Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan said the organization has instructed him to continue prioritizing victories, despite the club’s slide to a 27-39 record after Thursday’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers.
The setback at Crypto.com Arena left Chicago with the NBA’s ninth-worst mark, only a half-game ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks in the lottery standings. Even so, Donovan noted that executive leadership has not discussed pivoting toward draft positioning.
“I haven’t gotten anything different from them other than continue to put our best foot forward,” Donovan told reporters, according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
The coach acknowledged that the approach could be revisited if the team is mathematically eliminated from postseason contention and injuries become a greater concern. “If we get to a place where we are mathematically out of anything as it relates to postseason and there are guys dealing with ailments, could they say ‘let’s get these guys right first’? I don’t know,” Donovan said. “Everything I’ve gotten up to this point is to go out there and compete.”
Roster evaluation complicated by injuries
The Bulls are still trying to assess several recent additions following a busy trade deadline. Guard Anfernee Simons, whom Chicago would like to evaluate before he reaches free agency this summer, remains out with a fractured wrist. Jaden Ivey, also headed for free agency, has been dealing with soreness in his left knee.
The team recently assigned Ivey to practice with its G League affiliate, a move that could signal an impending return to NBA action.
Meanwhile, Donovan said guard Collin Sexton and rookie Rob Dillingham continue to provide valuable minutes and additional data points for the front office as it weighs offseason decisions.
Source: Hoops Wire
