Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan has always been adamant about being involved in the loop regarding player movement and roster turnover. And for the first time in a while, the longtime coach admitted that there had been discussions in time for the trade deadline, although nothing was imminent.
Conversations with different people
Donovan did not delve into specifics, but he indicated that the team’s executive vice president of basketball operations, Arturas Karnisovas, had talked to him about the trade deadline.
“Certainly, there were discussions,” Donovan said.
“I did talk to [executive vice president of basketball operations] Arturas [Karnisovas]. He said that he’s had conversations with a lot of different people. I did not, from him in our conversations, have like there’s anything definitive or anything like that, but he did come in and talk to me about having different conversations.”
Looking at different scenarios
Ever since All-Star guard Zach LaVine expressed his openness to playing elsewhere, the Bulls have always maintained that they’d try to move the latter first and evaluate the squad before jumping to another deal. However, LaVine’s season-ending foot surgery scuttled that plan, leaving the Bulls front office to look at all available scenarios.
“I’m sure they have to look at that, right? Because the hope was that when [LaVine] did go out that second time with his foot that he would return, and that was the anticipation of everybody. I’m sure those guys are looking at all the scenarios,” Donovan said.
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