Chicago Sports

The Cubs filled out their baseball operations department this past fall, hiring general manager Carter Hawkins and assistant GM Ehsan Bokhari in October.

Now, they’re down a position again, with the Blackhawks announcing on Thursday that they’d hired Cubs assistant GM Jeff Greenberg as their associate GM. Greenberg had been a finalist in the Blackhawks’ general manager search.

“Jeff is simply one of the best teammates I have worked with in baseball,” Cubs president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer said in a statement. “He has done so much to make the Cubs a better organization over the last 10 seasons with his powerful combination of intelligence, work ethic, leadership and integrity. He was critically involved in forward-looking decisions as we built the core of a world champion.

“As the Blackhawks look to build their next championship team, Jeff is an ideal hire. While I am sad to lose such a terrific employee and friend, I am thrilled that his future success will continue to benefit the city of Chicago.”

Greenberg joined the Cubs organization in 2012 as a baseball operations intern and moved up the ranks into a prominent role. The Cubs are expected to fill his responsibilities internally in the short term and take time to evaluate their options moving forward.

The Cubs still have two assistant GMs, Bokhari and Craig Breslow. Bokhari has a strong background in research and development, and Breslow also serves as the vice president of pitching.

Contreras brothers reunion

The Braves recalled catcher William Contreras from Triple-A on Thursday, setting up a family reunion for him and his brother Cubs catcher Willson Contreras.

They exchanged their respective teams’ lineup cards before the game, sharing a long embrace as they did so.

Cubs U

The Cubs announced on Thursday a program that provides last-minute ticket offers to eligible college students. Called “Cubs U,” the program is available to college students who are at least 18 years old for select home games beginning May 3.

Students need a valid .edu email address to register online at www.cubs.com/cubsu. There is a four-ticket limit, and the Cubs will send the offers – which vary by game – via text message.

On deck

CUBS AT BREWERS

Friday: Kyle Hendricks (1-1, 3.98) vs. Adrian Houser (1-2, 3.52), 7:10 p.m., Marquee, 670-AM.

Saturday: Justin Steele (1-2, 5.40) vs. Eric Lauer (1-0, 2.20), 6:10 p.m., Marquee, 670-AM.

Sunday: Marcus Stroman (0-3, 6.98) vs. Corbin Burnes (1-0, 1.75), 1:10 p.m., Marquee, 670-AM.

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ATLANTA – Cubs president of baseball operation Jed Hoyer served as a middleman for the meeting.

After batting practice at Truist Park on Tuesday, a man in red track pants and a matching red t-shirt that read, “Mascot Security,” – Hoyer had complimented the shirt – asked if Seiya Suzuki had already gone in.

“He might not recognize me,” he added.

Because so many of the times they’d interacted before, the man’s face was covered by a furry blue mascot head piece.

Jacob Mosella served as the mascot for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp, Suzuki’s club in Japan, in 2018, he said. Suzuki was a veteran at the time, having debuted in Nippon Professional Baseball in 2013 at 18 years old.

Now, Suzuki is in his rookie Major League Baseball season, having signed a five-year deal worth nearly $100 million, including the posting fee the Cubs owe to the Carp. And Mosella is the Braves’ mascot coordinator.

“I’m really happy because we’re both here at the same stage in the Major Leagues,” Suzuki told the Sun-Times through interpreter Toy Matsushita “… Seeing him here made me really happy. And surprised.”

Hoyer told Suzuki that Mosella was looking for him. On Tuesday, Mosella picked up a selection of Japanese snacks – matcha mochi, Pocky, wasabi peas – before the game, and Braves mascot Blooper delivered them to Suzuki on the field pregame. They got to catch up a bit more Wednesday during warmups.

“When I was there [in Japan],” Mosella said, “I was like, this guy will definitely go to MLB at some point.”

For Mosella, Japan presented an opportunity to get into pro sports, bridging his experience at the University of Alabama and his later work in the Braves organization. He was one of two people who served as Slyly, the Carp mascot, in 2018. Picture a blue version of the Philly Phanatic with a colorful mane.

Mascots stayed in the player dorms, so they all became friends, Suzuki said. He was out of the dorms by 2018, but the building had its own chef. So, according to Mosella, Suzuki would stop by for a meal now and again, sometimes pulling up a chair at the mascots’ table. Mosella spoke limited Japanese, but luckily his teammate was better versed in the language.

