Are the Bulls Imploding?

   With a roster that includes DeMar DeRozan, Zach Lavine, and Nikola Vucevic, the Chicago Bulls should be a team in the upper half of the Eastern Conference standings. Instead, Chicago finds themselves out of contention for a spot in the play-in tournament. 

   The Bulls currently hold an 11-18 record and are on a four-game losing streak- losses that include back-to-back defeats to the New York Knicks and a 150-126 beatdown at the hands of Anthony Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves. 

   It doesn’t help that Chicago also has multiple players on the injured list. Lonzo Ball hasn’t played a single game this season and according to Bulls Head Coach Billy Donovan, there’s no timeline as to when Ball would make his 2022-2023 season debut. Javonte Green is also listed as day-to-day with right knee soreness.

   With one-third of the 2022-2023 season now in the books and losses continuing to pile up, one can’t help but wonder whether Chicago will hope for a second half turnaround, or whether they’d be better served breaking up their core and hitting the reset button.

Breaking Up Soon?

   The Bulls’ trio of stars in DeRozan, LaVine, and Vucevic is one of the better trios in the NBA. At least on paper.

   DeRozan is putting up 25.9 points, 4.9 rebounds, 4.7 assists, and 31% three-point shooting. LaVine is averaging 21.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists, and 1.2 steals, while Vucevic currently has averages of 16pts/10reb. 

   However, the production of their stars hasn’t translated to victories. Is the issue the players? Coaching? A dysfunctional front office? All of the above?

   Things in Chicago are bad enough with all of their on-court struggles plus their injury woes. If the Bulls want to turn things around, breaking up this current core might be the best way to go. 

   If trades are to happen, the Bulls have more than enough desirable assets at their disposal- including their star players. In fact, DeRozan and Vucevic have been included in some of the trade rumors in the past. While no trades have materialized yet, this might be the best time for the Bulls to consider coming back to the bargaining table.

Why Does It Make Sense?

   From a business standpoint, a complete overhaul of the Chicago Bulls would make sense, especially with the influx of talent ready to join the league in the 2023 NBA draft.

   The good news for the Bulls is that their stars have continuously generated interest from other teams- specifically DeRozan and Vucevic. In fact, there have been rumoured trade discussions that would have sent both DeRozan and Vucevic to the Los Angeles Lakers for a package that includes Russell Westbrook and draft compensations. 

   LaVine and his newly signed 5yr/$215M contract seems the least likely of the trio to move anytime soon. But players like Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso, or Andre Drummond could be names that get buoyed about over the course of the next few months in the Windy City.

   While the 2022-2023 season is far from over, the Bulls need to push the right buttons from here on because any prolonged losing streaks will essentially make the decision for them. While it’s not a lost year yet, if ever Chicago was going to blow things up, doing so in Victor Wembanyama’s draft year wouldn’t be the worst idea.

-Iggy Gonzales

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