As we approach the NBA All-Star break and, more importantly, the NBA trade deadline, it’s critical for the Chicago Bulls to look in the mirror.
Coming into a season with many questions and speculation, Bulls fans have been clamoring for this team to move to get out of the middle. As of Jan. 26, the Bulls sit at 10th in the Eastern Conference standings with a mediocre record of 19-27. This leaves the team squarely in the play-in picture where they have finished the past two seasons.
Here, we will examine the team and how they have graded out through the first half of the season.
Coaching
While the results have been the same this year, the Bulls are playing with a new identity.
Billy Donovan and his staff have increased the tempo and encouraged the team to shoot more three-pointers. This up-tempo, run-and-gun style has led to the team’s ranking in the top 10 in the league in points, field goals, and three-pointers.
A top-10 offense is excellent, but basketball has two phases, and with the team being in the bottom third in defensive rating and points allowed, it’s clear why the team has struggled to be consistent. However, with the team needing their pick to fall into the top 10 in the draft lottery, this may be ideal as the Bulls look to take advantage of a loaded draft class.
Grade: C+
Front Office
Executive Vice President Arturas Karnisovas and his General Manager Marc Eversley have taken their lumps.
They have generally not made many sweeping changes to the roster and have been patient in letting things play out. This past offseason, they made two big moves: Offloaded Alex Caruso for Josh Giddey, sent out All-Star guard DeMar DeRozan, and netted two second-round picks, plus guard Chris Duarte.
These moves, along with the selection of 19-year-old Matas Buzelis in the 2024 NBA Draft, signaled what many thought would be a youth movement in the Windy City. However, the youth movement may be on pause, as Buzelis has only averaged 12.7 minutes while flashing his potential in limited minutes.
It is challenging to develop an entire grade, as the front office has yet to commit to a complete rebuild and thus holds onto its best assets: swingman Zach LaVine and big man Nikola Vucevic.
Grade: C (but could go up if they net some assets in a LaVine or Vucevic deal)
Bulls Top Performer: Zach LaVine
Zach LaVine is having one of the most efficient seasons of his career.
He is shooting career highs from both the field and from three. LaVine continues to prove to the league that lower extremities are healthy and can contribute to a winning team. While his offense has been top-notch, he has also looked engaged and active on defense, dispelling any talk of being an empty-calorie scorer.
Reports show that LaVine wants to stay with the Bulls past the deadline, but whatever jersey he is wearing after Feb. 6, he has demonstrated that his injuries are behind him and that he is playing his best ball.
Grade: B+
https://twitter.com/EnjoyBBall/status/1884290541715935563
Bulls Top “Underclassman” (<25 years old): Josh Giddey
The Bulls’ significant off-season addition has been as advertised.
After this year, he looks set to earn a pay increase when he enters restricted free agency. His style of play and size have fit in with his new team, and his nose for rebounds is already putting him in the franchise record books. While his shot is still inconsistent, and his defense can sometimes be spotty, his age and upside should keep him in the Bulls’ long-term plans.
Grade: B-
https://twitter.com/NBA_AU/status/1884119330406949210
Overall team grade: C
Overall, the Bulls can’t grade much higher than average.
They currently sit in a play-in position and have not had a winning streak over three games this season. However, on nights when their shots are falling, they have displayed that they can beat any team with wins over the Bucks, Celtics, Grizzlies, and Knicks. In that same breath, they can also lose to any team, with losses coming from the Hornets, Nets, Jazz, and Wizards.
Until this team makes some moves and commits to winning with this current core or breaking them up and trying to rebuild with younger players, they seem destined for another play-in exit in April.
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