COVID-19 Gives Noah Vonleh Raw Deal on Second Bulls Tenure
The odds of Noah Vonleh making the Bulls already were slim. Vonleh previously played for the Bulls during the 2017–18 season, which meant nothing for the present. After all, there were too many power forwards on the roster already, so how could Billy Donovan possibly find minutes for all of them? As it turned out, COVID-19 had the final say on Vonleh’s fate:
It’s unfair that it had to come to this for Vonleh regardless of whatever chance he already had to survive the cuts. However, with a shorter preseason and Vonleh having a nonguaranteed contract, the writing was on the wall for him. The Bulls can’t afford to wait around for someone in his situation as they try to return to respectability. What you’re seeing is the business of the NBA in action.
Of course, this is not the Bulls’ first experience with COVID-19. Garrett Temple has yet to see any action after his positive test. Ahead of their two preseason road games against the Oklahoma City Thunder, three of the six players they won’t have with them — Tomas Satoransky, Adam Mokoka and Devon Dotson — are listed as “not with team” on the injury report, which means they’re in the NBA’s COVID-19 protocol. Luke Kornet already has been through that process.
While Vonleh’s exit statement was as classy as it gets, it surely has to hurt that the virus that has disrupted all of our lives brought his latest NBA opportunity to a close. This is his seventh season in the league, and he’s played for six teams, including five since the 2017–18 season. Before that, he spent three years with the Portland Trail Blazers, and he hasn’t stuck with a team long-term since. Though the Bulls likely were to move on from him anyway, to only survive halfway through the exhibition schedule because of you-know-what is a real kick in the teeth.
Sadly, but unsurprisingly, this is an issue that will dog the NBA throughout the season. We’ll be seeing a lot of stories of players having their seasons disrupted and games getting postponed or even called off. We might see that the current environment has gotten drastically better by the NBA Finals in July, but that doesn’t do anything for the rest of this season. If some people within the league haven’t accepted that yet, now would be the time to do so.
Even though the Orlando Bubble was very successful, the NBA is back in the real world. COVID-19 is thriving more than ever, and there’s no one place to put 30 teams as opposed to 22. The current setup is a lot more prone to failure, but the league has no choice. Since it’s intent on playing a season, this the only way to do it.
For Vonleh’s sake, let’s hope that this wasn’t his last NBA stop. If he’s not going to play at basketball’s highest level for much longer, at least let it happen because there’s simply no place for him anywhere. Don’t let COVID-19 be the thing that puts a permanent end to his journey. Hasn’t it cost people enough this year?
