Bulls guard likely to attract trade offers
The Chicago Bulls continue to win in unconventional fashion. Against Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets, their bench completely dominated, outscoring Denver’s second unit 66–9.
The Bulls achieved this despite losing key players who usually drive their bench production.
Tre Jones missed the Bulls’ matchup against Utah as well. With White out, Jones stepped into the starting lineup for every game this season, a role he likely would not have held if White had been healthy. He has
Tre Jones with the Bulls
Jones, who inked a three-year, $24 million deal this offseason, will be eligible for a trade starting December 15. With his strong production while earning only $8 million annually, he is likely to attract attention from several teams looking for a reliable point guard.
Consider the Milwaukee Bucks, Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, Houston Rockets, and Minnesota Timberwolves. At least three of these squads could be viewed as contenders, each with uncertainty at the point guard spot.
The Bucks need more point guard depth for their lineup. The Hawks rely heavily on Trae Young but do not have a solid backup true point guard. Meanwhile, the Mavericks, Rockets, and Timberwolves have all experimented with lineups lacking a traditional point guard this season.
Trading Jones probably isn’t a top priority for the Bulls, but it will almost certainly be discussed. His salary and production give no reason to move him. However, if Chicago can acquire a player who better fits their needs, such as a perimeter stopper or interior defender, Jones could be the player they are willing to trade.
The Bulls appear to value Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White more highly than Jones. Jones has been a steady contributor, but he lacks Dosunmu’s scoring ability and defensive range, and he falls short of White’s offensive output. Because of this, Jones could be the player the Bulls consider moving to streamline their deep guard rotation.
Rams Announce Bad News Before Facing Buccaneers on ‘Sunday Night Football’
The Los Angeles Rams had plenty of roster items to address before they face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on “Sunday Night Football” in Week 12, including with 2021 Super Bowl champions
They joined versatile veteran safety Quentin Lake on injured reserve. There remains hope for all three players. Still, these are significant blows to a Rams team gearing up for a postseason run.
The reality is that the Rams will miss all three players on the field.
Rams Lose Super Bowl Champions to Injured Reserve
GettyRob Havenstein #79 of the Los Angeles Rams looks on during the game against the
It was an ominously busy day for the Rams. They placed Lake on IR with the elbow injury that he picked up in Week 11 against the
The Rams ruled Higbee, who exited early in Week 12, questionable in the third quarter.
He never returned, though. Meanwhile, Havenstein finished the contest, and Rams head coach Sean McVay did not mention him during his day-after press conference injury updates.
McVay said that Havenstein’s issues are an accumulation of ankle and knee issues from the wear and tear of a season. Havenstein and Higbee have already missed time due to injuries. The Rams have already played and won games without the veterans.
That leaves them in a better position than it might otherwise seem.
Rams Youngsters Must Step Up
The Rams are equipped to withstand the loss of Havenstein and Higbee, arguably better than they are to replace Lake, whose status McVay said they would continue monitoring as he recovers from a dislocated elbow. None of the three can return until Week 16 against the Seahawks.
LA will turn to former fifth-round draft pick (2023) Warren McClendon in Havenstein’s place. McClendon has already started three games this season.
The Rams will likely rely on a platoon to replace Higbee, just as they did with him healthy.
Veterans Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen could lead the way. However, the Rams had seen rookie second-round pick Terrance Feguson become more involved in the offense before a step back in Week 11.
One thing the Rams cannot replace, no matter how well the fill-in starters perform, is the loss of leadership on the field in all three of Havenstein, Higbee, and Lake.
Rams HC Sean McVay Gets Honest About Losing Key Trio
GettyLos Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay looks on before a game against the Indianapolis Colts.
McVay did not mince words about what the Rams would miss without Havenstein, Higbee, and Lake, and what they expect of the players who replace those three.
“No. 1, those guys are going to be here. They’re going to continue to uplift and elevate those guys. There is a lot of guys that we have confidence in. You don’t replace players like that; You don’t expect others to be able to do that. You expect the guys that are getting opportunities to step up to be the best versions of themselves. And this is something that you deal with, and it’s an unfortunate – it’s one of my least favorite parts of this business,”
“They’ll still be here. They’ll still be able to affect and influence things in a positive way. And even though I know all three of those guys would be chomping at the bit to be out there, they’re everything that’s right about this place, and they’ll contribute in their own ways.”
Despite that, on the field, the Rams will miss their injured vets.
“Those are tough losses,” McVay said. “But you look around this league, and we’ve had to deal with things like this before. And there is a lot of confidence from the guys that have been asked to do different things that’ll be elevated to be able to go deliver, and play to the best of their ability. Not try to be Q, not try to be Rob, not try to be Higs. But be the best versions of themselves, and that’s what we’ll do.”
