Welcome to the Bulls Podcast, coming to you from BullsPodcast.com. This is where we’ll be bringing you the latest news, reviews, rants, rumors and opinions on the players, coaches and front office of the Chicago Bulls.
I’m your host, Marcus Couch. And with me is our co-host, Mr. Wyse Black.
We’ve got a lot in store for you this episode. Including:

NBA Rookies survey is out and the Rookies think that Bulls Wendell Carter Jr will have the best career.
We’ll go over some of our favorite Bulls games on the schedule
Christiano Felico responds to my calling him out for not posting workouts to social.
We continue with our expectations for each Bulls player. This week we’re going to wrap it all up and cover the Small Forwards for Chicago.
More trades to think about with the ESPN Trade Machine

Wendell Carter voted by NBA Rookies to have the Best Career among all 2018 draft picks
In the league’s annual rookie survey, via John Schuhmann of NBA.com, Phoenix Suns center Deandre Ayton (#1 pick) and Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Collin Sexton (#8 pick) were picked to be co-Rookies of the Year. They each received 18 percent of the votes, respectively.
The Bulls may have missed out on players like top pick DeAndre Ayton or foreign sensation Luka Doncic, but the other rookies of the NBA feel like Wendell Carter Jr. may have the most potential of them all. It’s clear that the newest players in the NBA see the potential in Carter. This is just confirmation of what we’ve already seen from WCJ during the summer. It’s important to take these results with a grain of salt. Since the survey was first conducted back in 2007, rookies have correctly predicted the Rookie of the Year winner just once in nine attempts: Kevin Durant in 2007. But it’s still great news for Bulls Fans long-term as we focus on the rebuilding of the Bulls core players. It’s nice to see that WCJ is getting the recognition and respect from his draft classmates going forward.
Bulls Schedule
The Bulls schedule is out and we’ve been hard at work analyzing the calendar and circling the dates of our favorite matchups. For this segment, we’ll highlight a few of those games and let you know what we’re looking for in each matchup.
Marcus Picks:
Oct. 18, 2018: Opening night against Philadelphia 76ers
Naturally, this is going to be the litmus test for the long season to come. How will the Bulls stack up to one of the East’s current powerhouses? As the season opener, Bulls’ fans optimism and excitement for the new season should be at a peak. The long offseason full of speculation on how this young squad will play and develop together will finally be over. Bulls fans will finally get a taste of meaningful basketball for the first time in months.
Oct. 29, 2018: Dubs in the UC
Despite the fact this matchup is taking place very early in the season, the new-look Bulls are hoping to hold their own against the defending champs, even if a victory proves to be a momentary speed bump on the Warriors’ march towards another championship.
BULLS vs SUNS – Nov 21, 2018 (Wyse)
BULLS vs BUCKS – Nov 28,2018 (Wyse)
BULLS vs KINGS – Dec 10,2018  (Wyse)
Dec. 26, 2018: Bulls vs. Minnesota Timberwolves
Last year’s matchup between these two teams featured an epic battle between Zach LaVine and Jimmy Butler. Although Butler won the statistical battle, the Bulls overcame a 17-point deficit thanks to LaVine’s 15 points in the 4th quarter for the late win. What will Round 2 bring us in this post-Christmas match-up? How will the Jabari Parker vs Jimmy Butler matchup play out? What about Wendell Carter Jr vs Karl Anthony Towns? This is going to be a holiday season game to remember for the whole season.
 
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Welcome to the Bulls Podcast, coming to you from BullsPodcast.com. This is where we’ll be bringing you the latest news, reviews, rants, rumors and opinions on the players, coaches and front office of the Chicago Bulls.
(Opening: Derrick Walton Jr. and Derrick Walton Sr.)
Joining us today is our very first guest on the show. We couldn’t think of a better person to be the first. While we are only on episode #4, he’s actually approaching Episode 400. We’re pleased to welcome Fred Pfeiffer, AKA “See Red Fred” from the Chicago Bullseye podcast.
We’ve got a lot in store for you this episode. Including:

The state of the Bulls Fan – Are we all mental? Or is there really something to be enthusiastic about?
Bulls sign point guard Derrick Walton Jr from Miami.
We continue with our expectations for each Bulls player. Last show we covered all the Guards. This week we’re going to cover the Power Forwards for Chicago.
More trades to think about with the ESPN Trade Machine

