There’s realistically no world in which Coby White and Zach LaVine are thrown into the fall-camp octagon to fight for the starting two-guard spot for the Bulls.
Well, until there is. Sort of.
Both White and LaVine inevitably will start the game, they likely will battle for shots and touches, but where it will get interesting is who becomes the stagger player for coach Billy Donovan? At full strength the last four seasons — a rarity for this organization — the stagger player for Donovan was key. That proven veteran scorer who would come out of the first quarter a few minutes earlier or put in extended opening-quarter minutes with the sole purpose of playing alongside the reserves and act as that main scoring punch.
LaVine is no stranger to that role, but it was DeMar DeRozan that Donovan most leaned on for that, and with good reason.
DeRozan had a unique understanding of how to get his teammates going, while still knowing that in some possessions he just had to be “the guy.”
Does Donovan lean on development and let White have that role as he chases becoming an All-Star caliber talent? Or does he fall on the side of showcasing LaVine for the rest of the market and make sure No. 8 gets his numbers? It will be interesting to watch in just over a week when camp begins.
It’s not the only battle to watch, either.
Patrick Williams vs. Matas Buzelis
On the surface this has the feel of a no-brainer, especially early on.
In one corner is the fifth-year incumbent, fresh off an offseason in which the Bulls gave Williams a five-year, $90-million contract extension. Yes, he has three-and-‘D’ ability, but he’s also more passenger than driver.
In the other corner there’s the rookie who was selected 11th overall and made a splash in Summer League with his aggressive play and in-your-face attitude. It’s one thing throwing up highlights on a bunch of first- and second-year players, so Buzelis has a lot to prove over the next month for this to be a contest.
Where it could get interesting is what if Williams again is more “Passive Pat” than the guy they paid for? What if Buzelis proves to be the top-five talent he was expected to be on draft night, and takes a jump defensively?
Too many “ifs” to peel through in October and November, and the fact that Williams is still the best wing defender the Bulls have carries weight, but Buzelis’ makeup is just different. Go ahead and ask him.
Lonzo Ball vs. Lonzo Ball’s left knee
Executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas didn’t trade for Josh Giddey to not gift-wrap him the starting point-guard spot either with or without a healthy Lonzo Ball.
Ball’s biggest — and really only — competition in camp will be his surgically repaired left knee, as he attempts to become the first NBA player to return from a cartilage transplant. That’s the battle for Ball as he attempts to save his career.
He will be in the final year of his contract and will have to prove enough to the rest of the league in order to get his next deal. In all likelihood, he will be trying to get a one-year “show-me” contract, and then something long term.
Either way, it will be an uphill battle filled with minutes restrictions and rest days.
The ninth man
Do the math. There’s the starting five, and then must-plays in Ayo Dosunmu, Buzelis and Jalen Smith. Donovan rarely goes with a 10-man rotation so that means Ball, Torrey Craig, Dalen Terry, Julian Phillips and Chris Duarte all are fighting for playing time and a rotation spot.
Don’t be surprised if Karnisovas is already looking for a trade beyond the obvious LaVine chatter that has been alive and well for several seasons.