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CLEVELAND \u2014 It\u2019s not an ideal situation for the Bulls, especially with how much the front office thinks is at stake for the development of the roster this season, but it\u2019s the hand they\u2019ve been dealt.<\/p>\n
Starting guard Coby White<\/b> continues running into a wall in his ramp-up from a strained calf. Until he can climb over that hurdle, there will be uncertainty about his return.<\/p>\n
The hope is that he can play in the Bulls\u2019 final preseason game Oct. 16 and be ready for their regular-season opener Oct. 22, but coach Billy Donovan<\/b> said that\u2019s only optimism right now.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018The problem is when they all came back after Labor Day, the calf issue was bothering him,\u2019\u2019 Donovan said of White. \u2018\u2018Treatment, rehab, all that stuff. And then every time they kind of ramped him up a little bit, it kind of always got to a place where he felt tightness. It wasn\u2019t pain, but every time they got to this threshold, he felt tightness. So they basically just shut him down.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
Donovan said White has been running and shooting, so there has been progress, but there is also an unsaid element to this: White will be eligible to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and is betting on himself.<\/p>\n
According to a source, early indications are that both sides want to get a deal done next summer to keep him with the Bulls. It makes sense for both sides to exercise extreme caution with a return, but they want to make sure it comes as quickly as possible.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018I would say the optimism, the hope, would be, \u2018Can we get him in the last preseason game to play?\u2019\u2009\u2019\u2019 Donovan said. \u2018\u2018And the hope is he would be ready to start the season.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
With White sidelined, Kevin Huerter<\/b> got the start in the preseason opener against the Cavaliers.<\/p>\nHigh expectations<\/h3>\n
There was a lot to like about forward Matas Buzelis\u2019<\/b> preseason debut against the Cavs, especially the 19 points, but he and Donovan expect much more.<\/p>\n
The Bulls spent the offseason making sure Buzelis focused on becoming more of a primary ballhandler, especially in scenarios in which he grabs a rebound and can push the action the other way.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018I was a point guard when I was younger, so it\u2019s me getting back to my roots,\u2019\u2019 Buzelis reminded everyone. \u2018\u2018It\u2019s like second nature.\u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
The fact Buzelis had only one assist against the Cavs didn\u2019t exactly scream polished guard skills, and that\u2019s where Donovan wants Buzelis to get.<\/p>\n
\u2018\u2018He\u2019s going to have total freedom to do that,\u2019\u2019 Donovan said. \u2018\u2018I think the thing with Matas that he\u2019s going to have to continue to develop and grow upon \u2014 and, listen, there\u2019s still this development phase for him \u2014 but when he has the ball in his hands, he still has to recognize spacing on the floor. There\u2019s times where he gets into a little bit of trouble where he\u2019s trying to create too much off the dribble and he\u2019s putting himself in harm\u2019s way. There has to be a balance of, \u2018Yes, Matas, be aggressive, but .\u2009.\u2009. \u2019\u2019<\/p>\n
It was only the preseason opener, but the first player off the Bulls\u2019 bench was guard Tre Jones<\/b>. Meanwhile, forward Patrick Williams<\/b> wasn\u2019t even among the first 10 players in the rotation.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n White has been sidelined with a strained calf and missed the preseason opener Tuesday. But there is optimism he can play in the preseason finale and then be ready for the regular season.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":108676,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-108672","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba"],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"