Fred Hoiberg Weighs Bulls' Starters, Eyes Bench Role For Doug McDermott

By Cody Westerlund--

(CBS) With the regular-season opener 10 days away, Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg has yet to make any final determinations about his starting lineup.

He's made some headway in one regard, though: He envisions second-year wing Doug McDermott coming off the bench to give the second unit a scoring punch.

"That's a role that I anticipate for Doug, is coming off the bench," Hoiberg said Saturday.

"I've liked Doug coming off the bench. I think it's been a good role for him."

A wing position is open for the Bulls after projected starting small forward Mike Dunleavy had back surgery just before the start of training camp. He's expected to be out until at least mid-December, if not longer.

McDermott has come off the bench in the first five preseason games, averaging 16.6 points on 47 percent shooting. The Bulls drafted McDermott 11th overall in 2014 because of his ability to score the ball, and they believe he'll have a better opportunity to make such contributions if he's a primary option on the second unit than if he was the fourth option playing among the likes of Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler and Pau Gasol to open games.

McDermott is content with the second-unit role.

"I'm completely fine with," McDermott said. "Either way, it's been good for me, you know, just seeing the game develop a little bit. I think they need scoring off the bench too, so I feel like I can bring that. I'm fine with whatever.

"More opportunity for shots and scoring off the bench. You see guys like that in the league all the time, coming off the bench, just firing away. I feel like that's something I can do. But at the same time, if I was out there with Derrick and Jimmy and Pau, I feel like I'd space the floor for them."

With McDermott likely to come off the bench, Hoiberg mentioned several options as to who could start at small forward. Tony Snell is one, and Hoiberg pointed out he likes that Snell can take some of the pressure off of Butler from having to guard the foe's top perimeter player. However, Snell struggled with his shot mightily in Chicago's first three preseason games, and he's dealing with an ankle sprain that's likely to keep him out of Monday's contest at Charlotte.

The other options for Hoiberg are to go big with Nikola Mirotic at small forward or shift Butler there and start either Kirk Hinrich or E'Twaun Moore alongside Rose in the backcourt. Moore, Hinrich and Butler will start for the Bulls on Monday, Hoiberg said, giving him a chance to get a look at a smaller backcourt.

Also affecting this decision is the big man pairing that Hoiberg chooses to start and rely heavily on. Early indications and recent performance make Gasol appear to be a near-lock for a starting spot, and then Hoiberg will need to choose between Mirotic, Taj Gibson and Joakim Noah. Rookie Bobby Portis has also made solid contributions early on.

Hoiberg admitted that's the most difficult basketball decision he's facing.

"A lot of guys are capable of giving minutes that have played big minutes," Hoiberg said. "A lot of these guys have played big minutes in the playoffs. Getting Bobby here, everything is still new to him but he has played extremely well. He has been awesome in the preseason. These last three games, there's a lot of decisions to be made. There are a lot of minutes still up for grabs. I know these guys are going to compete for those minutes."

Hoiberg plans to meet with everyone and discuss their role in the three days between the preseason finale next Friday and the season opener against the Cavaliers.

"If you're honest and up front, guys have a clear understanding of what those roles are, it's easier," Hoiberg said. "The big thing is if they're not in the rotation or not playing a lot early, you can't discouraged. You have to be ready when your name is called."

Notes: Rose continued to participate in most all of the Bulls' non-contact activity at Saturday's practice, but he didn't scrimmage with the team ... Hoiberg plans to ramp up the fourth-quarter minutes for Chicago's main rotation players Monday at Charlotte. For the most part, the key players have been resting late in preseason games ... McDermott will start next Friday's exhibition game in Lincoln, Neb., Hoiberg said. That will be a homecoming of sorts for him, as he attended Creighton in Omaha.

Cody Westerlund is a sports editor for CBSChicago.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund.