For the fourth time in five seasons the Chicago Bulls NBA Draft position will be decided by the draw of a ping pong ball as the NBA Draft Lottery is set to air at 7:30 PM CST on ESPN.

The Bulls, of course, have been watching the NBA’s Bubble restart from home since it returned in late July and have spent much of the offseason maneuvering their front office in an effort to once again operate in the 21st century. With a new EVP of Basketball Operations, new General Manager, and soon-to-be new head coach, the Bulls now set their sights on what the roster might look like entering the 2021 season. Here’s what that means tonight with the Bulls chances in tonight’s drawing:

• No. 1 pick: 7.5%

• No. 2 pick: 7.8%

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• No. 3 pick: 8.1%

• No. 4 pick: 8.5%

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• No. 7 pick: 19.7%

• No. 8 pick: 34.1%

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• No. 9 pick: 12.9%

• No. 10 pick: 1.3%

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• No. 11 pick: 0.03%

The last time the Bulls held the No. 1 overall pick in the draft was 2008 where they selected, as you probably remember, Derrick Rose. For the past three seasons they have selected from the No. 7 slot—taking Coby White out of North Carolina, Wendell Carter, Jr. from Duke, and trading into the position in 2017 to select Lauri Markkanen from Arizona. In 2016, the Bulls took Denzel Valentine at 14, who was the Big Ten Player of the Year out of Michigan State.

Ironically, the Bulls enter the 2020 lottery with a 19.7% to select out of the seventh spot again, the second highest percentage on their board.

For many franchises, four consecutive years in the lottery usually begins a trend towards being a competitive organization again. Not the Chicago Bulls. All four of their previous lottery selections are still on the roster and the Bulls have just one playoff appearance to show for it—a first round bounce to the Boston Celtics which eventually led to the trade that sent Jimmy Butler to Minnesota for the draft rights to the aforementioned Markkanen.

But this year feels different. Given the complete and utter confusion of sports in 2020, it’s fair to say that there is an uncertainty baked in at all slots on the board. No one knows exactly what type of player they are going to get and many college prospects have had limited time to showcase just how NBA ready they are. This could be an advantage for the newly minted Bulls front office duo of Arturas Karnišovas and Marc Eversley.

Karnišovas himself is considered a master evaluator. He’s been credited as the primary driver behind the Denver Nuggets resurgence, which includes selections of Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray but it’s perhaps his most recent evaluation that’s shining brightest as he was the lone evaluator willing to take a chance on Michael Porter Jr. after he slipped from the Top 5 to No. 14 overall two years ago.

“I like a lot of players that are in our range…I think we’ve done a lot of work studying. That’s why the excitement is coming from studying those players and interviewing them and looking at the video. So I think we’ll add a good player to our roster next year,” Karnišovas said during a press conference near the end of the year.

It’s time again for the Crosstown Classic!

Need more information on the 2020 Crosstown Classic? View our column breaking down the entirety of the Red Line Rumble.

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Regardless of the Bulls draft position, they are more than one player away from competing in the playoffs again. From a personnel standpoint, the roster is a collective of individual talent that has largely underperformed to expectation. Perhaps a new head coach revitalizes young talent like Markkanen and Valentine. However, a larger conversation needs to be had about the higher-priced centerpieces of Zach LaVine and Otto Porter Jr. and whether or not they are guys you build around in today’s NBA.

It took the Bulls firing Jim Boylen last week to initiate the feeling of a true turnaround at the United Center and, while it’s not ideal to be waiting on the randomness of a ping pong ball to decide your fate, the Bulls results tonight could set the course for how the front office will approach its coaching search and impending free agency period.

That alone provides at least a sliver of optimism.

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Featured Image Credit: Chicago Bulls Facebook Page

 
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On Tuesday, August 18th, the Naperville City Council sat down to vote on the hotly debated topic of recreational marijuana sales. The subject has seen a great divide among the public ever since Gov. Pritzker allowed recreational cannabis sales statewide. In a 6 to 3 vote, the council voted in favor of an ordinance allowing up to three recreational cannabis dispensaries within the limits of the city. Coyne, Hinterlong, and Gustin were the council members that made up the votes dissenting. 

