Bulls' lineup gets younger as rookie Hutchison joins starters
The most obvious repercussion of trading Justin Holiday is it opened the small forward slot for rookie Chandler Hutchison. He made his fourth NBA start Friday against Indiana, but this move might be somewhat permanent.
Unless Hutchison struggles badly, he figures to keep that job for a while, since there are really no other small forwards on the roster right now.
"I like him there. I like his defense, his length and rebounding," coach Jim Boylen said. "He can handle the ball. He can drive the ball. It's a great opportunity for him. I'm excited to see him play. I want to see him compete. I want to see him do what he's been doing. He doesn't have to do anything great. Less is more. Just compete."
Hutchison is intelligent, well-spoken and mature for an NBA rookie these days, having spent four years in college at Boise State. He's trying to take everything in stride, but he's still a rookie.
"Everything that really goes on this year has been a surprise to me because everything is new," he said. "So seeing a coaching change, that was a surprise. Seeing guys get traded, that was a surprise. Seeing guys come in, that was a surprise.
"So I'm just trying to take it for what it is. Justin was my guy. He helped me a lot through learning, playing similar positions, so it's tough to see that, but we all have to be ready."
Selden knows history:
On his first day with the Bulls, Wayne Selden spoke carefully when asked if the franchise's history with Michael Jordan still resonates with young NBA players.
"Yeah, for sure, for sure," he said. "You know how it goes. He's the GOAT, so that's how I look at it."
Right answer, if you're playing for the Bulls. Selden was inactive for Friday's game, but he'll likely join the rotation eventually and get some minutes at small forward. The third-year guard from Kansas averaged 9.3 points last year in Memphis and shot 40 percent from 3-point range. He didn't match those numbers in a reduced role this season.
Selden, who will wear No. 14 with the Bulls, is listed at 6-feet-5 and 230 pounds. Coach Jim Boylen called him a "big, thick dude."
"I just want to be a part," Selden said. "That's my biggest thing, getting on the floor and competing and being a creator, pushing the tempo, whatever I can do, wherever the void needs to be filled. I just feel like being able to get more attempts up, that will show my true percentage with my shots and stuff like that, so I'm excited."
Bulls horns:
Bobby Portis missed his seventh game with a right ankle sprain, but if he does well at Saturday's practice, there's a good chance he'll return Sunday against Brooklyn. … Robin Lopez joked that it's time to add Kris Dunn to the leadership committee, now that Justin Holiday was traded. He also said he's not worrying about whether he's the next veteran to go. "There's kind of been a little shoe-dangling over the past couple years," Lopez said when asked if he's waiting for the other shoe to drop. "I'm looking to play basketball. That's what I'm here to do. I like playing with these guys, so whatever happens, I'm going to go out there and work for my teammates."