bulls, get a chance to show his play.

He has gotten a chance with point guards Kris Dunn and Cameron Payne, who were expected to get most of the lead guard playing time, leaving the team for personal, family reasons. Arcidiacono started the last two games for the Bulls at point guard, averaging 4.5 points and three assists. He made some nice plays off the dribble and ran the team effectively, though the Bulls faded late in Wednesday’s game against Portland to fall to 1-3. That loss officially knocked the Bulls out of the summer title race after winning the Summer League last year.  Friday’s final Bulls game (7:30 Central) against the Philadelphia 76ers is in the consolation round.

It will be a chance for shooting guard Antonio Blakeney to continue to make an impression with his scoring. It remains uncertain if rookie Lauri Markkanen will play after a toe injury kept him out of the Portland game. It doesn’t appear Paul Zipser, though with the team, will get in any games with an ankle injury.

Arcidiacono because of his heritage could play in Italy as he played for the Italian national team in the summer of 2015. Though the dream remains the NBA. He’s not giving up or giving in.

For so many big time collegiate stars, they just aren’t big enough or quick enough or explosive enough for the NBA . Arcidiacono, Villanova teammate Jenkins and North Carolina’s Marcus Paige, who made the big shots down the stretch for North Carolina in that much talked about 2016 final NCAA game, all are playing in this Las Vegas Summer League. Paige was in the D-league last season with the Salt Lake City Stars.

Arcidiacono, 23, doesn’t appear quite fast enough for the NBA, though there always were questions and he overcame them to become one of the most celebrated players in college. He wasn’t a big scorer at Villanova, his biggest season averaging 12.5 points as a senior. Though he possesses those traits not easily measured and categorized, the intangibles of leadership and the ability to make a big play under pressure.

Guys like him don’t project as NBA players. Then, like Isaiah Thomas, some get there and surprise.

“I feel I can change the game, bring a different tempo to the game and space the floor on the offensive end,” said Arcidiacono. “Make plays in the pick and roll and knock down some open shots while defending and picking up full court. I feel this is just a part of life. My college career speaks for itself. I finished it the way I wanted to. I knew it would be a tough challenge for me to make this league. I still think I can. It’s about keeping a positive attitude and finding the right place and right opportunity.”

Arcidiacono never veers from the belief; he seeks the chance.

“It is an unusual situation to go from such a high level to try to just scrap to make a ninth to 15th roster spot,” Arcidiacono acknowledged. “But it’s something I love and you really cannot complain about playing basketball for a living.”

Arcidiacono’s father, Joe, played football for Villanova, and Ryan was basically committed to the school by adolescence. Villanova coach Jay Wright was watching him when he was in junior high camps. Ryan became a big time scorer in high school, but surgery for a herniated disc in his back kept him out his senior year. Even missing the last year, he became his high school’s alltime leading scorer.

He wasn’t quite recovered starting college, but still was selected team captain as a freshman. Villanova made the tournament that season and lost to North Carolina in the first round. Arcidiacono went on to be all-Big East and finish his collegiate career cutting down nets and being feted everywhere.

And then standing in line for an Orange Julius.

But guys like Arcidiacono thrive on the challenge, dismiss the doubts and can surprise.

“I’ve had some ups and downs in my life, tough experiences,” noted Arcidiacono. “Specifically the back injury my senior year in high school. I wasn’t allowed to play and then started all four years at Villanova.

“Everyone knows who the first round picks and top players are,” Arcidiacono acknowledged. “But this is a very important time for guys on the bubble, guys overseas trying to come back and play in the U.S. or the NBA, and guys playing for contracts overseas, too.”

Guys like Ryan Arcidiacono. Just looking to get noticed. Arcidiacono hopes to be yet again. It’s happened before despite the unlikely odds. WTG. NP?