The Naperville City Council decided in September of 2019 to opt out of recreational marijuana sales ahead of January 2020 when recreational sales became legal in the state. The council voted 6-3 in favor of the opt-out. Concerns about safety in the city and around schools were what many Naperville residents brought up, most likely a large factor in the prior decision to opt-out of legal sales.

The recreational marijuana sales opt-in ordinance mandates that dispensaries must be located at least 250 feet from residential spots and at least 1,000 feet away from schools. In addition, they must not be within one mile of each other. As reported by Patch, a referendum run by the city about recreational sales back in March came back with about 53% of voters responding “yes” to the question “Shall the city of Naperville, in light of state legislation legalizing the possession, consumption, and sale of recreational adult-use cannabis, allow the sale of recreational adult-use cannabis within its jurisdiction?”

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With the coronavirus pandemic also hurting many local businesses and the economy at large, perhaps the latest news is a shift in mindset as the city is exploring new economic opportunities. What are your thoughts on Naperville entering the recreational sales game? A good move? A bad one? Let us know in the comments below!

At UrbanMatter, U Matter. And we think this matters.

Tell us what you think matters in your neighborhood and what we should write about next in the comments below!

Featured Image Credit: Pexels

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In one of Chicago’s most tumultuous 24-hour periods in recent memory, the city withstood a night of momentous civil unrest followed by a day of unsettlingly violent storms. By coincidence, I spent much of the duration listening to an oddly suitable soundtrack: Immersion, the latest full-length by Denver metal trio Primitive Man. Plenty of bands make music that feels overwhelming, but Primitive Man really earn this album’s title, plunging you so deep in the muck you have to dig yourself out. They’ve been doing that since 2012, when they emerged from their city’s underground music scene with a bludgeoning, oozing wall of sludge, noise, and death metal imbued with the struggles, turbulence, and decay of humanity. It can be tempting to paint the band as entirely fatalistic, and maybe they are in their view of power structures and man’s capacity to inflict suffering and injustice on others (though they’d probably say they’re “realistic”). But on Immersion, recorded in early March as the country first came to grips with the enormity of the COVID-19 pandemic, they’re also concerned with how hardship impacts people on an individual basis, and with the drive to resist and rebel–even when doing so feels burdensome in itself. The tense opening track, “The Lifer,” casts a light on how the desire to create can be an Achilles’ heel when it comes to establishing security and creature comforts. “Menacing,” which alternates between a maelstrom of drums and guitars and chugging doom punctuated by the cavernous howls of front man and guitarist Ethan Lee McCarthy, speaks to how a person’s character is shaped by challenges endured, and to how standing your ground and walking your own path can come at the price of loneliness. As dark as the album gets, though, it maintains a sense of strength and steadiness, and of speaking truth to power. Sometimes facing the vortex head-on can help lighten the load for someone else. v

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In honor of the late Dave Shelton, this week we’re featuring a gig poster from a 1987 show at the legendary Sheffield Avenue location of his club Medusa’s. Artist Rob Schwager lived in Chicagoland back then, and created this image for a packed bill featuring punk bands the Meatmen, Straw Dogs, and Rights of the Accused alongside rockers Redd Kross.

Schwager is now based in Florida, and he told me through e-mail that he wishes he’d held onto every flyer he made back in the day. When he still lived here, his passion for live music found an outlet via his professional life as well. “I used to work security at the Metro during the 90s, and also designed and hand-printed some gig posters for shows there and at Double Door,” he writes. “I did the work under the name ‘Trucker.'”

Some of the posters that Schwager made during this period are featured in the 2004 book Art of Modern Rock: The Poster Explosion, edited by Paul Grushkin and Dennis King. We’re thankful to him for allowing us to post this blast from the past in tribute to the eclectic programming that made Medusa’s such a thriving and exciting community.

We continue to accept submissions of fantasy gig posters (for a show from the past, or one you think should’ve happened). To participate, please e-mail [email protected] with your name, contact information, and your original design or drawing (you can attach a JPG or PNG file or provide a download link). We won’t be able to publish everything we receive, but we’ll feature as many as possible while the pandemic continues. Your submission can also include a nonprofit, fundraiser, or action campaign that you’d like to bring to the attention of our readers. We’re also always happy to hear about gig posters for current shows, whether in-person or livestreamed; e-mail us at the same address.

