The Chicago Bulls need to blow this roster up. The organization needs a complete overhaul and a reset on every level starting at the top.
There has been a full systematic failure of this organization to elevate itself to the level of its competition. Previously, it had been stated by another phenomenal writer from this site that this season would likely end like last season. Instead, it may be even worse both for the team and its loyal fanbase.
This was a team that just a couple of seasons ago sat at the very top of the Eastern Conference in the middle of the 2021 season. Now, the team seems to be seeped into the tier level no team wants to be in, the one with no direction. Where did it all go wrong?
Where the Bulls Went Wrong
Some teams over time get worse. That’s the normal evolution of time. Look at the Warriors for example. But sometimes there are exceptions. There are times in sports when you can spot the exact moment when a team falls apart and never quite recovers.
The Bulls in the 2020s will forever be a team of wasted potential. This was a team that on January 14, 2022, sat atop the Eastern Conference as the one seed. They were 27-13 heading into a matchup with the Golden State Warriors. That night, the fate of the Bulls changed forever.
Lonzo Ball had been playing at near All-Star level all season, and he tore his knee that evening. It was a painful reminder for Bulls fans. The past 2 times the Bulls had high-performing point guards, they also suffered catastrophic injuries that altered the course of the team. Saying the name Jay Williams or Derrick Rose is enough to make a Bulls fan cringe.
The Bulls managed to continue fighting with the Miami Heat for the top seed in the East while awaiting a return from Lonzo, but that return never came. On February 26th, 2022, the Bulls finally lost the top seed after a loss in Memphis. Their record coming into that game was 39-21. It’s been downhill ever since.
Chicago Bulls Roster is in Shambles
The Chicago Bulls never recovered from the Ball injury. Simply put, the guard position has been extremely rotational. The offense has become stagnant. When Lonzo was in the lineup, the Bulls had a pass-first point guard who was able to keep the basketball moving and flowing to everybody on the court, not just their top scorers. He was also performing at a very high level on the defensive end.
Since Lonzo went down, the Bulls’ offense has essentially become iso-ball. The basketball either disappears in the hands of one player and all passing ceases, or worse, it ends up going to 7-foot center Nikola Vucevic for a three-point attempt.
For the season, Vucevic is averaging about 28% from 3 on over 4 attempts per game. That’s both his lowest percentage since his rookie season and made worse by the fact he’s shooting under 50% on the season as well from the field. For a seven-footer who’s skillset is entirely tailored to his offensive production, that’s unacceptable.
It’s at the point where at times, Vucevic has lost starts and playing time to Andre Drummond. Drummond is not an offensive threat. But Drummond’s play on the defensive end as well as his commitment to being in the paint and being the best rebounder on the team has shined while Vucevic has disappointed just months after gaining a massive extension.
Problems Everywhere with This Organization
One of the problems with the Chicago Bulls is that it’s an older roster that isn’t constructed very well. It also doesn’t feature a lot of key players under contract for much longer. The best player on the team is DeMar DeRozan and his contract is up after this season. Patrick Williams was another first-round miss and he’s likely done in Chicago after this season as well. Drummond’s deal was only for this season.
The Bulls have big money tied up in Lonzo Ball and former All-Star Zach LaVine, both of whom are currently injured. Even worse in LaVine’s case is that Bulls coach Billy Donovan and LaVine had a massive falling out and LaVine would’ve been moved at the deadline had it not been for his injuries. His trade value has absolutely tanked this season.
There also doesn’t seem to be much confidence in Billy Donovan as the coach. He hasn’t shown much if anything with the roster since Ball went down with his injury. The front office also has been incredibly passive. Another silent trade deadline this season reminded fans that the team hasn’t completed a trade since August 2021. Not that the trade in question was a good trade to begin with.
Bad contracts, bad trades, and only 2 good draft picks. The current Bulls front office led by general manager Marc Eversley has a lot to answer for. This offseason, Jerry Reinsdorf needs to clean house if he’s serious about wanting a winner.
Two Players They Can Build Around
There are a couple of young pieces that the team can build around. Ayo Dommasu is a solid young player who has shown quite a few flashes this season. Coby White has emerged as the best young player on the Chicago Bulls team, and he’s on a recently resigned 3-year contract. Alex Caruso is a defensive stopper under contract until 2025.
Ayo Dommasu and Coby White are two potential pieces that can be built around, but this is a team that is failing at every level as an organization. They’ve sat around waiting for Lonzo Ball to return, but that hasn’t happened yet. It unfortunately may never happen with this team. The time has come for the Chicago Bulls for the 1000th time since Michael Jordan and the dynasty was pushed out after 1998 to rebuild.
It’s going to be another tough go for Chicago sports fans. They don’t have much to root for right now. But for the Chicago Bulls, the right thing might be to start over again with a fresh look. Just don’t go off and hire another Jim Boylen or GarPax.
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