Bulls guard Kevin Huerter hoping he can plant some roots with his team
Kevin Huerter is hoping this is home.
Maybe not long term, maybe not even beyond the current one year he has left on his deal, but just some more time to continue enjoying a team chemistry – both on and off the court – that he hasn’t had for some time.
He thought it would be in Atlanta. They traded him. Then Sacramento had a good feel to it. They traded him. He’s not only found new life with the Bulls, but a starting job. He would like to continue exploring that.
Not only did that starting unit of Huerter, Coby White, Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis and Nikola Vucevic come together late in the season, but helped solidify a revolving door of lineups that coach Billy Donovan was playing with.
“I think we’re interchangeable, offensively, defensively, I think we can switch across the board one through five,” Huerter said on Wednesday when asked why the group worked. “Offensively our guys can pass, shoot, dribble, make decisions, make plays, go score if we need someone to. Guys play unselfish, play off each other really well. We can get up and down the court … it’s a lot of different things. I think we’ve trusted each other and you can see that.”
And Huerter trusts the organization.
That’s big for him, considering his journey the last few seasons. He was asked if finding new life with the Bulls was a middle finger to the Kings and Hawks, and admitted that maybe a few months ago.
“It’s not something I think about too much,” Huerter said. “It might have been something when I first got here, trying to prove myself again. At this point it’s not something on my mind.”
What is on his mind is putting some roots into the ground, especially with a core that could be mostly returning and one that gets along as well as this group does.
“I’ve said this before, it feels like a younger locker room,” Huerter said. “You talk about Matas and his personality, just the way he can kind of pull guys together. He’s continuously talking. I had to remind myself that Patrick Williams is 23 and Josh is 22, so it feels like a young locker room. Guys are kind of goofy.”
Asked if he feels old at 26, Huerter laughed, “Not old, but a proper vet, both me and Zach (Collins). Vooch probably feels like he’s at a different point than all we are. Guys are kind of goofy and having fun, and it’s good, it’s a good atmosphere.”
Two for the road
Lonzo Ball (right wrist) was a maybe at best, and Tre Jones (foot sprain) was a doubtful if the Bulls could have advanced beyond the play-in tournament.
Both ended up being key injuries that took a toll on the backcourt.
According to Donovan, Ball spent the early part of this week getting back on the court, and while there was still pain with the wrist, there was improvement. Ideally, if Ball could have continued to progress, he might have had the opportunity to play in the first-round playoff series.
The news wasn’t as optimistic for Jones, who was out of the walking boot, but also still feeling pain in movements like going up on his toes.
Unfortunately for Jones, he may have also played his last game with the Bulls, one of the few free agents this summer.
The Rook
Matas Buzelis has some miscues on defense against the Heat but definitely wasn’t afraid of the moment on the offensive end. His teammates didn’t think he would be.
“Matas is a pretty confident guy,” Vucevic said. “He puts in the work, he knows what it takes. This season has been great for him to go through the ups and downs.”