The Carp was the top team in the Central League that season. And when they clinched, Suzuki spotted Mosella and his mascot partner during the beer shower celebration. Peering through swim goggles, Suzuki pointed at them, strode across the room and doused them in beer.

“It was a cool moment to share,” Mosella said, “… It was like, these are guys who we hang out with every single day and now we’re getting to revel in the glory with them.”

Suzuki spent his whole NPB career with the Carp, becoming a five-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner, before making the move to MLB.

“When I’m playing over here and I hear all the fans cheering for me, I have that flashback to playing in Japan,” Suzuki said. “And I notice how great the fans were in Japan as well.”

Playing stateside was also the fulfillment of a longtime dream. Suzuki has made the transition look easy, winning NL Player of the Week 10 games into his MLB career. He’s cooled off a bit from a 12-game on-base streak and was still slashing .333/.458/.632 entering the series finale against the Braves on Thursday.

Mosella had this series circled. He’d get to see Suzuki again, and Blooper could lay the groundwork for a relationship and recurring bits with the emerging star.

“Maybe [next time],” Mosella said, “I can teach Blooper some Japanese.”

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A day after breaking an eight-game losing streak and lightening the mood around Guaranteed Rate Field, the White Sox reverted back to their most recent, struggling form in a 5-2 loss in 10 innings to the Royals Thursday.

The two-runs a day Sox (7-11) scrounged up just five hits, the biggest a solo homer by scuffling No. 9 hitter Leury Garcia against Brad Keller, and saw Aaron Bummer, their top late-inning left-handed reliever, struggle again with two walks in a three-run 10th inning.

The Sox played errorless ball for a second straight game, notable for a team leading the majors with 20 errors, but the tie was broken on catcher Reese McGuire’s passed ball on a Bummer fastball just above the strike zone. That set the stage for left-handed hitting Kyle Isbel’s two-run single.

April, which will be the Sox’ first losing month under manager Tony La Russa, can’t end soon enough.

“It is cruel,” La Russa said. “You have bases loaded, two outs, lefty against lefty and you think ‘Wow, we get this out and we can score a run and win.’ All of a sudden, there’s three on the board. This game will drive you nuts.”

The Sox went down in order against Taylor Clarke (second career save) in the bottom of the inning, and a ninth loss in 10 games was in the books. It was also the Sox’ third straight series loss to an AL Central team.

“It’s a game of wins and losses, it’s a game of doing your job or not doing your job,” Bummer said. “It’s just one of those things where, whether or not I was one pitch away, I didn’t do my job.”

Bummer’s ERA is 7.04.

“In the first two, three weeks of the season I’ve put my team in some pretty crappy situations,” he said. “Simply just have to be better.”

Michael Kopech (1.42 ERA) threw a career high 94 pitches and wasn’t super sharp but allowed two runs over five innings. Tanner Banks pitched two innings, extending his scoreless streak to 12 1/3 innings and tying Cisco Carlos (1967) for the third-longest scoreless streak by a Sox pitcher to begin a career.

Bummer took on two innings with Kendall Graveman having thrown two the day before while La Russa played it safe by not using Liam Hendriks (stiff back), although he didn’t rule out using the closer if a save situation came up.

In the ninth, Tim Anderson was given a chance to get on base leading off the inning when shortstop Nicky Lopez’ throw pulled Carlos Santana off first but Anderson was out on a close play. In an effort to keep his legs fresh — and in a season in which Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert were already hurt running down the line — Anderson looked to be playing it safe going less than all-out when a full burst might have resulted in a safe call.

“He’s running as hard as he knows he could,” La Russa said. “I didn’t see anything wrong with how hard he ran. Guy made a crazy throw.”

The Sox are trying to stay above water while waiting for key injured players to get back. Jimenez, Yoan Moncada and Robert were out of the lineup again. Pitchers Lance Lynn, Joe Kelly and Ryan Burr are working their way back from injuries as well.

“It’s no secret we’re going through a stretch that hasn’t been easy,” said veteran Josh Harrison, who scored the tying run, as a pinch runner, on AJ Pollock’s short sacrifice fly to left field. “We win together and lose together and we have to keep fighting. Everything is so magnified because we live in the moment of now.