Not everybody can make a fantasy gig poster, of course, but it’s simple and free to take action through the website of the National Independent Venue Association–click here to tell your representatives to save our homegrown music ecosystems. And anybody with a few bucks to spare can support the out-of-work staffers at Chicago’s venues–here’s our list of fundraisers. Lastly, don’t forget record stores! The Reader has published a list of local stores that will let you shop remotely.

ARTIST: Rob Schwager
GIG: Meatmen, Redd Kross, Straw Dogs, and Rights of the Accused at Medusa’s on Sunday, June 14, 1987
ARTIST INFO: Tiny Bird Press
FUNDRAISER TO KNOW: Medusa’s shirts, masks, and posters are available for sale on Etsy. Proceeds will go toward the expenses associated with Dave Shelton’s memorial service (on Saturday, August 22) as well as to an animal-focused charity being created in his name.

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Melancholy shoots right out of the gate on Willie Nelson’s new full-length, First Rose of Spring. The album opens with its title track, a sweet but ultimately tragic love song by a trio of stalwart Nashville songwriters: Allen Shamblin (Bonnie Raitt), Marc Beeson (LeAnn Rimes, Blake Shelton), and Randy Houser (who hit number two on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart in 2009 performing his own “Boots On”). Nelson’s no-frills singing and plaintive solo on his trusty acoustic guitar, Trigger, make “First Rose of Spring” an anchor for the wistful, contemplative songs ahead. Like Nelson’s other recent releases, including 2018’s Last Man Standing and last year’s Ride Me Back Home, the new album is filled with end-of-the-road thoughts and tributes to compadres who have passed away. Who better than the Willie Nelson to deliver such reflections? At 87 years old, he still sings with a pointed clarity, as though he wants you to truly hear every word. Nelson and longtime cowriter and producer Buddy Cannon keep up the elegiac tone with heartbreaking songs such as “Blue Star,” but there are also a few uplifting moments, including covers of Toby Keith’s “Don’t Let the Old Man In” (written for a 2018 Clint Eastwood movie of the same name) and a timely resurrection of Billy Joe Shaver’s 1981 “We Are the Cowboys,” a dissection of the cowboy-as-hero mythology that centers white men as saviors. “Cowboys are average American people / Texicans, Mexicans, Black men, and Jews,” Nelson sings, his intimate, uncomplicated vocal approach helping the message speak loudly–he’s just one average cowboy, speaking on behalf of others like him. First Rose is full of perspectives that only a man with Nelson’s lived experience can offer. It’s a collection of good old-fashioned country songs, delivered with the soulful spirit of a true country great. v

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Chicago Blackhawks: Eliminated in five games by Vegas Golden Knights by Vincent Parise

Chicago Blackhawks: Was that Corey Crawford’s last game? by Vincent Parise

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Chicago Bears (Photo by Nuccio DiNuzzo/Getty Images)

The Chicago Bears are entering a crucial season as the window for this defense gradually closing.

The Chicago Bears open training camp this past Monday in what has been an odd unusual offseason for the NFL during this global pandemic. Rookies and veteran free agent acquisitions are at a disadvantage with the wipeout of the preseason, OTAs, veteran and rookie minicamps. It is why I cannot take too much from the competitions the Bears have across the board.

The Quarterback competition suffers the most as both players lose out on valuable reps. Specifically, quarterback Nick Foles developing a rapport with the starters. With all, there are still some young players on the team that fans should pay attention to their development.

Can rookie wide receiver Darnell Mooney get up to speed on the playbook to contribute this year? The rookie has been getting some rave reviews early on from coaches and teammates. Is Jaylon Johnson ready to step into that vacant starting cornerback spot? Artie Burns, unfortunately, went down with a torn ACL day two into camp. Johnson will have the opportunity to step in snatch the spot away from another young talented unproven corner in Kevin Tolliver.

There also some veterans that fans should key on. Tarik Cohen is one, who is entering a contract year and will be looking for a big bag in the offseason. Anthony Miller is another player that has been under the microscope this offseason.

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There is plenty of players on the team that fans should keep a close eye on. However, here are three players that you should not sleep on having big years in 2020.

Next: Former Georgia wide receiver ready to take the reigns?

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Chicago Bears: 3 players not to sleep on during training camp by Dominique Blanton

Chicago Bears: Nick Foles gets ringing endorsement from QB coach by Patrick Sheldon

Has Corey Crawford played in his last game for the Chicago Blackhawks?

