After years of remaining in the middle of the Eastern Conference, the Chicago Bulls may have finally pivoted toward rebuilding.
With their recent trade of Zach LaVine and a focus on developing young talent, the organization has shifted its priorities toward the future. As the season progresses, the Bulls’ struggles have positioned them for a high draft pick, potentially setting the stage for a new era in Chicago basketball.
The Move That Signaled a Bulls Rebuild
On Feb. 2, 2025, the Chicago Bulls made a franchise-altering move.
The aforementioned LaVine trade netted the Bulls Kevin Huerter, Tre Jones, Zach Collins, and their own 2025 first-round pick (via Spurs).
This would be the Bulls’ only trade throughout the trade deadline. While some believed more offloading was necessary to truly embrace the tank, it hasn’t— at least thus far.
Importance of Retaining Own 2025 First-Round Pick
The Bulls retaining their own 2025 first-round pick was more significant than many fans realize.
Back in the 2021 offseason, the Bulls finalized a sign-and-trade to acquire DeMar DeRozan, sending Thaddeus Young and Al-Farouq Aminu along with a top-10 protected 2025 first-round pick to San Antonio.
This is the same first-round pick the Bulls retained to offload Zach LaVine’s contract to the Kings, but now without protections. This allows them full access to all their future first-round picks and the freedom to lose games without worrying about sending their pick to the Spurs if it falls outside the top 10 in the NBA draft lottery.
Bulls’ Post-Trade Struggles
Since trading LaVine, the Bulls have gone 1-7 and have lost six straight— including a game against the Detroit Pistons, where they trailed 71-29 at halftime.
As of Feb. 24, the Bulls are 22-35 and are on the brink of losing their play-in spot. If the season ended today, the Bulls would head into the NBA lottery with the eighth-best odds, giving them a 26.3% chance at a top-4 pick and a 6.0% chance at landing the number one overall pick.
Path To a Higher Draft Pick
If the Bulls’ current losing trend continues, climbing to the fifth-best lottery odds is not out of reach, as they sit just four games behind the Raptors for that spot.
With 25 games remaining in the 2024-25 NBA regular season, the Bulls must focus on developing their young players to improve their draft position. In a star-studded draft featuring players such as Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper, Ace Bailey, and more, landing one of these players could significantly accelerate their rebuild and help them escape NBA mediocrity.
Priority Of Matas Buzelis’ Development
In the meantime, the development of rookie Matas Buzelis has become a focal point for the remainder of the Bulls season.
Buzelis has quietly emerged as one of the top-performing rookies in recent weeks, benefiting from a significant increase in playing time. Over his last ten games, he has averaged 13.3 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.2 blocks per game, which includes a career-high 24 points on a perfect 10-for-10 shooting against the Heat on Feb. 4.
Buzelis’ performance has been a bright spot for the Bulls during a rough rebuilding period.
Looking Ahead: A New Era for the Bulls
As the Bulls embrace their rebuilding phase, all eyes will be on their young talent and draft position in the coming months.
Retaining their 2025 first-round pick and developing younger players like Matas Buzelis provide hope for the future. With a potential top draft pick on the horizon, the Bulls have a real chance to build a foundation for long-term success.
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