Bulls' Doug McDermott Expects To Receive Some Power Forward Minutes This Season

By Cody Westerlund--

(CBS) It was last Thursday at Rajon Rondo's introduction to the Chicago media that Bulls general manager Gar Forman was asked the question that so many are wondering.

After the addition of the slash-heavy and poor outside shooters in Rondo and Dwyane Wade to pair with a similar style of player in All-Star wing Jimmy Butler, where's the outside shooting going to come from for the Bulls?

Forman initially evaded getting to much of substance, first mentioning what that trio brings in the pick-and-roll game and in transition. Then he offered a little more.

"We're going to need Doug to shoot it," Forman said.

That would be Doug McDermott, the sharpshooting forward entering his third season. After displaying his marksmanship but not all-around consistency in 2015-'16, McDermott's performance will be crucial for the Bulls in the upcoming season. And with Wade's addition meaning Butler will play bigger minutes at small forward, the 6-foot-8, 225-pound McDermott expects to play a few more minutes at power forward this season off the bench.

While it won't be a heavily used approach, it's another way to get shooting on the floor and take advantage of mismatches when the Bulls see fit, and it's a discussion he's already been having with coach Fred Hoiberg.

"Coach Hoiberg, last year especially, he wanted me to put on some weight so I could play some minutes there," McDermott said in an interview on the Boers and Bernstein Show on Friday on 670. "This year, the way the NBA's going now, I think it can be even more realistic. I'm excited. Wherever I can play on the floor, I'd be more than willing to do. I think playing the four, especially in coach Hoiberg's system, I think could really benefit me and the team."

McDermott averaged 9.4 points and 23.0 minutes last season while shooting 42.5 percent on 3-pointers, the sixth-best mark in the NBA.

"We definitely need shooters, and I feel like I can bring that to the table, along with Niko (Mirotic)," McDermott said. "We're going to have to step up. Obviously, we have some really good pieces and being out there, we'll be able to space out the floor for guys like D-Wade and Jimmy and Rondo. Obviously, Rondo averages 11 or 12 assists a game, so I'm really excited for that too."

Listen to McDermott's full interview below.