Chicago forward Leonard Miller is turning heads during his first extended stretch of playing time with the Bulls. The 22-year-old Canadian, acquired from Minnesota in last month’s deal that sent Ayo Dosunmu to the Timberwolves, is averaging 13.2 points and 7.2 rebounds over his past six games while logging 29.8 minutes per contest. He is shooting 53.3% from the field, 30.0% from three-point range and 87.2% at the foul line.
“He’s got a really good motor and he’s strong on the glass,” head coach Billy Donovan said. “Like any young player who didn’t play much early, he still has to master the game plan and learn opponents, but he’s taken full advantage of the opportunity.”
Chicago holds a $2.4 million team option on Miller for the 2026-27 season. Declining it would make him a restricted free agent this summer.
Bulls notes
Jalen Smith on effort: Following Wednesday’s loss to Toronto, the veteran big man lamented the team’s intensity. “We had no fight,” Smith said. “This is the third time we’ve played them and we’ve gotten punked… It’s a mental game right now for us.”
Donovan on Ball-Okoro trade: With Cleveland in town Thursday, Donovan revisited the offseason move that sent Lonzo Ball to the Cavaliers and brought Isaac Okoro to Chicago. The coach praised Okoro’s selfless approach but expressed sympathy for Ball, who became an unrestricted free agent after Utah waived him. “I loved him as a player and a guy,” Donovan said of Ball, who missed nearly three years with a knee injury. “To see him go through that is tough. It’s almost like, what could have been?”
Mid-range debate: Earlier in the week Ayo Dosunmu claimed mid-range jumpers were discouraged during his time with the Bulls. Donovan pushed back, noting that DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic routinely operated from that area. The coach said his philosophy favors attacking the rim early in the clock and kicking out for threes, while mid-range attempts typically arise from late-clock isolation plays.
The Bulls continue a four-game homestand Thursday night against the Cavaliers.
Source: HoopsRumors