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For Ryan Arcidiacono, Challenges Are To Thrive On

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The Bulls Wednesday lost top rookie Lauri Markkanen, who because of a minor toe problem for precautionary reasons sat out the Bulls’ 88-77 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers. That made for three Bulls starters from the opening Summer League game lost.

But it may not be all bad because of what the Bulls may have found, an athletic scoring guard who looks like instant offense off the bench in Antonio Blakeney.

Blakeney Wednesday had 27 points and 11 rebounds, making 11 of 17 free throws with his slashing, high jumping style. That followed Blakeney’s 23 points and eight rebounds in Tuesday’s lone Bulls win. Despite improving play from Markkanen, Blakeney has stood out among his Bulls teammates with his easy scoring ability and elite athleticism.

The Bulls, 1-3, now play in the tournament loser’s bracket 7:30 p.m. (Central) Friday against the Philadelphia 76ers. The Bulls last year won the Summer League tournament.

The Bulls also got 14 points off the bench from shooter Brady Heslip with four of eight threes and 13 points, seven rebounds and four assists from Denzel Valentine. Ryan Arcidiacono started at point guard as he and Valentine did most of the ball handling and playmaking.

The Bulls led early, 19-12 after one and 41-35 at halftime. It was tied at 61 going into the fourth quarter and then Portland pulled away.

While Blakeney left you unable to pull away from the game too quickly.

“I’m with the Bulls, so I’m a Bull right now and that’s what I’m focused on,” Blakeney said.

That’s just for Summer League, though Blakeney said he appreciated the Bulls giving him this opportunity. Blakeney could be invited to training camp, though his play likely has opened some eyes about the undrafted player from LSU. One possibility this year for developmental players is the new so called two-way contract in which a player can shuttle between the G-league and the NBA and when in the NBA be paid an NBA salary.

Blakeney projects as a shooting guard, but was overlooked in the 2017 draft because of the biases that tend to label players like Wesley Matthews, Isaiah Thomas and Draymond Green the sort of “tweeners” who slip low in the draft or out. Blakeney is considered a bit short by current NBA standards for shooting guard at just below 6-4. He’s about 195 pounds. He doesn’t handle the ball particularly well or pass frequently, especially when he drives.

But, oh can he score, and it’s sometimes forgotten what a good thing that can be in a basketball game.

Blakeney seems like one of those players like Lou Williams, who slipped to 45th in the draft because, well, he was a little small for shooting guard, didn’t pass and handle the ball well enough for point guard. So where could he play? Who could he guard?

And then became good enough to win Sixth Man of the Year and become one of the elite and most valuable reserves scorers in the NBA. Players like Sedale Threatt, Flynn Robinson and Fred Carter come to mind, guys who were too small, or too light or too limited. But then found a way to get the ball in the basket.

This Bulls team looks like it will need another someone--or two--like that.

Blakeney showed that again Wednesday. He routinely beat defenders off the dribble-yes, Summer League—and was two of four on threes. He’s quietly been easily the Bulls best three-point shooter, making nine of 14 in the four games. The Bulls averaged 15 free throws per game the first three games; Blakeney had 17 on his own in Game 4.

His defense is scattered, though not helped by playing for a generational underachieving LSU program in which he played with Ben Simmons in 2015-16. It might have been the NCAA’s worst defensive team. He seems willing to learn.

He is active on offense off the ball as well. He ran the baseline Wednesday for back door cuts and scored and showed an ability to finish. His driving baseline dunk in Game 2 was probably the Bulls most spectacular play of the tournament and he drew a pair of free throws early against the Trailblazers trying to dunk on the run taking off from near the free throw line. Though thin, he was able to finish and score with contact for three-point plays.

He’s an excellent defensive rebounder with his leaping ability, though often because he plays too far off his man. He had a curious habit in these games of calling for a screen and then not using it and going the other way. But he was so quick he repeatedly beat the defense. Though he did have some trouble with the ball when trapped and once he was driving, no one else was getting the ball.

But that sort of game has served a lot of players well.

