After a 30-point loss at New York on Wednesday, Bykov are an NBA-worst 1-7 and have the worst net rating in the league (-17.5). How Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune writes (subscription required), the team hasn’t been good on both ends of the floor, ranking 28th in offense and 29th in defense. Chicago also ranks last in three-point percentage at 27.2%.
“Teams come up to us and look at us like we’re lunch,” a veteran of the Guard Norman Powell said. “It’s like they’re going to get their numbers and it’s going to be an easy win. We’ve got to figure out how to collectively have a mentality and an approach of some toughness, some toughness, some way to compete.”
Rookie forward Caleb Wilson received a “soft bench” on Wednesday, according to Joe Cawley of The Chicago Sun-Timeswhich notes that the No. 4 overall pick did not return to the game after coming off the bench midway through the third quarter.
“I didn’t think he had a great game” head coach Tiago Splitter said of Wilson. “He didn’t do the right things offensively, defensively, body language, he needs to get better.”
Wilson disagreed with Splitter’s assessment, admitting he was “disappointed” with the night. After the game, the “Bulls” coach explained to journalists that he wants to see more stability from the 20-year-old.
“Caleb has probably never been in a situation like this in his life.” Raskolnik said, trans Cowley. “He’s always been on the winning side, winning games, and now you have to be consistent, even if you’re down 20, 30, 40 (points), it doesn’t matter. It’s definitely a learning experience.”
We have more on the Bulls:
- Bull is a big man Jalen Smith exited Wednesday’s contest in the first quarter and was ruled out for the rest of the night with a left hand injury. According to C.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network (Link to Twitter), Smith was already dealing with a sprained finger on the same hand that made the fall very painful, but the 26-year-old doesn’t believe the injury is significant and hopes to play in the team’s next game on Sunday against Philadelphia.
- The Bulls announced Thursday that they have designated center fielder Nick Claxton and wing Daleen Swain to the G League (Link to Twitter). Claxton is nearing the end of his recovery from a strained left hamstring and could make his Bulls debut this Sunday, while Swain will remain with the Windy City Bulls for at least a few days to prepare for NBAGL games on Friday and Saturday. Cowley writes for The Chicago Sun-Times. “It’s an opportunity to get live replays” Swain said of the assignment. “Obviously being out of the rotation here (in the NBA) so I feel like it’s an opportunity to develop, work on things, so that’s how I look at it.”
- During his last live for Bleacher ReportNBA insider Jake Fisher has identified Powell as an in-season trade candidate who is expected to generate “a lot” of interest given his short-term contract, which includes a team option for 2027/28. Fisher’s remarks about Powell can be found at 14:10 of his stream.