State of the Bulls Fan
Lately I’ve seen so many reports and predictions for the upcoming Bulls season. Last week we laughed at Vegas oddsmakers and ESPN for their projections of under 30 wins and no playoffs. Even NBA-TV has dissed the Bulls upcoming year, again knocking them from any possible playoff expectation. One commentator I heard on NBA-TV referred to the Bulls as “A young core that may be too young” Too young?
What is the proper expectation for a Bulls fan? Are we looking for too much this year? Is there something that the “See Red” blinders are preventing us from seeing that everyone else sees?
What’s going on? We’re a city that’s endured sports draughts that can last a century. Why are we dissed by everyone, knowing that we have a really good group of players that can do great things?
Derrick Walton Jr. Signs with the Chicago Bulls
Bulls sign point guard Derrick Walton Jr from Miami. The Heat had rescinded their qualifying offer for Walton, making him an unrestricted free agent. Walton (6-1, 189) was undrafted in 2017, but signed with the Miami Heat on a Two-Way contract on July 24, 2017. In the 2017-18 season, he played in 16 games for the Heat and averaged 1.8 points, 1.0 rebounds and 1.0 assists in 9.2 minutes per game. Walton posted a season-high seven points and five assists in a win against the Dallas Mavericks on Dec. 22, 2017. During his time in the NBA G League with the Sioux Falls Skyforce, Walton started in all 27 games in which he played, and he posted 16.1 points, 7.1 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.48 steals in 32.4 minutes per game.
The Detroit native played four seasons at the University of Michigan, where he holds career averages of 11.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 1.15 steals in 31.9 minutes per game. Walton is the only player in Wolverine history to record 1,000 points, 500 rebounds and 400 assists in his career. As a senior in 2016-17, he was named to the All-Big Ten Second Team and the Big Ten Tournament Most Valuable Player.
Player Evaluations – Chicago Bulls Power Forwards
Last show we started to evaluate the team player by player. As you recall we have covered all of the guards and centers. This week we’re going to evaluate our power forwards.
Wendell Carter Jr.
There are lots of expectations for WCJ this year. Mostly of his own making. We were not really expecting the savage defender and shot-blocker that showed up at Summer League this year. He shocked everyone to the point that there was even talk going around that the wrong Duke player was picked first in the draft! What do we expect from WCJ for the upcoming season? Is Rookie of the Year out of the realm of possibility?
Bobby Portis
When he started, it was all about #FreeBobbyPortis. Once he was free, he tore up the rims and shot it from outside unlike any big man the Bulls have had. Bobby had a rough start to last year with knocki…

Welcome to the Bulls Podcast #3, coming to you at BullsPodcast.com. We are the official podcast for the Chicago Bulls fan. This is where we’ll be bringing you the latest news, reviews, rants, rumors and opinions on the players, coaches and front office of the Chicago Bulls.
I’m your host, Marcus Couch. And with me is our co-host, Mr. Wyse Black.
We’ve got a lot in store for you this episode. Including:

* Bulls players show up in force to Jabari Parker’s Chicago basketball camp
* Lauri Markkanen returns to Chicago. Bulked up and pumped up for the new season.
* Viva la baloncesto! NBA announces that the Bulls will play the Orlando Magic on Dec. 13th in Mexico City.
* Bulls opening game is Oct 18th in Philadelphia will be televised nationally on TNT. #TNTBulls are back!
* You won’t believe what Vegas oddsmakers predict for the Bulls upcoming season! It may be time to head to Vegas and lay down some serious money on our Bulls!
* We continue with our expectations for each Bulls player. Last show we covered all the Guards. This week we’re going to cover the Centers for Chicago.
* More trades to think about with the ESPN Trade Machine

