Where Are They Now? Last Year's Bulls Opening Day Roster
Where Are They Now?
Last Year's Bulls Opening Day Roster
Is it too early to do a Where are they now for last year's Bulls opening day roster? Usually you wait longer than one year for such things, right?
But no, in this case it's not too early for a Where are they now. That's because last year's Bulls opening day roster has scattered in a thousand different directions -- well, 13 at least -- with little fanfare to note their existence.
Plus, thanks to the stark contrast between this year's team and last, it's actually fun for us die-hard fans to check in with those try-hard Bulls of yore, as it helps us appreciate just how far we've come!
The Gist
As we well know, the Bulls underwent a nearly complete roster overhaul since last year, with only 4 of those 17 players sticking in Chicago. Not including 2-way contract players who rarely saw the court for the big league team (Devon Dotson, I'm looking at you), the holdovers from last year's opening-day roster include just Zach Lavine, Patrick Williams, and Coby White. That's it. That means 80% of the roster changed.
Maybe that's why the Bulls are one of the best in the league at taking care of the ball this year; they got enough turnover in the offseason.
A few former Bulls have found success on their new teams while many others are out of the NBA entirely. Several remain signed by teams but are struggling to keep a foothold in the NBA.
Now it's time to take a closer look at that 2020-21 Bulls roster, and the lessons we can learn from their journeys.
Player-by-Player Look
Ryan Arcidiacono
Employed By: Boston Celtics
Update: Arcidiacono struggled with Covid for a long stretch of the season. He basically hasn't played for Boston, and is currently relegated to the G league team where he is 2nd in the league in assists at over 8 per game.
Player Grade: D-
Lesson: Arcidiacono is a nice player for who he is... but it's hard for a man of his stature to stick in the NBA unless everything falls into place. It also shows why the Bulls weren't winning a lot of games when he was being relied upon to produce in the starting lineup: he's a G League player for a middling team.
Wendell Carter Jr.
Employed By: Orlando Magic
Update: You are probably aware of the success that Wendell Carter Jr. has been enjoying (13 points, 10 rebounds, 35% from three), as a lot of Bulls fans have been cringing at his productive numbers and questioning the trade that sent Vucecvic to us. Vucevic's recent improved play has alleviated some of the hurt, but these two players will be evaluated side-by-side for the duration of their contracts.
Player Grade: A
Lesson: Being a young, constantly-injured big man with lots of pressure to perform for a bad team with poor coaching and culture can stunt one's production. Carter is now healthy and maturing in his role and confidence.
Devon Dotson
Employed By: Chicago Bulls
Update: He got his first and only action of the season with the big league team against the Magic. My hot take: he is not going to impact winning.
Player Grade: D+
Lesson: Like I said -- it's tough for a man of his stature to stick in the NBA. He's hanging on by a thread for now. He will need to develop a deadly outside shot and mature decision-making if he wants to remain on a roster beyond this year.
Cristiano Felicio
Employed By: A Brazilian basketball team
Update: Cristiano Felicio is a name that I have trouble saying, not because of the length of it, but because of the gag reflex it causes me as the record-holder for bobbled balls, botched layups, and the worst contract in NBA history. He is finally where he belongs: out of the league.
Player Grade: F
Lesson: Previous management struggled to make good decisions at times.
Daniel Gafford
Employed By: Washington Wizards
Update: This season, Gafford is averaging 9 points, 6 rebounds, and 2 blocks in 21 minutes for a winning Wizards ball club. He also ranks amongst the league leaders in field goal percentage at 65%, which is actually a shade below his career average of 68%. Unfortunately, his size, energy, ability to finish strong around the hoop, and defensive prowess is exactly what the Bulls need most this year. It's also a plus that he doesn't need the ball a lot to do his work. Alas, he no longer plays for Chicago.
Player Grade: B+
Lesson: We could tell he was going to be good as a complimentary piece, just not the main attraction. I don't think his success this season surprises many who were watching... but the lesson here is that often guys just need to find the right situations to blossom, and a team full of mismatching one-dimensional complimentary pieces (last year's Bulls) helps neither a team nor an individual to achieve great success.
Chandler Hutchison
Employed By: Phoenix Suns
Update: He's played only a few minutes over a few different games for the Suns on a 2-way contract. Meanwhile, he's only played one game for the minor league team. So... he's pretty much not playing basketball games this season.
Player Grade: D
Lesson: A combination of youth, size, and athleticism equals potential, and that potential can help you stick around the league for a little while. But that will only last so long without results.
Luke Kornet
Employed By: Boston's G League Team
Update: Luke Kornet is out of the NBA, but putting up nice numbers in the G League, no doubt benefitting from some of Arcidiacono's assisting prowess, while ranking 5th in the league in blocks at over 2 per game.
Player Grade: D
Lesson: Not that you didn't already know this, but... last year's Bulls squad was loaded with G League talent, wasn't it? We are close to halfway through the roster after looking at 7 players, and so far 5 of them no longer have a role with an NBA team.