Blakeney’s story is not unusual, a bigtime prep prospect who was one of the stars of the 2015 McDonald’s game in Chicago with Simmons, a high school buddy who recruited Blakeney to LSU. Blakeney was one of the top guard prospects in the country, averaging almost 30 a game in high school. He supported Simmons on a lost, non NCAA team in 2016 and then was the leading scorer on a worse team last season as the coach was fired. Blakeney, 20, declared for the 2017 draft, but with his apparent lack of a sure NBA position and the mess in college, his name wasn’t called.

“I was an undrafted player, so me and my agent looked at the options I had for the Summer League and we thought the Bulls were the best option for me,” Blakeney said. “I had a great (pre) draft workout with the Bulls and they told me they had some interest. So this was a chance to come in and give another impression to them, to work and learn from it.

“We were not a winning program, so that hurt me,” Blakeney conceded. “But the draft is over. I’m still chasing my dream. To get drafted high is not the ultimate goal. It’s to play in the league multiple years. So that’s what I’m working toward. I’m not worried about what happened in the draft. I have to move forward.”

Blakeney looked like just another one of those Summer League tackling dummies to start, playing 13 minutes in Game 1. But he made two of three on three pointers and had a plus-13 in the plus/minus in a game the Bulls lost by 16. Summer League coach Randy Brown moved his minutes up to 23 off the bench in the Game 2 embarrassment when Markkanen and Valentine missed all 18 of their threes. Blakeney was one of two on threes and had 11 points in a game the Bulls scored 55. His minus-5 in a game the Bulls lost by 20 was team second best. The Bulls were doing better the more he was on the floor.

With Kris Dunn and Cameron Payne leaving for family reasons, Blakeney Tuesday moved into the starting lineup. The last two games, he has been one of the most productive players in the Las Vegas league, averaging 25 points and 9.5 rebounds with an average of 10 free throw attempts per game.

“I can bring scoring,” Blakeney notes. “People know I can score. I think what people are going to sleep on is once I learn the defensive concepts and with my athleticism, I feel I can be a two-way player and get things done on both ends of the floor. Offensively, I feel I can score at all three levels: I can get to the rim, get to the mid range and shoot the three. As a young player, I know I have to get stronger, get my ball handling tighter, work on my defense.

“People can think different things, but I’m trying to work on everything and be one of the best players in the league,” said Blakeney in not limiting his ambitions. “That’s my goal, so I have to work on everything. It’s definitely a challenge, but one I’m looking forward to, a fun uphill ride and I feel I’m ready for it. My agent helped me stay grounded, always told me the draft isn’t everything, pointed to guys like Wesley Matthews, guys not getting drafted who succeed in this league. I’m going from there.”

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Bulls Lost But Might Have Found More Talent

The Bulls were all smiles Tuesday, and not necessarily because they finally won a Summer League game, 82-73 over the Washington Wizards.

And not even so much because rookie first rounder Lauri Markkanen had his first double/double with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Well, that was encouraging, but it was more that it came a day after ESPN featured the rookie on its SportsCenter program loop as something of an NBA joke after Markkanen’s zero for 10 three-point shooting in the Monday loss to Atlanta.

ESPN kept showing Markkanen misses superimposed with a house of bricks being constructed.

Sure, they were misses, but also never let the facts get in the way of a good story.

They were good shots, not much contested, just, well, it’s a hit or miss league.

“Yes, I heard about that,” Markkanen said with a sly smile about the commentary following his o-fer.

But the measure of an NBA player is as much how he responds to defeat--which the Bulls figure to see enough of this season—and how he refuses to accept the conventional wisdom.

The smooth seven-footer also hit a big three down the stretch after the Wizards hopefuls had cut a 23-point deficit to 67-66. Markkanen’s no hesitation three gave the Bulls youngsters a 72-68 lead with 3:47 left and Denzel Valentine and newly added Duje Dukan added threes to close out the win.

The Bulls are now 1-2 and start elimination play Wednesday. They were without Kris Dunn, home for personal reasons, and backup point guard Cameron Payne, who also left for family personal reasons. Ryan Arcidiacono started at point guard with Antonio Blakeney at shooting guard.

Blakeney, the LSU free agent shooting guard, led the Bulls with 23 points, shooting nine of 17 and making four of five threes. He impressed as a strong possibility to be added to the roster for at least training camp. Valentine had 15 points and was three of eight on threes after missing all eight of his Monday. Dukan had 11 points.

Markkanen was four of 10 on threes and six of 17 overall and led the Bulls in rebounding. Markkanen had a steal and a block and demonstrated not only that resilience from defeat and derision, but toughness, dunking the ball and going hard to the basket.

“Every time we go on the court we are more comfortable with one another,” said Markkanen. “We just started enjoying the game more and didn’t care who is scoring; share the ball, unselfish play.”

Markkanen, who followed interviews with American media with sessions with TV from Finland where he is becoming a national hero, is concise and terse in interviews, if not unfriendly. He’s cooperative, though succinct. He tends to see himself more a part of the team that subtly towering over everyone.

“Just trying to do what’s best for the team,” he said. “Good feeling to win. Our team made the shot (he hit late in the game). I just happened to hit it.”

Markkanen also seemed casually assured about his shooting. He said he didn’t feel a need to rush back to the gym to shoot after his zero for 10 game. He knew it was an aberration, and when coaches counseled him before the game Tuesday to keep shooting, he didn’t think he’d do otherwise. It’s the kind of confidence a top pick needs. Markkanen appears to have that even if he doesn’t need to shout it like some.

“I just wanted to clear my mind,” said Markkanen. “I knew I was going to put the work in. At that point, I knew I had to stay away and not think about it and it would be good tomorrow. It was just a matter of time (before the threes went in). All my threes yesterday felt good. I was confident they were going in; today was the same thing. It was closer to normal, but I still feel I can be better.

“I didn’t want to change anything; just stop thinking about it and just let it fly,” said Markkanen. “And they went. I feel I’m doing better all the time. You never are going to be perfect, so go out and improve whatever you can. We’ve been together for such a short period of time. I know I can do a lot of things offensively and defensively, so I try to do them."

A reporter from TV in Finland was waiting to ask questions. He said Markkanen was becoming almost a national resource being a high lottery pick. Markkanen was asked about being the face of his country for basketball in the NBA.

“I just want to do my job on the court and everything will follow. I play better under pressure,” Markkanen said with a shrug. “So I don’t mind it.”

The Bulls had to like what they saw and heard.

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Bulls Win Game 3 Over Wizards, 82-73

The difference for the Bulls this season is not going to be just who, but how, which was evident in the first possession of Saturday’s opening Summer League game, which the Bulls lost 91-75 to the Dallas Mavericks.

Kris Dunn dribbled up court after the Bulls won the jump ball. He passed to seven foot Lauri Markkanen on top of the floor. Markkanen passed along the left wing to Denzel Valentine, and then Markkanen and Paul Zipser combined for a double screen along the right side to free Dunn for a lob pass from Valentine.

That Valentine made the play, which wasn’t completed, was perhaps symbolic of this dawning Bulls era. There’s going to be failures, but along the way innovations that perhaps eventually will transcend the learning curve.

“With the personnel we have, the type of coach Fred is and the offense we have I think there will be more opportunities for me to have the ball in my hands and make plays, be more comfortable out on the floor,” said Valentine, who had 12 points to support Markannen’s team high 14. Both shot five of 11 to lead the starters.

“Last year also gave me a good opportunity to play without the ball,” Valentine noted of his erratic rookie season. “I’m used to playing with the ball in my hands. I think this year I’ll have more opportunity to do that. I’ll have opportunities to make plays for others. I’ll have more scoring opportunities as well with the personnel we have.”

