Most casual Bulls fans already know about Otto Porter Jr., Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen, and rookie point guard Coby White. However, if you watched the Bulls take on the Pelicans Wednesday night, there were some new faces running the floor that should have an opportunity to make a strong impact during the regular season.
Here are three players to keep your eyes on during the preseason.
Tomas Satoranksy
The newly added point guard came to the Bulls this offseason in a sign and trade with the Washington Wizards on a three-year $30 million contract. Satoransky saw more playing time than ever last season while he was filling in for injured Wizards point guard Jon Wall.
In 80 games with the Wizards last year Satoransky averaged 8.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.0 assists, and 1.0 steal per game. He also shot 48.5 percent from the field and 39.5 percent from the three-point line. Satoranksy should see plenty of playing time this season both as an occasional starter depending on head coach Jim Boylen’s lineup and as a backup to White.
Satoransky had 11 points, eight assists, five rebounds, and two steals in 20 minutes of play in Wednesday’s 125 -127 loss to the Pelicans.
Luke Kornet
The 7’1″ forward from Vanderbilt University spent his two previous seasons appearing in 66 games for the New York Knicks. Kornet averaged 6.9 points in 16.8 minutes per game the last two seasons while shooting 38.2 percent from the field and 36 percent from deep.
With athletic ball handlers like LaVine and White who are able to penetrate and kick the ball out, Kornet should be able to improve on those shooting percentages in just his third full year in the league. He’s not the prettiest player to watch but he has plenty of shooting potential.
Kornet had nine points, four assists, and two rebounds in his 16 minutes of play against the Pelicans.
Daniel Gafford
The 6′ 11″ second-round draft pick out of Arkansas showed off his defensive capabilities at the center position during summer league play averaging 13.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game in five games. Gafford shows a lot of athletic ability in the post and energy on the defensive end. There’s some diamond in the rough potential for Gafford, who in 12 minutes on the court last night had eight points, three rebounds, and a blocked shot.
You can check out more of Satoransky, Kornet, Gafford and the rest of the Bulls young roster on Friday night when they head to Indiana to play the Pacers. Tip-off is at 6 p.m. CST.
