2022-2023 Bulls Preseason Presser

[garbageman]

After two seasons with the Chicago Bulls, Otto Porter, Jr. has been traded to the Washington Wizards for Jarvis Chambers, Jerrell Hamilton, and Leroy Haugh

Leroy Haugh pre-season highlights begin to play. The young guard led the team in pre-season scoring, despite a 2-4 effort that didn't show much promise as a whole. No reason to worry, though. It's only pre-season.

This signals a changing of the guards in Chicago. Despite capturing the best record, the Bulls were unable to repeat their championship run, in some part due to competition getting better, and in some part due to Dennis Smith, Jr.'s broken arm in the last game of the regular season.

Replay of DSJ sitting on the bench in a short sleeved suit to accommodate his cast. Those fade into a newly healed Smith signing a contract for less than max value to remain a Bull for the next 4 years.

Dennis Smith was retained at a great value, which allowed the Bulls to extend a strong offer to bring Russell Westbrook back without getting into financial dire straits.

A reel of Westbrook's finest moments as a Bull being to play, culminating in him hoisting the Finals MVP award a summer ago.

Despite all the recent success, there's a time limit to everything, and the departure of Otto Porter Jr. foreshadows that the Bulls need to retool.

Garbage Man: Hello, and welcome to the Chicago Bulls preseason press conference for the 2022-2023 season. I'm not going to sugarcoat it. We're not going to win the championship this year. We're not going to win the division this year. We'll probably make some moves that a lot of people won't like in the short term, but after a lot of success in the last couple of seasons, it's time to think about what's best for the Bulls future. If we can't get back to the championship this year, we want to make the right moves to do that as soon as possible.

That being said, I still think we have a lot of talent on our roster. Dennis, Vernon, and Russell are all here. What's missing is our support, especially defensively, in Bismack and Otto. They were two very important pieces of what made us such a fierce team these last few years. However, with Jarvis and Leroy, we've got a lot of offensive weaponry. So even if we don't win another ring, there will be a lot of exciting moments and highlight reel plays.

Anyway, who wants to ask me a question?

[false9]

There have been rumors you have been quietly shopping Vernon Desantis. Is the franchise unwilling to commit max money him as part of the next title contender?

[kucoach7]

Vernon has been progressing nicely and has some unique skills for a big man. Give me your prediction for his per game averages this season.

[garbageman]

There have been rumors you have been quietly shopping Vernon Desantis. Is the franchise unwilling to commit max money him as part of the next title contender?

We believe Vernon is worth max money, and we'd be willing to pay it. However, we know how much interest he has garnered, and if someone is willing to make us an offer we couldn't refuse, we wouldn't refuse it.

[garbageman]

Vernon has been progressing nicely and has some unique skills for a big man. Give me your prediction for his per game averages this season.

We think he can average about 17.5 and 11. Without Biyombo and Otto Porter, he'll have more opportunity to grab rebounds.

[JNR]

GWR: Haugh had a great preseason. Do you think his production can continue into the regular season?

[NOLa.]

Our scouting department noticed Vernon Desantis went from the Godfather category to Listening. What percentage chance would you put on Desantis not finishing the season wearing the Bulls jersey and what type of offer would you now need?

[WigNosy]

Russell Westbrook was the piece that put you over the top and brought a title to Chicago. Are his days as a Bull drawing to a close?

[Wombataholic]

Was Biyombo offered a new contract with the Bulls in free agency? Do you think Jarvis Chambers can fill his production?

[garbageman]

GWR: Haugh had a great preseason. Do you think his production can continue into the regular season?

We were very impressed with Haugh during the preseason, but during the regular season, we're not going to put Russell at small forward. Haugh will get a healthy second unit role as 6th man where we hope him and Charles Tardiff will be able to keep the points a-comin when our first unit recharges.

[garbageman]

Our scouting department noticed Vernon Desantis went from the Godfather category to Listening. What percentage chance would you put on Desantis not finishing the season wearing the Bulls jersey and what type of offer would you now need?

It'd have to be an offer that we really, really liked. We know our current build is on the wane, and if we kept everyone, we still think we'd have a successful season, but that it would prolong our wait to have a really successful season. Since Vernon is a sure thing, we'd need at least one player that we think will be a second or third option with Dennis and Leroy in a couple seasons along with some other assets.

[garbageman]

Russell Westbrook was the piece that put you over the top and brought a title to Chicago. Are his days as a Bull drawing to a close?

Russell's still an impactful player, but we're not sure how much longer he's going to go. At less than 20 million a year, we think he's a great value for the next couple years. Part of the reason Leroy had such a great pre-season had a lot to do with Russell working with him. However, we know Leroy is talented enough now to play more minutes than we're going to give him, so eventually, the torch will have to be passed.

[Xist2Inspire]

With Russell re-signing and your fresh talent looking like solid additions, could a dark-horse run be in the cards with a savvy move or two, or is this season 100% the start of a full-scale rebuild?

[garbageman]

Was Biyombo offered a new contract with the Bulls in free agency? Do you think Jarvis Chambers can fill his production?

He was, but Biyombo wanted more than we could give him without going into another season of repeater tax. With Chambers on the books already, we didn't feel like we could wrap up that much money in the PF position. We'll miss Bismack. His rebounding and defense at the PF spot were a big reason we had so much success in a league where the best players are offensive giants at the 4 spot. Jarvis is a good rebounder and defender, but he's not at Biyombo's level there. However, we're looking forward to pairing him up with Vernon on the inside because both of them can score in droves in the paint.

[digiskunk]

What kind of role should we expect Jimmy Butler to play this upcoming season? What's his favorite children's cartoon?

[garbageman]

With Russell re-signing and your fresh talent looking like solid additions, could a dark-horse run be in the cards with a savvy move or two, or is this season 100% the start of a full-scale rebuild?

We'll see how it goes. Again, we spent a couple years in defiance of the cap, and it was worthwhile as we got a championship out of it and had the best record in the league both times. However, the third year tax is a lot steeper and more crippling to our future. If we could make a move to be more competitive this year that would still keep us under the tax, we might do it, but with the Pacers having a successful offseason, the Bucks coming off a championship, the Pistons still having AD, and every team in the Atlantic being pretty fierce, we think it's wise to see what we can do with what we have and start planning ahead earlier than everyone else.

[garbageman]

What kind of role should we expect Jimmy Butler to play this upcoming season? What's his favorite children's cartoon?

He'll have mostly a reserve role this year. He-Man and the Masters of the Universe.