The Chicago Blackhawks are done for 2019-20. They were eliminated in six five games by the Vegas Golden Knights. It was a hard-fought series by them but they were overmatched by Vegas in every aspect. They surprised a lot of people for defeating Edmonton and they should be proud of that but it isn’t surprising that it came to an end early in the first round. One player who should be extra proud is their goaltender, Corey Crawford.

He has been brilliant for a very long time but he was extra special at times in the bubble. There were a couple of goals that he probably wishes he had back in both series’ but he was solid overall. He is one of the most underrated players in the NHL and certainly underrated in terms of the Blackhawks dynasty. The question now for Crawford is whether or not he has played his final game for the Chicago Blackhawks.

Crawford’s contract is up at the conclusion of the playoffs. He is 35 years old and will be 36 not long into the 2020-21 season as he was a New Year’s Eve baby. He has been so great for the Chicago Blackhawks as he has been the backbone of a team that won the Stanley Cup twice in a span of four years. He has a career record of 260-162-53 with 26 shutouts. He has a career 2.45 goals-against average and .918 save percentage. There are also two Jennings Trophies on his very good career resume.

If this is the end for Crawford in Chicago, he can leave knowing he did all that he could. He was brilliant when the team around him was awesome and he remained just as brilliant when the team really started to fall off. It is hard to find a guy who battles that hard night in and night out. Crawford is an all-time great Blackhawks goaltender.

There is, however, a chance that he returns as well. The Blackhawks don’t have a backup plan or anything like that so they might be willing to have Crawford back on another short term deal. Crawford has already made a decent amount of money and has done plenty of winning so you have to wonder if he will just go back to all he knows and what makes him comfortable. With that said, nobody would say anything negative about him pursuing one more Stanley Cup somewhere else.

Hot: Chicago Blackhawks vs Vegas Golden Knights game five

Chicago owes a lot to Corey Crawford. He has helped deliver some of the greatest memories in this city’s sports history and he should forever have respect for that. He has his haters but those people just don’t know what they are talking about because he was money for a long time. No matter what his decision is, his time in Chicago has been fun to be a part of to this point.

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Chicago Blackhawks: Was that Corey Crawford’s last game? by Vincent Parise

Chicago Bulls: Assessing final 2020 NBA Draft Lottery odds by Ryan Heckman

The Chicago Bears quarterbacks coach has high praise for Nick Foles.

Yesterday, the Chicago Bears did not practice, but that did not keep them from making news. After two straight days of practice, in which Mitchell Trubisky and Nick Foles played to a draw, the Bears got a day off as they ease back into football shape in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Although they weren’t on the field making plays, they were still creating some buzz. That’s because of the comments of newly hired quarterbacks coach John DeFilippo. Flip, as he’s affectionately known, is very familiar with Foles, having spent time with him in both Philadelphia and Jacksonville. Notably, he was on the Eagles’ staff in 2017 when Foles led the team on a magical run to beat the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.

In other words, if there is someone qualified to provide a trusted opinion on Foles, it would be Flip. That’s one of the many reasons what his comments were so interesting. Before we get into those other reasons, you’re probably wondering what he said.

Well, Flip made an interesting and familiar analogy to Foles’ game, stating he would make a “great point guard.” Flip added, “he processes information at an unbelievable speed.”

Bears QB coach John DeFilippo says Nick Foles would be a great point guard: “He processes information at an unbelievable speed.”

— Mark Grote (@markgrotesports) August 19, 2020

So why else is are those comments so interesting? Well, it was just over a year ago when Matt Nagy told reporters that he wanted Trubisky to play the role of a “point guard” and get the ball into the hands of his playmakers. To do that, he wanted Trubisky to play fast. To do that, Trubisky needed an in-depth understanding of the offense, and the ability to identify defensive coverages and process what he saw post-snap.

Neither of those things happened in 2019, but they underscore another reason Flip’s comments are important. In praising Foles’ incredible ability to process information, he also inadvertently highlighted Trubisky’s biggest weakness and a flaw that has held the offense back considerably.

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Next: Why are Bears being so secretive in camp?

Perhaps it was a harmless coincidence, but if you’re a reader of tea leaves, you may start to think there was a reason Foles and Flip were brought here together — and it wasn’t for a game of pickup basketball.