“We might not be playing to our standards but when things don’t go your way you have to put your feet in the dirt even more. Don’t back down. Don’t lose that confidence.”

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There was a hope that Luis Robert would be available as soon as Tuesday after he missed the weekend series in Minnesota with a right groin pull, but Robert was sidelined yet again Thursday and missed the entire series against the Royals.

When Robert took batting practice and ran the bases Thursday morning, he was already out written out of the lineup.

“The chances are improving that he can play [Friday], but we’ll wait to see what [trainer] James [Kruk] says,” manager Tony La Russa said.

Robert sustained the injury running out a ground ball in Cleveland Thursday.

Second life

Andrew Vaughn is filling in for injured Eloy Jimenez in left field and in the No. 2 spot in the lineup for Robert. Vaughn doesn’t have Vaughn’s speed, a bonus near the top of the lineup, but he’s a tough out whose productivity makes sense in that spot.

“He’s going to hit somewhere important in the lineup because he’s taking great at-bats,” La Russa said.

“He’s actually got a good strike zone, he can start a rally, hit in the middle of one or finish. …he’s special.”

Asked what happens when Robert returns, La Russa said, “I just hope we get him back tomorrow and we’ll be better wherever he hits.”

Second base in flux

Opening Day second baseman Josh Harrison, still not 100 percent after hurting his shoulder making an acrobatic catch in Cleveland last Wednesday, missed a second day after getting back in the lineup as the DH Tuesday.

“He gave me the dirty look that he’s not playing today,” La Russa said. “But we follow that one thing: ‘As soon as you say you’re ready, we give you one more day.’ So he’ll play tomorrow. He’s ready to go, he can come off the bench.”

Vaughn played second base in a pinch in Kansas City last season, and Jake Burger has taken ground balls at second.

“I think when you’ve got guys missing like we have, it’s healthy for them and for us to be creative and build in that versatility,” La Russa said. “It worked last year. When push comes to shove, playing either one of those guys — Burger on the infield or bring Vaughn in — I would hesitate, but it wouldn’t prevent it.”

The Sox are not considering moving Yoan Moncada back to second base, where he began his career with the team. Moncada switched to third in 2019 and has played his best defense on the corner.

Injury reminders

Yoan Moncada, who suffered an oblique strain before the last game of spring training, went through drills and is off to Charlotte Friday. He will play for the Triple-A Knights Saturday in the first game of his rehab assignment.

*Catcher Yasmani Grandal was at DH a second straight day after tweaking something in his leg running the bases Tuesday, but is lined up to catch Lucas Gioloto Friday against the Twins. Reese McGuire has caught Michael Kopech in each of Kopech’s four starts, including Thursday.

*Right-hander Lance Lynn threw a bullpen at Guaranteed Rate Field and is on track for a return as soon as late May, La Russa said.

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The DeRozan household has a tic-tac-toe prodigy in it.

Who knew?

According to DeMar DeRozan, one of his daughters taught him an unbeatable strategy in tic-tac-toe, guaranteed to win games and frustrate opponents.

A skillset that the Bulls veteran had no problem adding to his offensive repertoire off the court this season. In one case, on a team charter and against teammate Zach LaVine.

“I remember we played tic-tac-toe on the plane, and I kept beating [LaVine],” DeRozan said. “He wouldn’t leave me alone until he beat me. And that’s just him on the court as well. Him being the ultimate competitor outside of being just a helluva individual outside of basketball. On the court? One of the more fierce competitors I’ve ever played with.”

And one that DeRozan felt deserved to be a max contract player this offseason.

Sounding somewhat like a close friend turned agent, DeRozan obviously felt like LaVine not only outplayed the four-year, $78 million contract he signed back in 2018, but put himself in position to be paid like league royalty.

“Max player, max talent, max everything,” DeRozan replied, when asked about LaVine’s pending unrestricted free agency this summer. “He’s one of those players in this league that you don’t see too often. I tell him all the time how envious I am of the things he’s able to do. He deserves everything that’s coming to him for sure.”

What’s immediately coming LaVine’s way first is a surgical procedure on his left knee, which was expected to happen very quickly with the Bulls eliminated from the first round of the playoffs in Milwaukee on Wednesday night.

