A Chicago Bulls Offseason Blueprint
In 2021, the Chicago Bulls appeared to have honed their offseason strategy to perfection, meticulously crafting a foundation and assembling the ideal support system for star shooting guard Zach LaVine. By acquiring seasoned veterans such as DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic, and Alex Caruso, and adding an emerging point guard in Lonzo Ball, the Bulls positioned themselves for the Eastern Conference crown. Fast forward three off-seasons later and Chicago finds themselves back in Cancun yet again after another Play-In Tournament meltdown. Simply put, this team isn't built to compete in mid-April basketball and executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas recognized a need for drastic change after revealing “everything is on the table” in regard to the current state of the roster during his final media availability of the 2023-2024 season. A drastic makeover could be just beyond the horizon and I’m here to provide a mini blueprint.
Comprehensive Rebuild
It is time for a comprehensive overhaul of the roster to reset the contract timeline and accelerate a comprehensive rebuilding plan. After enduring several disappointing seasons, the moment has come to part ways with Zach LaVine. LaVine offered just 25 starts this season before sustaining a season-ending ankle injury. Once LaVine progresses through injury recovery protocols, trading him could help release north of $89 million in cap space. This decision has been pending for some time, and the team should have considered trading the six-foot-seven guard before or by the Feb. 8 trade deadline. While it may be unlikely, fans across the Chicago Metropolitan area would welcome the idea of trading center Nikola Vucevic, who’s relatively limited in respects to the order of NBA starting centers. Vucevic is a defensive liability who hovers around No. 47 in block shots amongst active centers, averaging a less-than-modest 0.8 per game. DeMar DeRozan has been a standout performer on the court and is known for his effective mid-range shooting and scoring abilities. However, moving an aging DeRozan is more of a cap casualty than it is a burning need as the California native commands the second-highest per year averages on the roster.
As part of the roster restructuring, it is crucial to consider replacing head coach Billy Donovan. While Donovan isn’t a poor coach by any account, he has not secured any notable achievements since making the Western Conference Finals during his time with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He’s six games below .500 as head coach of the Chicago Bulls and has missed the postseason for the second consecutive season. Although Donovan and the Bulls presented a formidable challenge in the Eastern Conference during the first half of the 2021-2022 season, they blanked following Lonzo Ball's injury, falling to the eighth seed after leading the Eastern Conference and ended up getting swept in the First Round of the playoffs. Several potential candidates such as Nate McMillan, Stan Van Gundy, or Dwane Casey could add a much-needed dynamic to the coaching staff.
Potential Targets
Freeing up much-needed cap space, the Bulls should bolster the roster with much-needed youth through free agency, trade, and of course, the NBA Draft. A name to consider is New Orleans Pelicans shooting guard Brandon Ingram, who's been at the heart of trade speculation since being swept in the Western Conference First Round against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Ingram replenishes savvy veteran wisdom in the event of moving off of DeRozan, LaVine, and Vucevic, at just 26 years old and remains an effective scorer of the basketball. Looking at the draft, the Bulls were awarded the No. 11 overall which, albeit weak relative to previous classes, could be spent on a true difference-maker. A name worth mentioning is Purdue's Zach Edey, who dominated March Madness headlines. Edey became the third men's basketball player since the 2002-03 season to achieve 31 games with 25 or more points and 10 or more rebounds. With a remarkable 98.0 defensive rating and a total of 69 blocks last season, he stands out as a potent force in the paint. The Bulls would be unwise to overlook the opportunity to add a traditional paint protector like Edey to their roster, especially considering their mediocre defensive efficiency with just a -0.1 block differential and finishing 16th as a unit. While the team has various other potential draft needs, free-agent options, and trade targets to evaluate, one thing remains clear: a rebuilding phase is necessary for the Bulls to progress.
