The Athletic NBA Daily Lakers in Trouble? + Bulls Need to Pick a Direction | Slam N Jam
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Jan 24, 2026 Joel Lorenzi, staff reporter for The Athletic who covers the Chicago Bulls and NBA, breaks down Chicago’s trade-deadline posture and Billy Donovan’s influence. Short takes on Mo Bamba’s development and Alex Caruso’s shooting leap. Rapid-fire Bulls trivia and a look at roster construction, free-agency fits, and why drafting might be Chicago’s clearest path forward.
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Suggs' Outsized Impact On Magic
- Jalen Suggs has an outsized impact on the Orlando Magic, with lineups containing him vastly outperforming alternatives.
- Without Suggs the Magic fall into poor defensive and net-rating stretches, showing his role as a stabilizer.
Lakers' Statistical Oddity
- The Lakers are historically odd: winning above 60% of games so far but showing a negative net rating due to poor defense since December.
- Their rim protection and defensive ranking slipped dramatically, creating a genuine season-long anomaly.
Bediaco Case Exposes NCAA Gaps
- Charles Bediaco's attempt to return to college after entering the draft and signing two-way/E10 deals exposes NCAA rule ambiguities.
- This case could prompt reevaluation of NCAA-NBA pathways and eligibility rules for future prospects.