That’s still to be determined, especially with high scoring guard Zach LaVine out after ACL surgery last February.

This new Bulls group, with all five Summer League starters expected to be high in the regular season rotation, came out looking to push the ball with multiple ball handlers, including Valentine and Zipser. Cameron Payne started at point guard with Dunn at shooting guard, and both looked to throw ahead whenever they had the ball after missed shots.

The movement and defense were laudable in the first half when the Bulls led 43-38 with a strong start from Markkanen with a long three pointer and back to back dunks, one on a nice seal and spin move in the post. Markkanen scored nine of the Bulls first 18 points and had nine points and six rebounds in a lively first half.

He seemed to tire in the second half with five points and two rebounds as the guards reverted to more standing and shooting threes, especially Payne, who was one of eight on threes. Zipser was one of six and the team nine of 33 on threes overall.

“I liked our energy, especially to start the game,” said Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg, who watched from the stands with assistant Randy Brown coaching. “We wanted to get our roster players some good minutes and get them playing together, which I thought we did a good job of. I thought Lauri did a very good job of asserting himself, especially early, and you can already see how diversified his game is. We got away from our defensive principles in the second half, especially in transition. But I thought our guys competed and we got some valuable five on five situations for our guys that we can teach and grow from.”

It’s apparent the Bulls, especially without LaVine, are going to have difficulty scoring. Markkanen led six players in double figures, including burly big man Nikola Jovanovic from USC with 11 points on five of five shooting from in close coming off the bench.

Dunn had 11 points, four rebounds and three assists and was three of 12 shooting, one of three on threes. He played a more physical style of point guard with more force than finesse. He was rugged on defense, drawing six fouls, though in Summer League players are allowed 10. Dunn competed well against lottery pick Dennis Smith, but played more like a smaller version of Jimmy Butler, not so much smooth as forceful.

Zipser, who supposedly excelled in the Chicago mini camp last week, again reverted to isolation plays. Payne spent way too much time firing threes, missing his first seven. He shot five of 15 overall.

Payne has an odd shot in which instead of squaring up he seems to shoot from the side, as if he’s aiming a rifle. He needs to penetrate more. The Mavericks began playing well off him as he missed shots.

The Bulls let the game get away to open the second half with Payne and Dunn taking quick, long threes. Brown called a quick timeout to remind them there were other players on the floor. The Mavs pulled away after the Bulls trailed 66-62 early in the fourth quarter as the Bulls went stagnant and were missing shots and hesitant to get back. Which seemed a lot like last season, which Valentine would like to forget.

It appears the way the Summer League started for he and the Bulls he will get the chance.

Valentine also had four rebounds and two steals, and again looked like the college player of the year the Bulls drafted last year instead the lonely shooter standing in the corner waiting, waiting.

“I’m trying not to look at the negatives from last year,” Valentine acknowledged. “What happened is what happened; I can’t change the past. I’m just looking at the positive things I learned from Jimmy, Rondo, D-Wade, all our vets. I try not to look at negative things because they can drive you down; just try to be positive about it. It’s a clean slate and I have a great opportunity, so it’s up to me what I want to do with it. I’m going to get in here and work hard and try to get this thing rolling.”

This Bulls group of young players, like most kids, appears eager and anxious to please, if not particularly experienced. They did exhibit control much of the game, competed defensively early and attempted to open the game and push the ball. Making shots would help things. It’s a game, however, in which Valentine again feels more adept and comfortable. The Bulls hope it will enable him to break out this season.

“Everybody is unselfish, guards, bigs, sharing the ball, playing with each other,” Valentine said of this group. “Of course we all want to do well, score and make plays. But that trust factor with us all being the same age and pretty much the front office to say they have confidence in us, it will be a big plus because we’ll feel more comfortable being unselfish and making the right plays. I think we have a great chance of making the playoffs and making some noise. I think the sky is the limit. I think we have the personnel, the talent; it’s just can we put it together? We don’t have a big name, a superstar. But we have guys who work like superstars, have superstar intentions for this year.”

