Rounding Out Camp

Two days remain until the Bulls begin training camp with Media Day at the new Advocate Center.  Thanks to Gar Forman and John Paxson, the preseason roster is now complete at 17.  The duo added three new faces Friday to give a few existing players a run for their spot.  It won't be easy, but they can't say they won't be trying.

Kim English, a former Piston, split time between Italy and France last year and, with the French club Chorale Roanne, averaged 11.2 points in 26.4 minutes per game.  Ben Hansbrough, Tyler's younger brother, most recently played in the Spanish League, averaging 11 points over 23.2 minutes for CB Gran Canaria over the past year.  His last NBA team was the Pacers in 2012-13.  Solomon Jones has played eight years in the NBA, spending 11 games of the 2013-14 season with Orlando for a 1.3 scoring average and 1.5 rebounding average.

I'm not going to make any wild predictions on any of these three making the final roster.  However, it's always fun to think that somebody who might not have thought of playing with the best in basketball this season could do that.  You always like to keep a lookout for any dark horses someone might have missed.  After all, that's one of the purposes of the preseason, isn't it?

As for Media Day, there will undoubtedly be many questions about Derrick Rose as he returns for (hopefully) a full season.  Many will be interested in Pau Gasol and how he hopes to help fellow Spaniard Nikola Mirotic adjust to the NBA game and life here in America.  Still others will want to know just how quickly Doug McDermott can contribute to a championship contender.  All these and more will get at least a partial response.

The season is almost here.  Everything to come over the next month will prepare us for the long haul.  Hopefully, that will culminate into something special this spring.  Basketball is coming back, folks.  Catch the fever.