Smith May Take the Bulls Open Starting Spot

The Chicago Bulls have one open spot in their starting lineup for the upcoming season, and it looks like 12-year veteran Joe Smith may be the one to fill that power forward spot. Smith, who is 6’10” and 225 lbs, is up against Andres Nocioni and rookie Joakim Noah for the position. Smith was signed as a free agent in July and Coach Scott Skiles says that he’ll probably be filling in as a backup center despite whether or not he gets the open starting position. Smith has averaged 12.1 points with a .454 field-goal percentage through his career and is definitely going to be a consistent shooter for the Bulls this season.

Of the Bulls starting lineup, coach Skiles says, “There are four spots you can pretty much pencil in. There will just be a battle for power forward. I want the guys to battle for it. It may show itself to us in exhibition games; somebody may play so well that it becomes very clear. I’m certainly open to that. But I wouldn’t read a whole lot into who’s declared the starter anyway at that spot. Because there are so many ways we can go, we may just be game-dependent on that. Certain nights we start somebody, and other nights we start somebody else.” Smith is an NBA veteran who started his professional career with the Golden State Warriors in 1995. He has also played for the Philadelphia 76ers, the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Detroit Pistons and the Milwaukee Bucks.

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