If that surgery goes as expected and there are no lingering concerns, then comes the LaVine pay day, with the Bulls saying all the right things about keeping the two-time All-Star in the red, white and black.

There is an argument to be made that LaVine has only taken the Bulls to the playoffs once in his career, and that came this season when he wasn’t even the best player on the team. Maxing out a guy who played on a No. 6 seed and was eliminated in the first round isn’t always good business, especially when that player is a guard that often focuses on just one side of the ball.

What the Bulls will be investing in, however, was what they saw from LaVine in the summer with Team USA, and then the first six weeks of the regular season, before his left knee started betraying him.

That LaVine averaged 25.5 points per game on 48.1% shooting and posted an eye-opening 105.1 defensive rating in October, and then followed that up with 25.3 points per game on 48.9% shooting with a 112.8 defensive rating in 16 games through November.

LaVine was asked by the Sun-Times in late November about being worthy of the max contract status, as well as his new-found attention to playing defense, and said, “How’s my defensive rating now? It’s better. What does that tell you?”

A lot.

The numbers obviously dipped drastically for LaVine on the defensive side when the knee started bothering him, but the Bulls sound willing to give him the pass on that.

They may be willing to give passes to a good part of the roster and actually run a very similar looking cast of characters back next season, plus some much needed tweaks. Nikola Vucevic indicated that on Thursday, discussing his exit meeting with the front office and coaching staff.

“They want to have continuity, that’s for sure,” Vucevic said. “As far as moves they can make, I don’t really know that. That’s their job.”

The one concern to come out of the player exit meetings?

Lonzo Ball admitted that his surgically repaired left knee was still giving him pain and he was scheduled to meet with another specialist next week. Ball also didn’t take another surgery off the table.

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Few stories are more embedded in the American psyche than John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men,” which virtually all middle-school or high-school students read at some point in their English classes.

Published in 1937, John Steinbeck’s famous novella centers on two Depression-era migrant farm workers–Lennie, a good-hearted but mentally disabled giant, and George, his loyal if sometimes disgruntled friend and guardian.

Because of its narrative simplicity and emotional power, this story, which takes a tragic turn when Lennie accidentally kills another worker’s wife, turns out to be well-suited to adaptation as a ballet.

That became clear Wednesday evening when the Joffrey Ballet presented the world premiere of Cathy Marston’s intense, involving dance setting of the book in a program paired with George Balanchine’s “Serenade.” The duo offering runs for nine more performances through May 8.

Marston, a British choreographer whose credits include an adaptation of “Jane Eyre” that the Joffrey Ballet presented in 2019, is adept at conveying character through movement–the sneering aggressiveness of Curley (Fernando Duarte) or the hunched awkwardness of Lennie (Dylan Gutierrez).

After an opening sequence, in which the entire story is foretold in dreamy, fast-action fashion, the action largely follows the book, with one scene blending into the next, with high-energy athleticism, push-off partnering and leg-extended turns propelling the action forward.

The ballet runs about 55 minutes, and it could probably benefit from a slight trim to make the action and storytelling more streamlined and focused. It would also have been nice to get more of a sense of the closeness between George and Lennie, perhaps in a calm moment early on.

Marston’s most inventive and insightful intervention is portraying George with two dancers. They are dressed alike and meant to convey the different, sometimes conflicted sides of the character, one who feels a commitment and almost familial bond to Lennie and the other who wants to be free and independent.

The scenes with the three dancers are the ballet’s focal points, with the Xavier Nunez and Alberto Velazquez turning in powerful, well-matched performances as George, and Gutierrez potently conveying the gawky innocence and child-like impulses of Lennie.

The ballet is set to a largely effective, vaguely roots-tinged score by Academy Award-nominated composer Thomas Newman, with conductor Scott Speck and the Lyric Opera Orchestra performing in conjunction with a recorded track of sound effects and altered instrumental sounds. Piano, guitar and solo violin take the lead with sharp chords and dissonances along the way conveying the darker moods.

Demonstrating the Joffrey’s impressive versatility, perhaps its greatest strength, the evening opened in an entirely different realm emotionally, stylistically and aesthetically. The company presented its first-ever performance of “Serenade” (1935), the first work created in the United States by George Balanchine, arguably the most distinguished choreographer of the 20th century.

