Pippen Ain't Easy
Fansided

Why do we, the fans, care if the 2017-18 Chicago Bulls are any good?

By Willie Lutz

CHICAGO - APRIL 25: Actor Jeremy Piven jokes with 'Benny the Bull,' the mascot of the Chicago Bulls, during a time out between the Bulls and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at the United Center on April 25, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Cavaliers defeated the Bulls 121-98. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO - APRIL 25: Actor Jeremy Piven jokes with 'Benny the Bull,' the mascot of the Chicago Bulls, during a time out between the Bulls and the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals during the 2010 NBA Playoffs at the United Center on April 25, 2010 in Chicago, Illinois. The Cavaliers defeated the Bulls 121-98. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /
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It’s now 50 days until the Chicago Bulls tip off with the Toronto Raptors, but it seems it’ll begin a run of ugly losses. However, I do not care in the slightest bit.

Last season, the Chicago Bulls were, in summation, not that fun to watch.

Now, any Bulls fan feels a fondness to the fun of watching basketball, ah-la Michael Jordan & co., but come on. Without a change, this team was going to be another slice of school cafeteria pizza.

Come to think of it, if you subtract a Rajon Rondo from that picture, shoot 30 less 3s, and those playoff Bulls are unwatchable. Furthermore, nothing about the 35-year-old Dwyane Wade exactly made me skip a late class.

Face it, you’re not actually that mad with the Bulls’ bright-and-obivous rebuild poster.

So, I posed the question in the title: what’s it to us, the United Center sell-out loyalists, if our squad stinks for a season or two?

Often lost with history…

This franchise has the third-most championships in the history of the league. This is the franchise of Michael Jordan, who may be the most popular athlete of all-time. If the money is there, free agents will wear red.

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Chicago, as a whole, is a pretty appealing destination thanks to the culture of the city. I mean, the food… oh, the food… and it’s just cool. Despite front office concerns (we’ll get there), it’s a great place to live.

Plus, you get to be on TV a lot and you ALWAYS win on TNT. I hope 2018 free agents Boogie Cousins and Isaiah Thomas are watching.

Additionally, this team doesn’t draft that poorly. Let’s not forget that Derrick Rose (we see you, Rose Bros) was a nasty injury away from being an annual All-Star lock. Despite moving him quickly, this team did draft LaMarcus Aldridge. This team found Jimmy Butler at pick No. 30 in 2011. Taj Gibson at No. 26 in 2009 is a great pick.

Moving forward, suppose the Bulls can make a few micro-moves and grab some late-first rounders in upcoming drafts. That’s not a bad bargain, based on history. Hopefully, they can grab something nice with an early pick from this season, then you’re really looking groovy.

It’s not always that easy, Willie!

While I make a pretty convincing case, at least to myself, that this rebuild nonsense is a quick out, I could also see why a backfire would be a really big bummer.

GarPax trading Jimmy Butler is still a really bad trade. So was the 2014 Draft Night swap of Gary Harris, Jusuf Nurkic and a 2015 second-rounder for Doug McDermott and Anthony Randolph. Like, the Jimmy Buckets trade could net better, but that other one? Come on.

I mean, a lineup, in essence, of Rajon Rondo (or an even better point guard, thanks to a non-Wade economic situation), Gary Harris, Jimmy Butler, Jusuf Nurkic and Robin Lopez lineup sounds fun. Honestly, I’d be willing to give that team the benefit of time for growth to a contender.

Next: Cameron Payne to undergo another foot surgery, out until at least late November

While we were about to be left with something bland, at least now there’s some salt and pepper, perhaps some crushed red pepper left on the table. Maybe now, we’re a few seasons away from a well-seasoned, but creative roster.

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