Chicago Bulls not sure how new guard Harrison will fit into rotation
Perhaps using the philosophy of you can never have enough point guards, the Chicago Bulls officially welcomed Shaquille Harrison to the squad Sunday.
Undrafted coming out of Tulsa, the 6-foot-4 Harrison spent most of the past two years playing for the G-League's Northern Arizona Suns, while logging 23 games for the NBA Suns. He started games for Phoenix in the preseason but was released just before the opener.
"I didn't see it coming at all," Harrison said Sunday at the Advocate Center. "But it's the NBA for you. You never know what's going to happen. Ultimately, that was their decision. I can't really focus on that anymore. Now I'm in Chicago. I'm just happy to be here. Good luck to the Suns."
There is certainly a crowd at point guard.
Starter Kris Dunn is expected to play Monday in Dallas after missing the first two games of the season due to the birth of his son. Cameron Payne probably played his best game as a Bull on Saturday against Detroit, scoring 17 points. Then there's Ryan Arcidiacono, who handled the reserve minutes the past two games, and two-way player Tyler Ulis, who was released by the Suns in the spring.
Coach Fred Hoiberg wasn't specific about how Harrison could fit into the Bulls' playing rotation. To create the spot on the roster, the Bulls released center Omer Asik, who has been away from the team and wasn't expected to play this season. The Bulls will pay Asik roughly $14 million for this season's contract and a buyout for next year.
"He's got great size," Hoiberg said of Harrison. "That's a big thing in this league is to have size and the ability to move your feet, the ability to get into the paint. We saw some of those things. Our pro personnel scouts have really liked him since he's been out of Tulsa and we're excited to have him."
Harrison, a native of Lee's Summit, Missouri, hasn't played on national television many times in his life, so he provided Bulls fans with a description of his play.
"Tenacious, athletic. I'm going to pick up full court every time I step on that court," Harrison said. "Playmaker and leader and knock down open shots. That's what Chicago is going to get out of me. That's what I'm going to bring every night, 110 percent."
He also admitted he will need to go shopping soon to prepare for his new home. The message already is clear: Winter is coming.
"This is honestly my first time in Chicago," he said. "I had trips planned to come here a lot of times, but they ended up falling through. I'm excited to get here and experience the city, because I've always wanted to experience it."
"I definitely do not have a coat right now, but I'm going to go somewhere and find about three or four of those bad boys and put them on. I'm already freezing."
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Bulls game day
Bulls vs. Dallas Mavericks at the American Airlines Center, 7:30 p.m.
TV: NBCSCH
Radio: WSCR 670-AM
Outlook: The Mavericks recorded their first win of the season Saturday, beating Jimmy Butler-less Minnesota 140-136. Rookie SG Luka Doncic led the way with 26 points, while second-year PG Dennis Smith Jr. added 19. Smith hit a tiebreaking 18-footer with 6.1 seconds left after getting away with a push off against Derrick Rose. Dallas rookie guard Jalen Brunson, from Stevenson High School, scored 7 points in 20 minutes off the bench. SF Harrison Barnes (hamstring) and veteran PF Dirk Nowitzki (ankle) have yet to play for the Mavs this season. Nowitzki is expected to miss at least two more weeks. The Bulls swept Dallas last season.
Next: Charlotte Hornets at the United Center, 7 p.m. Wednesday.
- Mike McGraw