This upbeat, vibrant work for 26 dancers, with the women in flowing blue tutus, was built around a class in dance technique and was originally set on students. It showcases some of the trademark qualities of Balanchine’s choreography, including speedy footwork, interweaving, ever-evolving patterns, and use of the corps de ballet as not just decoration but as integral parts of the ballet.

There are many iconic moments in “Serenade,” none more so than the opening, which features 17 dancers in a double-diamond pattern standing serenely with one arm raised gently to the right with the palm out. After a few gradual changes in arm position, the women snap their parallel feet into standard first position–a shift that remains startling no matter how many times one sees this work.

Even though this ballet is more than 80 years old, it feels utterly contemporary. There is something eminently satisfying and reassuring about watching this piece, where every gesture, every step feels just right. That is a definition of a classic, which this work most definitely is.

The dancing in this work was universally strong with the speed, precision and elegance this work demands. Stand-out individual performances include Gayeon Jung and Stefan Goncalvez as the soloists in the waltz section and the spunky presence and nimble footwork of Valeria Chaykina.

The pairing of these two very different ballets, one narrative and one abstract, one grim and one upbeat, is unquestionably jarring. One suspects that these striking contrasts, as well as the proportional emphasis on women in “Serenade” and men in “Of Mice and Men,” were the very reasons the two were put together, and, in the end, the juxtaposition works.

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Andrew Woolfolk, a longtime saxophonist for Earth, Wind & Fire, has died at 71.

Lead singer of the band Philip J. Bailey announced Woolfolk’s death on Instagram Monday. “We lost him today, after being ill of over 6 years,” Bailey wrote, alongside a photo of the two. “He has Transitioned on to the forever, from this Land of the dying to the Land of the Living.”

Bailey did not give further details on the illness Woolfolk was battling.

The Earth, Wind & Fire member recalled meeting Woolfolk in high school and how the two “quickly became friends and band mates.”

“Great memories. Great Talent. Funny. Competitive. Quick witted. And always styling. Booski…I’ll see you on the other side, my friend,” Bailey concluded his post.

The official Instagram account for Earth, Wind & Fire also reposted Bailey’s post.

Woolfolk, who grew up in Denver and was inducted into the Colorado Music Hall of Fame in 2017, was a member of Earth, Wind & Fire from 1973 to 1985, and again from 1987 to 1993. Outside of the R&B group, Woolfolk collaborated with artists including Deniece Williams, Phil Collins, Twennynine and Level 42 and played on Bailey’s 1984 and 1986 albums, “The Wonders of His Love” and “Triumph.”

Woolfolk’s soprano and tenor saxophone sounds became signature elements in many of Earth, Wind & Fire’s biggest hits of the 1970s, most recognizably on “September,” “Let’s Groove,” “Boogie Wonderland” and “Shining Star.” His live performances with the band usually found him sporting the flamboyant shimmery jumpsuits that were a notable aspect of the band’s style.

In 2000, Earth, Wind & Fire – along with Woolfolk – was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

The legendary group lost its founder and leader back in 2016 with the death of Maurice White.

Read more at usatoday.com

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April tends to be the busiest month on NBC Sports Chicago’s calendar. The White Sox’ season is beginning, and the Blackhawks’ and Bulls’ seasons are ending. If the network is lucky, the Bulls and/or Hawks will give it some playoff games, too.

That’s what this April has been like, and I’ve consumed a bunch of it, surely more than any doctor would recommend. I’m not just talking about the game broadcasts, which are largely enjoyed by fans (though often despite the outcome). The pregame and postgame shows are part of the viewing experience, too.

With all of the teams’ shows airing this month – sometimes simultaneously – I found myself comparing and contrasting them. Though they share the same sets, they have different energy, style and vibes. So, as is my wont, I broke them down and ranked them:

1. Bulls

Jason Goff didn’t take long to become a great TV host after making a name for himself at The Score. He’s knowledgeable, runs the show well and keeps his fandom muted. Let’s face it: Everyone on these shows is a fan of the team, and that’s fine because fans are watching. The cast wants viewers to feel like they’re all in this together. But there must be objectivity.

