NBA Notes: Bulls, Anthony Davis, Hornets, Kon Knueppel, Cavs

Bulls

The Bulls sit in a murky middle ground. Billy Donovan has coached well, but as Tim Bontemps of ESPN noted, Chicago still lacks a true franchise star.

Second-year forward Matas Buzelis has shown flashes and the Bulls can create significant cap space this summer, but both Coby White and Nikola Vucevic are headed for free agency.

That flexibility opens several paths in the months ahead, including the option of adding to the current roster.

Some around the NBA have already wondered whether Chicago, carrying more than $80 million in expiring money, could explore a move for Dallas’ Anthony Davis and bring the hometown star back to the Windy City.

“I could see it,” one Western Conference executive who recently scouted the Bulls told ESPN. “Josh Giddey has worked well with Vucevic, but he could use a roll man to throw it up to.”

Hornets

Cooper Flagg entered the season as the heavy Rookie of the Year favorite, but his top challenger might be his former Duke teammate.

Kon Knueppel is averaging a rookie-best 18.3 points per game and shooting 40 percent from three, and Bontemps wrote that scouts have been impressed with his touch and overall feel.

Cavaliers

Bontemps wrote that one takeaway after a month is clear. The Cavaliers’ offseason changes are showing up, and not in the way the team hoped.

In essentially swapping Sixth Man finalist Ty Jerome for Lonzo Ball, the Cavs were betting on a higher playoff ceiling at the cost of some regular-season stability.

With Jerome gone and Darius Garland limited to 73 minutes because of a toe injury, last year’s top-ranked offense has fallen outside the top 10.

“They’re not great right now, but they’re down at least two starters,” a West scout told ESPN, pointing to Garland, Max Strus and Sam Merrill all missing time. “Lonzo hasn’t been great.

“Are they better than last year? Probably not. They’ve always needed Evan Mobley to get even better, and he’s not there yet.”