Okoro isn’t the same level of shooter as Huerter, or as familiar with the Bulls system as Dosunmu. Still, the high effort level and ability as a POA defender, decent enough 3-pt shooting, and slight weight advantage over the other Bulls wing options make Okoro a reasonable choice to open the new NBA year as the Bulls’ starting SF.

19 comments

  1. He’s a role player at best. Not starter in NBA. He’s lucky to be in the league still

  2. If it is about starting the best five players you start ayo. You get the same poa defense. Realistically whoever starts in that spot will guard the best perimeter player on the other team.

  4. I was assuming the Bulls starting 5 to open the season would be Giddey, Coby, Okoro, Matas, Vuc. Unless Giddey gets traded (unlikely) or Vuc gets traded (even more unlikely).

  5. Yes. His defense is just needed there, as long as he can shoot a 3 it’ll be fine. I don’t see Noa being impactful this year but maybe he gets some starts later in the year.

    Heurter is probably more consistent on offense and his length helps him on defense, but I’d rather see him on the second unit to help score from there. Tre-Ayo-Heurter-Pat-Collins are probably better defensively than the starting unit but they’re gonna need someone who can get buckets.

  6. I think it has to be Okoro or Huerter.

    Ayo is the best ball handler of the 3 but that’s not as important if the Bulls have Coby and Giddey starting and the other guys are better wing defenders than him.

  7. Don’t laugh, but there’s a chance that Pat’s introduced on opening night. Billy tends to be traditional, and the law of NBA salaries says that Pat gets first crack. I know he was coming off the bench last year, but that was after coming back from injury (if memory serves). Huerter also makes more than Okoro.

    What “should” happen is a tough one, but starting Okoro for his defense makes sense, but Pat also plays good D and he’s bigger. The rotation this year is going to be interesting since Billy has a lot of guys and no clear pecking order, including a raw 19-year old lottery pick. Giddey’s size makes a lot of different line-ups possible.

  9. He’ll definitely start at SF. Bulls NEED his defense. He’ll be tasked with guarding the best perimeter player.

  11. Huerter stylistically fits better and is an underrated defender. I imagine his shooting takes an even bigger rebound back up now that he’s familiar with the system and Giddey has more chemistry with him

    I’d like to see Okoro in the Caruso role. 20 minutes off the bench and told to go balls to the wall aggressive on defense. He’s foul a lot at first, but by years end hopefully get’s the lockdown defender rep and we can use him to rough up the game when we need to be more physical against a team. Maybe Billy works with him a bit on the bench to try and get him to see the game better/improve his bbiq

  12. No, Okoro won’t fix having 3 bad to average defenders around him but Huerter drastically improves our offense as a shooter and he really isn’t that bad of a defender.

    We went 7-2 with the Giddey, Coby, Huerter, Matas, Vuc lineup last year, had a 123 offensive rating and was a +5.2 net rating. I say let them run it back together and if it doesn’t work adjust from there.

  13. Some of you guys are crazy high on copium with Okoro lol. Don’t get me wrong I’m rooting for him to play well, but he’s shown minimal improvement over his career. He’s not going to turn into OG Anunoby randomly lol. Okoro is a good, maybe even great PoA defender (but not elite), and an unreliable 3pt shooter at best. His past couple seasons show promising improvement but still on too low of volume to be of great value in a half court setting. He has virtually no other offensive value.

    I feel like Dalen is just about as good right now, with WAY more potential. And it seems like everyone hates on Dalen and has already given up on him after year 3, but think year 6 Okoro will step in with a new skillet? 😅 Dalen is pretty much the same as Okoro as a PoA defender and shooter, but he actually has some intriguing potential as a secondary creator and playmaker. Needs refinement for sure but Dalen has good vision and shows flashes amongst the frustrating mistakes. But more than anything, Dalen plays with an infectious energy. I really hope we don’t play Okoro heavy minutes and leave Dalen out if the rotation smh

  14. Ehhhh…. He isn’t one of those guys that are productive with a lot of minutes. You can start him just know you’re getting a cheaper PWill who is a better slasher

  15. If we trade Huerter and Ayo like we should then yes. But AKME is allergic to trading players when their value is highest

  18. who really cares, this team will not be 
    winning much of anything will they?

  19. No he shouldn’t and KC and the by the horns podcast pushing that he should are wrong. He doesn’t create near the spacing Kev does which opens up the entire court for Coby and Josh

Leave a Reply