Analysts and former Bulls Kendall Gill and Will Perdue aren’t carrying a torch for the team. They’re happy to praise a strong effort, but they won’t hold back their criticism. They also teach the game. But most important, they’re entertaining. They keep viewers’ attention not just with their information but with their energy and the rapport they share with Goff and each other.

2. White Sox

The show has instant credibility among Sox fans because of analysts Ozzie Guillen and Frank Thomas. It’s hard to imagine a better twosome to draw viewers. They wear their emotions on their sleeve, and they can be brutally honest. They actually can be more entertaining when the Sox are losing.

Host Chuck Garfien also is entertaining, and he speaks to Sox fans because he’s one, too. A really big one. Maybe too big. I’m all for rooting for the home team, but sometimes it’s too much. The star of the show is Guillen, who has a great combination of humor and insight.

3. Blackhawks

Pat Boyle is in a tough spot. Goff works with a 15-year NBA veteran in Gill and a three-time NBA champion in Perdue. Garfien works with a World Series-winning manager in Guillen and a Hall of Famer in Thomas. Boyle works with Caley Chelios and Colby Cohen. It looks more like he’s teaching a college class than hosting a TV show. But the Hawks have been intent on skewing their broadcasts younger.

Cohen has been a lightning rod for fans, who didn’t see a need to replace Steve Konroyd and Jamal Mayers. Cohen can be talkative and his humor doesn’t always land, but the venom seems extreme. He has done well reporting from between the benches, and he brings personality to a studio show that’s low on energy.

Granted, the Hawks haven’t done anything to be energetic about, but that doesn’t mean the show has to suffer. At times it sounds like the cast pulls punches in a situation that requires a combination and a roundhouse. The organization certainly wouldn’t tolerate the criticism the Bulls’ and Sox’ analysts can deliver. I’ve long wanted Hawks great Jeremy Roenick on this show, but there’s no chance of that.

Bonus observation

Those Webex by Cisco promos that feature a team reporter chiming in remotely – seemingly from a remote location – don’t do the service any favors. The picture and audio are a downgrade from the TV feed. Viewers even have seen a reporter who’s sitting in the studio appear on the promo. What sense does that make? He’s right there!

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The DeRozan household has a tic-tac-toe prodigy in it.

Who knew?

According to DeMar DeRozan, one of his daughters taught him an unbeatable strategy in tic-tac-toe, guaranteed to win games and frustrate opponents.

A skillset that the Bulls veteran had no problem adding to his offensive repertoire off the court this season. In one case, on a team charter and against teammate Zach LaVine.

“I remember we played tic-tac-toe on the plane, and I kept beating [LaVine],” DeRozan said. “He wouldn’t leave me alone until he beat me. And that’s just him on the court as well. Him being the ultimate competitor outside of being just a helluva individual outside of basketball. On the court? One of the more fierce competitors I’ve ever played with.”

And one that DeRozan felt deserved to be a max contract player this offseason.

Sounding somewhat like a close friend turned agent, DeRozan obviously felt like LaVine not only out-played the four-year, $78 million contract he signed back in 2018, but put himself in position to be paid like league royalty.

“Max player, max talent, max everything,” DeRozan replied, when asked about LaVine’s pending unrestricted free agency this summer. “He’s one of those players in this league that you don’t see too often. I tell him all the time how envious I am of the things he’s able to do. He deserves everything that’s coming to him for sure.”

What’s immediately coming LaVine’s way first is a surgical procedure on his left knee, which was expected to happen very quickly with the Bulls eliminated from the first round of the playoffs in Milwaukee on Wednesday night.

If that surgery goes as expected and there are no lingering concerns, then comes the LaVine pay day, with the Bulls saying all the right things about keeping the two-time All-Star in the red, white and black.

There is an argument to be made that LaVine has only taken the Bulls to the playoffs once in his career, and that came this season when he wasn’t even the best player on the team. Maxing out a guy who played on a No. 6 seed and was eliminated in the first round isn’t always good business, especially when that player is a guard that often focuses on just one side of the ball.

What the Bulls will be investing in, however, was what they saw from LaVine in the summer with Team USA, and then the first six weeks of the regular season, before his left knee started betraying him.