I did joke with Valentine that talking that way, playoffs, could get him released. Which is a problem for any team undertaking a reboot like the Bulls. The players don’t want a high draft pick. They want to win. They’ve won their entire lives. You don’t get to the NBA without being a competitor at some level. And most now are relatively high first round draft picks, Dunn at five, Markkanen at seven, Payne and Valentine at 14. Their basketball DNA is to succeed.

“Unless you’re LeBron, KD, one of those big name guys, not everybody came in the league as a superstar,” reminded Valentine. “Steph (Curry at pick seven) worked himself to a superstar, Kawhi (Leonard at pick 15); a lot of these superstars now worked themselves to superstars. So who’s to say we can’t work ourselves to be superstars or better players on the floor this year? We all got to the NBA for a reason. We all can play, so it’s up to us to put the work in, listen to our coaches, make something happen this year. I think we can depending on what we want to do with it.”

It’s certainly what Bulls managements wants to hear because the Bulls best chances are if these players improve. They showed plenty of ability to in college.

“Of course,” agreed Valentine, “we’re not going to have the hype of Jimmy, D-Wade and Rondo, making noise in the league. D-Wade’s a Hall of Famer, Rondo; maybe Jimmy one day. There isn’t going to be the talk this year, but the reality of it is if you take a step back and look at it we have a lot of great players. I feel the city should really be excited about the young core we have and the type of people we have, unselfish, willing to work hard, not willing to back down from anyone. I think that’s an important culture for this city and organization. We’ve got a lot of guys who want to play unselfish, a lot of multi dimensional players who can guard different positions; we’re going to be a run and gun team. We can play different ways. I think we have a great future.”

There just was a glimpse of that Saturday as, after all, they’ve basically been working together a few days. There were encouraging signs with Valentine, Zipser and Markkanen all able to handle the ball and make plays. But it’s unclear if anyone can get hot until LaVine returns. Valentine never was a big scorer in college, not averaging more than 15 points until his senior year. But it’s a new look for the Bulls with so many players potentially able to set up others.

It effectively will be Year 1 for Valentine, who admits as it went on it only got more discouraging. Which makes him that much more motivated.

“The lowest point was after All-Star break,” he admitted about last season. “I had a good stretch and was playing well and D-Wade came back (from injury) and I didn’t play at all and throughout the playoffs. That bummed me out because I didn’t get a chance to play in the playoffs. I’ve been watching the playoffs all my life and really wanted to play. But it’s all OK.

“I kept working hard, just trying to be a positive teammate,” said Valentine. “I could sit around and mope and be negative about it or I could put that in my back pocket and add another chip on my shoulder for this season. I’ve been working all summer with a big chip on my shoulder because of what happened at the end of the year, not playing in the playoffs. I don’t know why I got injured (early and mid season ankle sprains) or the reason why our lineups were the way they were. So if that puts a bigger chip on my shoulder to help this team, so be it. I’m on a mission to make a statement this year, that I belong. And not only belong. I want to be great and make some noise.”

bulls-drop-first-summer-league-game-to-mavericks-91-75

Bulls drop first Summer League game to Mavericks, 91-75

Ready or not, here they come. With perhaps also an opportunity over the next week or so for these new Bulls kids to come out of hiding and seek out who may be it. It’s time for their games to begin.

The defending champion Bulls Saturday begin the 2017 Las Vegas Summer League 3:30 p.m. (Central) Saturday against the Dallas Mavericks.

It’s the first look at the remodeled Bulls featuring two players from the Jimmy Butler trade, point guard Kris Dunn and No. 1 draft pick Lauri Markkanen. Zach LaVine remains in rehabilitation after knee surgery. Second year draft choices Denzel Valentine and Paul Zipser also will be playing in Las Vegas along with Cameron Payne, acquired in the Taj Gibson and Doug McDermott trade, and several free agents hoping to earn an invitation to Bulls training camp.