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Chicago Bears: Nick Foles gets ringing endorsement from QB coach by Patrick Sheldon

Before Thursday night’s 2020 NBA Draft Lottery, we look at the final odds for all of the top 10 teams with the Chicago Bulls at the forefront.

Thursday night, the Chicago Bulls learn their fate in the 2020 NBA Draft Lottery. In a class that’s modest at best, the Bulls and their fan base are hoping to come away with a top-3 pick, where they could land one of the few premier players in the draft.

The massive overhaul that’s gone on within the Bulls’ organization this offseason could continue on a positive note, should the Bulls get lucky. Funny enough, the most likely outcome for Chicago is that they wind up with the 7th or 8th pick overall, which would be a huge disappointment.

According to Tankathon, the Bulls’ average landing spot is 6.2. Obviously, that’s not a concrete pick, but if the Bulls snagged the sixth pick, it would be an improvement from the last three years where they picked at no. 7.

The final odds to land the no. 1 overall pick:

Golden State, Cleveland and Minnesota: 14 percent

Atlanta: 12.5 percent

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Detroit: 10.5 percent

New York: 9.0 percent

Chicago: 7.5 percent

Charlotte: 6.0 percent

Washington: 4.5 percent

Phoenix: 3.0 percent

San Antonio: 2.0 percent

Sacramento: 1.3 percent

New Orleans: 1.2 percent

Memphis: 0.5 percent

Overall, the Bulls have a 32 percent chance to land a top-4 pick. Those odds are favorable, considering the newer lottery system.

Should the Bulls land in the top four picks, they could potentially come away with guys like LaMelo Ball or Anthony Edwards. James Wiseman is also a possibility. Obi Toppin is one of the lottery mysteries, as he could go anywhere from no. 3 to no. 10 overall.

Again, this class is not the strongest, but the Bulls can use all the help they can get with all of the changes occurring over the past several months. In firing Jim Boylen, the Bulls put the final nail in the coffin for the organization’s previous leadership team.

Their next coach will have a youthful roster to work with, plus another top pick. The only questions remain, which pick do they land and who do they draft with it? If the Bulls came away with another guard like Ball or Edwards, what does that mean for Zach LaVine and Coby White?

If they landed Wiseman, what does that mean for Wendell Carter or Daniel Gafford? Toppin might be a nice prize, considering the Bulls could opt to use him at the three, or as their number one guy off the bench at the four.

Regardless, there will be some intriguing questions going forward depending on where the Bulls land in the lottery.

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Fans can tune in to watch Thursday night’s lottery which will only run for a half hour long, beginning on ESPN at 7:30 CT.

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PHOTOS: Custom Near North penthouse with sweeping views: $4M

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By ChicagoNow Staff,
today at 6:51 am

55 E. Erie St., No. 5302, Chicago: $4,000,000 | Listed July 31, 2020 (VHT Studios)

This 4,200-square-foot Near North home has three bedrooms and four bathrooms. The professionally designed half-floor penthouse features three private balconies and unobstructed views to the north, east and west. High-grade finishes range from custom Clive Christian cabinetry to Paris Ceramics limestone floors. Panel molding, a barrel vault ceiling, Von Morris hardware and a Crestron Electronics lighting system round out the custom features. In the kitchen, touches like hand-painted custom cabinets, black granite limestone countertops and a coffered ceiling pair with appliances from Sub-Zero, Viking, and Perrin and Rowe. Just past the kitchen, the dining room features a crystal chandelier from Ebanista, while the adjacent mahogany wet bar includes a built-in television and a brass-hammered sink, and the nearby living room’s hand-carved mahogany cabinetry and gas fireplace complement the space.

Arched double doors open to the primary bedroom suite, where a two-sided gas fireplace separates the bedroom from a sitting room. The suite is outfitted with two walk-in closets, wide-plank wood floors, and a bathroom with hand-painted cabinetry, heated limestone floors, a steam shower and a Bain Ultra whirlpool tub. Two side-by-side parking spaces are included on the building’s third floor for easy access. Building amenities include a 24-hour doorman, a pool, a jacuzzi, a sauna and steam room, a workout room and on-site dry cleaners.

Agent: Josh Lipton of Compass, 312-504-5409

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