That LaVine averaged 25.5 points per game on 48.1% shooting and posted an eye-opening 105.1 defensive rating in October, and then followed that up with 25.3 points per game on 48.9% shooting with a 112.8 defensive rating in 16 games through November.

LaVine was asked by the Sun-Times in late November about being worthy of the max contract status, as well as his new-found attention to playing defense, and said, “How’s my defensive rating now? It’s better. What does that tell you?”

A lot.

The numbers obviously dipped drastically for LaVine on the defensive side when the knee started bothering him, but the Bulls sound willing to give him the pass on that.

They may be willing to give passes to a good part of the roster and actually run a very similar looking cast of characters back next season, plus some much needed tweaks. Nikola Vucevic indicated that on Thursday, discussing his exit meeting with the front office and coaching staff.

“They want to have continuity, that’s for sure,” Vucevic said. “As far as moves they can make, I don’t really know that. That’s their job.”

The one concern to come out of the player exit meetings?

Lonzo Ball admitted that his surgically repaired left knee was still giving him pain and he was scheduled to meet with another specialist next week. Ball also didn’t take another surgery off the table.

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During the Blackhawks’ general manager search, former Cubs executive Jeff Greenberg emerged as a surprise finalist but ultimately lost out to Kyle Davidson.

Less than two months later, however, Greenberg joined the Hawks nonetheless. He was hired Thursday as associate GM.

Greenberg and Norm Maciver, who was hired away from the Kraken last month to also serve as an associate GM, will support Davidson as the three-man leadership team heading the Hawks’ front office.

“[Jeff] reached out to congratulate me after I was named general manager, and we connected instantly over our parallel paths, shared love for hockey and vision for this sport’s future,” Davidson said in a statement. “I’m excited for our fans to see what he, alongside Norm, can bring as key voices at the table — a table that will continue to grow with other leaders we will add to the team.”

Greenberg, 36, spent the last 11 years with the Cubs, rising through the ranks to most recently serve as assistant GM. He largely operated behind the scenes but played an instrumental role in developing the talent evaluation and information processing systems that helped propel the Cubs to their 2016 World Series title.

He’ll serve a similar role with the Hawks, bringing methods from baseball that haven’t been widely implemented in hockey up to this point.

The Hawks say he’ll work alongside all aspects of the hockey operations department — including scouting, development, analytics and coaching at both the NHL and minor-league levels — to modernize and optimize their systems and decision-making processes.

“What I’ve learned about the Blackhawks is they’re serious about using this rebuilding period to not only set this franchise up to be the best in hockey, but the best in all of sports moving forward,” Greenberg said in a statement. “There couldn’t be a more exciting time to get in on the ground floor of this journey and pursue every possible solution to put this team back on the path to winning hockey.”

A Penn alum, Greenberg also holds a law degree from Columbia and worked for the Pirates, Diamondbacks and MLB league office before joining the Cubs. He does hold some hockey ties: he played hockey while growing in Pittsburgh and his father, Chuck, once nearly bought the Hurricanes.

But he’s unquestionably an unconventional, outside-the-box hire for the Hawks and in general for the NHL, which is notorious for recycling the same executives from one team to the next.

That was likely part of the appeal for Davidson, who took flak when he nabbed Maciver — a longtime Hawks executive up until early 2021 — after promising to bring in fresh voices and perspectives. He’d said earlier this month that future hiring decisions would reflect that need for freshness; Greenberg is likely just the tip of the iceberg, with many more front-office additions expected this offseason.

For the Cubs, meanwhile, Greenberg’s departure — he officially starts with the Hawks on May 9 — leaves a significant hole in their front-office leadership during the middle of the season.

Beneath baseball operations president Jed Hoyer and newly hired GM Carter Hawkins, Greenberg worked alongside Ehsan Bokhari and Craig Breslow as the three assistant GMs.

“Jeff…has done so much to make the Cubs a better organization over the last 10 seasons with his powerful combination of intelligence, work ethic, leadership and integrity,” Hoyer said in a statement. “He was critically involved in forward-looking decisions as we built the core of a world champion.

“As the Blackhawks look to build their next championship team, Jeff is an ideal hire. While I am sad to lose such a terrific employee and friend, I am thrilled that his future success will continue to benefit the city of Chicago.”

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