“I’m excited to see our guys in game situations out there, obviously, the guys who are going to be on the roster,” said Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg, who will be overseeing with assistant Randy Brown coaching the Summer League roster. “To see what they can bring once we start training camp and into the season. We have five guys who will play out there with Cam Payne, Denzel, Paul Zipser, Lauri and Kris Dunn, five guys who have a chance to be in our rotation next season out there playing.

“So the biggest thing is going to be going out there and playing hard,” said Hoiberg. “We’ve changed some things up we’re going to do offensively to generate some movement. Hopefully our guys grasp that and go out there and play with effort.”

Dunn figures to start at point guard with Valentine at shooting guard and Zipser at small forward. Markkanen probably will start at power forward. There are four free agents 6-10 and above also on the roster.

The Bulls recently concluded a mini-camp with several of the new players working together and on concepts Hoiberg had difficulty incorporating the last two seasons with intractable veterans like Pau Gasol and Dwyane Wade. It will be a first glance at the Bulls of the future and the style of play.

“The biggest thing is to get comfortable with our system,” said Hoiberg. “(Especially) the five guys who are going to be with us and see if there are some guys you want to bring back as camp invites; going out and competing and finding a way to play together because these guys will be playing minutes for us next year.”

There’s the perimeter shooting big man, Markkanen.

“For a kid his age who just came over to the states a year ago, he has shown a lot,” said Hoiberg. “He can really, really shoot the ball, a guy who can space it. He’s shown the ability to put the ball on the floor and attack closeouts. The biggest adjustment as with all college players, especially those who come out after one year, is the physicality and the defensive side of the ball; there are so many new concepts we are throwing at these young players. He’s shown the ability to pick things up quickly. He’s been taught well, he has great footwork going into his shot. He’s got a great release point. He shoots it like a guard as a seven footer. I’m really excited about him.”

Then there’s Dunn, the man at the point of the offense who will be large for this Bulls team eventually getting it done.

“We’re going to be playing young point guards this year with Cam Payne, Kris Dunn and Jerian Grant,” said Hoiberg. “We’ve got these young guys who are going to be facilitating our offense. Kris, he’s an attack guard; he’s a guy who hopefully will be able to make plays and get into the paint with some floor spacing we’ll have this year, hopefully. Can get to the rim where he can show off his athleticism. Defensively, he’s a guy who can get after the ball, a guy who can flat out guard the dribble. His best asset on the offensive end is attacking the basket and getting to the paint, attacking closeouts when he’s off the ball. The biggest thing we’re working on every day is his shooting; that’s something that hopefully will continue to improve not just in Summer League but heading into the season.

“He’s got a 6-10, 6-11 wingspan,” Hoiberg added about Dunn. “He’ll be able to use his physical attributes to get into the paint. He’s strong, a little older going into his second year. He has a physical body and he uses it well.”

Payne had a difficult stretch with the Bulls after the February trade with injury and adjustment.

“It was tough for Cam to show as a young player who hasn’t played a lot, to come in 57 games into the season to a new situation,” said Hoiberg. “With Cam I got excited when we were in our playoff prep and he was playing the role of Isaiah Thomas and he showed a lot. We’ll even add a few actions because of the way he played out of it. His pace has been great, he’s been getting into the paint, doing a good job making simple basketball plays.”

And then there’s been the star of the week. Paul Zipser?

“Paul he’s been terrific, probably the best guy we’ve had in our mini camp,” said Hoiberg. “A two-way player. smart, high IQ guy. He’s more comfortable going into his second year, really shooting it. Coming in as a foreign player who’s never played in the states, it’s a big adjustment. You can tell he’s a lot more comfortable.”

It’s the first look at how comfortable we all may be with these new Bulls kids playing games.

let-the-games-begin-summer-league

Let The Games Begin: Summer League

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