76ers’ latest roster move should give Bulls fans rare reason for optimism

Oct 12, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia 76ers guard Jared McCain (20) drives to the basket against Boston Celtics guard Lonnie Walker IV (12) during the first half at the TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-Imagn Images

 

Any positivity that Chicago Bulls fans can latch onto right now should be welcome.

An up-and-down start to this season that, frankly, included too many ups and has the Bulls once again embroiled in an Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament battle gave way to a wildly disappointing trade deadline.

Yes, Chicago finally rid itself of Zach LaVine and his still lengthy and expensive contract. The Bulls got maybe 70 cents on the dollar for their best player, though. Holding onto Nikola Vucevic and re-signing Lonzo Ball didn’t inspire much confidence in the team’s front office, either.

Luckily, the Bulls may have such an oddly constructed and depleted roster that the season still has a chance to end on a high—or rather, low—note.

A recent move by the Philadelphia 76ers could help that process along.

76ers signing Lonnie Walker IV increases Bulls draft lottery odds

Despite sitting 11th in the East and 1.5 games behind Chicago, the Sixers made an addition to their roster in the form of veteran guard Lonnie Walker IV.

Lonnie Walker IV has agreed to a two-year, $3 million deal with the Philadelphia 76ers, his agent George S. Langberg of GSL Sports Group told ESPN. Walker has played for Zalgiris Kaunas in the Euroleague and had an NBA-out in his deal. He now enters his 7th NBA season. pic.twitter.com/NQW8xQa1mS

https://twitter.com/ShamsCharania/status/1891950281023213596?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1891950281023213596%7Ctwgr%5E6ca9a3c361cb5d7eaf87fec10ac68c523b8e122c%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fpippenainteasy.com%2F76ers-roster-move-give-bulls-fans-optimism

It’s fair to say Philly’s season hasn’t gone as planned. After signing Paul George in free agency and pairing him with Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey, the 76ers had their sights set on winning an NBA championship. Instead, injuries to Embiid and George and poor play (from Embiid and George) have Philadelphia on the outside of the play-in tournament looking in.

There’s an argument to be made that the 76ers would be better off letting Embiid, who’s currently sidelined with another knee injury, sit for the rest of the 2024-25 campaign. The same argument could be made for George, who’s reportedly receiving injections just to stay on the court at the moment.

But the addition of Walker doesn’t make it seem like Philly is ready to call it a day and focus on next year.

That’s some unexpected, but not unwelcome, positive news for the Bulls, who entered the All-Star break struggling in a big way. Chicago is 0-4 since trading LaVine, a losing streak that includes some truly horrific—and historic—defeats.

As it stands, the Bulls are 10th in the East and have the eighth-best odds at landing the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Should the 76ers bypass them, coach Billy Donovan’s squad would jump to the seventh-best odds.

(It could be sixth as the Brooklyn Nets, who have the same record as the Sixers, continue to scrape out wins while the Bulls keep accidentally tanking).

It doesn’t seem like the 76ers are giving up on a potential playoff run this season; if they were, signing a veteran scorer like Walker wouldn’t make much sense. That refusal to move on to 2025-26 means one less team could stand between the Bulls and a desperately needed top draft pick.

Related Posts

Stephen Curry gets massive injury update for Warriors vs. Rockets game

The Warriors faced an injury concern with Stephen Curry. The team now knows where his health stands before the Rockets game.

Yankees’ Jazz Chisholm Jr. gets 100% honest on appealing suspension

Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr explained why he appealed his suspension, and hopes more players take his initiative.

Zach Lowe has the perfect trade for what ails the perpetually mediocre Bulls

NBA analyst Zach Lowe proposed an intriguing trade involving the Chicago Bulls.

Dwyane Wade Gives Ultimate Props To Pair Of Miami Heat Stars

The Miami Heat are in the NBA playoffs thanks to a pair of strong performances by guard Tyler Herro and Davion Mitchell. Herro had a team-high 30 points with e

Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp is expected to become Real Madrid’s new head coach following Carlo Ancelotti’s retirement.

The moon rested low in the sky that night, bathing the quiet village of Eloma in a soft, silvery glow. Inside a simple hut, lantern light danced gently along

Jameѕ Maddіѕon breakѕ ѕіlence on hіѕ new Tottenham іnjury ѕetback

Tottenham Star James Maddison Shares Update After Injury Scare in Europa League VictoryTottenham Hotspur midfielder James Maddison has provided a lighthearted yet reassuring update after picking up a knock during Thursday night’s hard-fought Europa League quarter-final clash against Eintracht Frankfurt. The England international was at the heart of the action before being forced off following a painful collision with Frankfurt goalkeeper Kaua Santos.The incident occurred in the first half after Maddison made a darting run behind the defense to latch onto a lofted through-ball from defender Cristian Romero. As Maddison attempted to head the ball past the onrushing Santos, the goalkeeper came charging out and collided forcefully with the Spurs playmaker. The impact left Maddison sprawled on the turf, requiring medical attention.Initially, the referee waved play on despite the appeals from the Spurs players and coaching staff. However, after a brief VAR check, the official was advised to review the incident on the pitch-side monitor. Upon closer inspection, the referee reversed his original decision and pointed to the spot, awarding Tottenham a penalty.Striker Dominic Solanke stepped up with composure and fired the ball into the net, scoring what would ultimately prove to be the decisive goal of the night. That strike secured Tottenham’s place in the Europa League semi-finals with a 2-1 aggregate win, sparking celebrations among players and fans alike.Despite the joy of the victory, there was concern for Maddison, who had to be replaced shortly after the collision. Winger Dejan Kulusevski came on as his substitute, with the midfielder receiving treatment before being escorted off the pitch.Thankfully, Maddison later took to social media to offer a lighthearted update on his condition. Posting on his Instagram story Friday morning, he shared a photo of himself relaxing at home with his two dogs. Alongside the image, he wrote: “Anyone else wake up a bit sore this morning COYS” — adding laughing, praying hands, and white heart emojis, which suggested that while he may be feeling the effects of the knock, his spirits remain high.Spurs boss Ange Postecoglou also commented on the incident during his post-match press conference, expressing both admiration for Maddison’s bravery and frustration at the challenge. “I think he’s fine,” Postecoglou confirmed. “I was speaking with him after the match, and he’ll gladly take that knock considering the result. He was so courageous going for that ball. To be honest, I thought their keeper was lucky to stay on the pitch — it looked like a possible red card to me.”Postecoglou added with a smile, “It doesn’t seem too serious, thankfully. And whatever pain he’s feeling now is probably eased a bit by the joy of winning such a massive game for the club.”With the semi-final stage now looming, Tottenham supporters will be hoping Maddison makes a swift recovery and is ready to continue his influential role as the team looks to bring European silverware back to North London.Let me know if you’d like a version with a more dramatic or fan-style tone!