Bulls players show up in force to Jabari Parker’s Chicago basketball camp
Jabari Parker just held his annual basketball camp, the “Jabari Parker Family Summer Basketball Camp” in Chicago. What he didn’t expect was that his new teammates showed him what the Bulls Family is all about. They showed up to give their support to their new teammate and help to mentor the young hoopers in Chicagoland.
Parker wore a wide smile as he introduced Bobby Portis, Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr. and others and then listened to Bulls director of player development Shawn Respert address campers on the importance of being good teammates.
Jabari wore a camper T-shirt rather than a supervisor T-shirt on purpose as he jumped from drill to drill, offering hands-on instruction at each station. He said this year’s camp had a bit more significance now that he’s a Bull.
Parker also hopes to bring Chicago’s youth some joy with better Bulls basketball this winter. He has been working out at the Advocate Center with his new teammates since signing his two-year, $40 million deal. That Portis, Markkanen, Carter and others surprised him with their appearance touched him.
“It’s going to take time to build that chemistry and those relationships,” Parker said. “All of us being so young is something that’s special and something I’m looking forward to. We get a chance to play off each other.
“I’ve played with vets where it was like a one-sided relationship and I had to listen. It’s different because we can pick each other’s brains because we’re growing.
“You can’t go anywhere but up because we’re so young. A lot of us haven’t established an identity; we just have a lot of hype. It’s up to us to make that situation good.”
They may have legal weed, but Las Vegas Oddsmakers are not high on the Bulls this season.
The odds for each NBA team’s win totals for the 2018-19 season have been released. It’s safe to say the Chicago Bulls are being heavily underestimated.
Per Jeff Sherman of the Westgate Las Vegas Superbook, the Chicago Bulls over/under for wins for the 2018-19 NBA season is 27.5. In other words, the Bulls are projected to be NO BETTER than last year, when they were actually TRYING to tank.
To make things worse, ESPN recently delivered the same dark prediction for the Bulls, exclaiming that they won’t even make the playoffs.
Where can I place that bet on the over for Bulls wins? This is the best bet I’ve ever seen!
The Finnisher is Back!
Lauri returns to Chicago all pumped up and worked out. He’s been getting it in and it shows! Looking forward to seeing how he improves this year. He did a ton of stuff playing for the Finland national team over the summer,

Welcome to the Bulls Podcast, coming to you at BullsPodcast.com. We are the official podcast for the Chicago Bulls fan. This is where we’ll be bringing you the latest news, reviews, rants, rumors, and opinions on the players, coaches and front office of the Chicago Bulls.
We’ve got a lot in store for you this episode. Including:

Bulls re-sign Ryan Arcidiacono
Zach Lavine going off for 50 at Crawsover Tournament in Seattle
Denzel Valentine outplayed and called out at Drew League Debut by Frank ‘Nitty’ Sessions.
David Nwaba signed by the Cavs
Expectations for each Bulls player now that we have our roster in place. This week we’re going to cover the guards for Chicago.
Fun trades to think about with the ESPN Trade Machine

Bulls re-sign Ryan Arcidiacono
Ryan Arcidiacono will now wear number 51 with the Bulls. He previously wore number 15 in his rookie season but had to switch to 51 to let Chandler Hutchison wear the 15, his number at Boise State. In his first year with the Bulls last season, Ryan played in 24 games averaging 12.7 mins per game with just 2 points, 42% from the field with 1 rebound and 1.5 assists per contest. He proved his worth once again in Summer league and it’s great to have Arcidiacono back with the team. He seems like a really high character kind of guy who’s also very competitive.
Denzel Valentine’s Drew League Moment
Drew League player Frank Nitty drops 40 on Denzel Valentine then asks DeRozan how Valentine made it to the league. “How did this guy get in the league? How?” and “Denzel Valentine, did you get into the league on layaway?” He did the same stuff to MVP James Harden the next day. Nitty is the Drew League MVP, but that’s probably the limit as to how far his basketball career is going to go. Not good for Bulls fans to see Denzel to be neutered on the court like that. Hopefully, he uses the humiliation as a motivation to get in gear this season.
Crawsover
Zach Levine goes off for 50 in the Jamal Crawford “Crawsover” game. He had 4-5 amazing slam dunks in the game, including a through-the-legs dunk. It looks like Zach is pumped up after the new contract and is ready to make his mark in Chicago this season.
David Nwaba signs with the Cavs
The Cleveland Cavaliers are reportedly finalizing a contract with wing David Nwaba on August 1st. Nwaba, 25, averaged 7.9 points and 4.7 rebounds per game last season in a reserve role for the Chicago Bulls. He shot just 34.6 percent from beyond the arc, though his value came on the defensive side of the ball, where he proved to be a solid perimeter and on-ball defender.  It wasn’t a surprising move. With Zach LaVine expected to be healthy for a full season, Chandler Hutchison drafted in the first round, Jabari Parker signed and Justin Holiday and Denzel Valentine also available on the wing, Nwaba would have been fighting for sparse reserve minutes. Instead, he will now try to prove his worth for the Cavaliers, and if he can improve his three-point shooting, he should be a solid option off the bench.
Remember, we are a new show and we do need your support in social media. We’ve made it really easy to find us with some special redirect links.
Twitter: http://bullspodcast.com/twitter
Facebook Group: http://bullspodcast.com/facebook
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PLAYER EXPECTATIONS: GUARDS
 