Zach Lavine
Employed By: Chicago Bulls
Update: You know him, you love him.
Player Grade: A
Lesson: He's good. He's grown. He didn't have the pieces around him until now.
Lauri Markannen
Employed By: Cleveland Cavaliers
Update: His minutes are the highest they've ever been in his career at nearly 32 per game, but his numbers are still lagging behind his 2019 season, and his shooting percentages have dipped significantly from last season.
Player Grade: C+
Lesson: Lauri is who we feared he was: a soft 7-footer with nice touch from the outside and some straight-line athleticism, but little finesse around the hoop and no defense.
Adam Mokoka
Employed By: A French basketball team
Update: On November 25, 2021, Mokoka was signed by the French team, Nanterre 92. And so I give to you another former Bull who couldn't stick in the NBA once AKME said "enough."
Player Grade: F
Lesson: Make that 6 out of 10 players from last year's team who couldn't make an NBA roster. No wonder we were losing, huh?
Otto Porter Jr.
Employed By: Golden State Warriors
Update: He is in about the best situation any player could ask for playing a bench role for the Warriors and experiencing modest success with averages of 7 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal per game on 45% shooting from the floor, and 41% from distance in 19 minutes of action.
Player Grade: C+
Lesson: Porter was a massive money pit for Chicago. In his 3 seasons with the Bulls, he played in 15 games, 14 games, and 25 games. So far this season he's played in 21 out of 24 games for the Warriors.
Tomas Satoransky
Employed By: New Orleans Pelicans
Update: Tomas Satoransky is playing an underwhelming role for an injury-riddled, bottom-dwelling Pelicans squad. With averages of under 3 points and 34% shooting from the field, to go along with 21% from shooting from downtown, and 2 rebounds and 2 assists per game, it seems the breakup of the notorious law firm "Sato and Young" marked the end of Sato's best years.
Player Grade: C-
Lesson: He started the majority of the games in his 3 seasons in Chicago. Now in his prime at 31, he can't even carve out a significant bench role for one of the worst teams in the league. We don't need this lesson anymore, but... no wonder we were losing, huh?
Garrett Temple
Employed By: New Orleans Pelicans
Update: He's collecting 5 points, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, and 1 steal while shooting under 40% from the field in 19 minutes per game. So while he's producing more than his former Bull teammate, Satoransky, his averages and role are still rather meager.
Player Grade: C
Lesson: Temple should write a book after his playing days are over. With 16 team changes in 12 years in the NBA, I'm sure he has a few stories to share from his journey.
Denzel Valentin
Employed By: Cleveland Cavaliers
Update: He mostly has a really good seat for all the Cleveland Cavs games, plus he occasionally gets to play some garbage time minutes. He's basically living a basketball fan's dream!
Player Grade: D
Lesson: He is out of the rotation, and soon, he will be out of the league as well. I know you don't need this lesson anymore, but... no wonder we were losing, huh?
Coby White
Employed By: Chicago Bulls
Update: Coby White has struggled with injuries and Covid to the tune of 9 games played and ugly shooting percentages (35% from the field, and under 23% from 3-point range) on his way to 6 points per game with minimal production elsewhere in the stat line.
Player Grade: C-
Lesson: It's been a snake-bit year for White. With Ayo's emergence, White is a top trade candidate to bring over another big man.
Patrick Williams
Employed By: Chicago Bulls
Update: It's a lost season for Patrick Williams after an early season dunk attempt resulted in a significant wrist injury.
Player Grade: N/A
Lesson: Boy, even the former Bulls who stuck with the Bulls are having bad years. What a cursed team.
Thad Young
Employed By: San Antonio Spurs
Update: The Spurs felt like a good fit for Thad as a cerebral veteran. But it hasn't worked out that way, and the Spurs are now focusing on rebuilding by giving the young guys more run -- apparently Thad's last name is not enough to fool Popovic into playing time. He's averaging 7 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 2.5 assists on a very efficient 57% shooting from the field, but he's failed to hit his season average of minutes (just over 15) in 9 straight games, including a DNP December 7th vs. the Knicks.
Player Grade: C+
Lesson: It's sad when a relationship turns toxic. Young has gotten a Thad vocal about his displeasure with his minutes and role. I hope he gets traded. Some fans are hoping he comes back to the Bulls. Unfortunately for those fans, I have to share that there were reports about Thad feeling betrayed by the Bulls when he was traded -- and he was upset that he found out through social media -- so a reunion looks unlikely.
Final Thoughts
- 5 players failed to make a roster this year
- 5 players failed to maintain a meaningful role on an NBA team
- 2 players have missed most of the season (Patrick Williams and Coby White)
- 4 players actually have a significant role on their new team (Carter, Gafford, Markannen, and Porter)
- 1 player is Zach Lavine
- If you take Zach Lavine out of the equation, the other 16 Bulls' players from last year's team are combining to score about 64 points per game for NBA teams this season. That's an average of 4 points per game per player.
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