Grooming, trolling and hitting the weights: A tour of Bulls media day
Nobody was expecting significant news to emerge from Chicago Bulls media day, and none did.
There were a series of mildly interesting quotes and developments, so that's probably the best way to describe Monday's experience at the Advocate Center, in approximate newsworthiness order:
• Robin Lopez definitely stole the show with his newest haircut, which I would describe at "The Musketeer." To complement his typically shaggy look on top, he added a dangling goatee. A sword fight would have been appropriate.
The Bulls relied on Lopez and Justin Holiday to lead behind the scenes, while bringing the younger rebuilding blocks to the podium, so Lopez's description of his new style is left for another day.
He did not appear to bring his dog along, which he does on occasion. By unofficial count, that makes no dogs at Bulls media day since Dennis Rodman brought his Doberman to the Berto Center in 1997.
• This event offered the first chance to ask Lauri Markkanen about his "Throwback Thursday" tweet that featured himself on draft night wearing a Minnesota Timberwolves hat and showing off the Finland flag on the inside of his jacket.
The timing was funny because Markkanen sent it out just as that trade fell apart on Minnesota's end with ex-Bull Jimmy Butler requesting a move. Even Joel Embiid, king of the NBA Twitter trolls, was impressed, retweeting Markkanen's masterpiece with the comment, "BRUH."
"I thought Bulls fans would love it," Markkanen said Monday. "And it was just harmless fun. No shots taken."
Bulls vice president of basketball operations John Paxson spoke carefully about the Minnesota situation and whether it's vindication the Bulls were smart to trade Butler when they did.
"It's not on us to make any real comment on that," Paxson said. "We obviously respect Jimmy as a player. He was here, we know how great he is.
"It's never about vindication. We did exactly what we thought was the right thing for the organization last year, to rebuild. We walked out that night and we were comfortable then, and we're comfortable now."
• When it comes to expectations for this season, there weren't many given. Obviously, the Bulls were trying to lose last year and now they want to start moving forward.
Las Vegas odds have them pegged as one of the five-worst teams in the league, which would be a lower finish than last season.
"Our goal is to be the best basketball team we can be, and that's through this group coming together," Paxson said without yawning. "We have talent, I believe that, and how it comes together, how we play, will determine what kind of win total we end up with.
"But we're not going to focus on that."
• There were a couple of interesting comments about defense, which is a major question facing this group.
"We all can play defense; everybody in the NBA can play defense," Zach LaVine said. "We're some of the most athletic people in the game."
LaVine and Jabari Parker have never been regarded as good defensive players, and this season they'll be next to each other with Parker manning a somewhat unfamiliar position at small forward.
On Monday, Kris Dunn volunteered to take on the onus of leading the defense.
"I feel like I am the best defender we have," Dunn said. "People say Wendell (Carter Jr.) now, but I'm going to hold my ground and keep on competing."
• There was talk about changing weights. Markkanen, sporting much more muscular arms than he had as a rookie, said he has gone from 223 to 240 pounds. LaVine said he dropped 12 pounds and is at 200.
"I was like 212 last year, but that's just not my playing weight," LaVine said. "I feel a lot lighter, athletic, still strong and I'm ready to go at it, though. I had a really good off-season."
Coach Fred Hoiberg touted the team's summer conditioning, as well as the "minicamp" they conducted during the two weeks leading up to training camp.
"Guys we had a year ago, the strength gains and the power gains they made are off the charts," Hoiberg said. "So we're really excited about that."
• The Bulls also announced Monday that Neil Funk will reduce his broadcast schedule this season, skipping 20 road games. Funk typically does the television broadcasts with Stacey King.
Funk is in his 28th year with the Bulls and his 47th year in broadcasting. The team said it will use a variety of play-by-play announcers to fill in.
• Twitter: @McGrawDHBulls