Kris Dunn – PG
Kris Dunn was a great surprise for the Bulls last year. A result of the Jimmy Butler trade, Dunn was brought over with Zach Lavine and the draft pick that turned out to be Lauri Markkanen. He had a gang of injuries last year,

Hello Bulls Nation! and Welcome to the Bulls Podcast, the official podcast for Chicago Bulls fans. This is where we’ll be bringing you the latest news, reviews, rants and opinions on the players, coaches and front office of the Chicago Bulls.
Intro to your hosts, Marcus Couch and Wyse Black
This is the first episode. We are going to ramp up the show production as we go on. Expect a nicely finished package by the time pre-season starts. In addition to the podcast, we’re going to feature even better ways to get closer to our listeners and those in Bulls Nation. We’re planning on doing a number of things throughout the season, including online game watching parties where you can watch the game along with us and make comments and reactions. We’re also planning live post-game reactions and game analysis via Facebook Live video, and a lot of other cool things to interact with YOU, the Chicago Bulls FAN.
Stories Discussed:
Bulls Draft Picks
Wendell Carter Jr. (Duke)
Chandler Hutchison (Boise State) (HUTCH IS ON)
Picks that never happened
Michael Porter Jr. hype. Second back surgery just happened. Thank you GarPax!
Trading up? What would have we traded for?
Summer League Discussion
Wendell Carter Jr: He was one of the stars of the Summer League, something of a surprise as the No. 7 overall draft pick. He impressed team officials and scouts league-wide with his sophisticated play while still a teenager, his toughness and defensive instincts. ESPN commentators raved about his play. He averaged 15 points, 9.4 rebounds and almost three blocks per game. That soul-stealing two-handed block he had was something we haven’t seen from a Bulls player in at least 20 years.
Chandler Hutchison: He improved as the week went on, averaging 11 points and seven rebounds. He was hesitant at times to shoot. He did show nice passing and rebounding instincts and when he had the ball on the fast break was impressive gaining ground. He had difficulty finishing and often didn’t go to the basket strong.
Antonio Blakeney: The star of the team, Blakeney averaged a team-best 21 points per game. He continued to show an impressive ability to get off shots and score, though often he isn’t efficient. He’s improved his passing but doesn’t move much once he passes. I think the front office was pretty impressed and rewarded him with a new deal, which we’ll talk about in just a minute.
Overall Impressions of Summer League
Free Agent Signings
Bulls – Zach Lavine
4 Year $78 Million Deal, matching the offer sheet from the Sacramento Kings.
Vincent Goodwill did a great 1 on 1 interview with Zach Lavine and he revealed quite a bit, including the fact that he wants to be the one to lead the Bulls back to a championship. He wants to be the guy. In his words, he wants to be great. An excerpt of Vincent Goodwell’s Zach Lavine interview on NBC Sports Chicago.
Bulls – Jabari Parker
Coming back from two torn ACLs, Jabari suffered from the rise of Yannis in Milwaukee.
Moving over to the 3 for the Bulls. Can he make the switch back to his college days?
Derrick Rose is a legend! Jabari isn’t having any reporter disrespect for D.Rose.
Players don’t get paid to play defense [Clip]
Bulls – Antonio Blakeney
AB gets a 2 year minimum contract with the Bulls. This after KD himself tweeted that there is no reason for AB to be on a two-way deal.
Bulls – Antonius Cleveland (Atlanta) claimed off waivers
He’s played for several teams including Golden State, Dallas and Atlanta. Not much action seen in the NBA so far. He’s been played mostly in garbage time at the end of the game, but he’s SUPER athletic shooting guard.
Bulls – Rawle Alkins (Arizona)
Rawle Alkins and Lauri Markkanen played 37 games together at Arizona during the 2016-17 college season.