It’s the first time since 2009 that the Chicago Bulls will not have an All-Star player. So who could the next Bulls All-Star be?
Amidst the frustrating rebuild, fans can find solace in looking toward the future. The funny thing about the future, is that it is inhabited by an infinite amount of uncertainties. Perhaps the largest uncertainty the Bulls face is who the storied franchise can count on to usher in a new era of legitimacy.
There are four paths in which the player or players could come from. The first, and most obvious route, would be players already on the squad. Young guns Lauri Markkanen, Kris Dunn, and Zach LaVine could all be the next to don the All-Star duds.
Lauri Markkanen is having a good season
Lauri Markkanen has been an overshadowed rookie of the year candidate. To this point he has flashed the potential to one day become an elite big. He must obviously first make a leap on the defensive end and polish his post game. At the end of the day Markkanen is a sweet shooting post player who puts up 15 and seven a night at only 20 years old.
Kris Dunn has showed up this season
Kris Dunn is an aggressive point guard with an elite defensive skill set. Yes, he is prone to taking risks and committing the occasional infuriating turnovers. Those same fiery instincts and reckless abandon are what give him a shot to become a great player. As he learns to reign in and channel that aggressive energy, Dunn will continue to earn league wide admiration.
Zach LaVine can become big time
Zach LaVine is an interesting piece who could be the wild card in the Chicago rebuild. The fourth year guard out of UCLA is a special athlete with what appears to be the makings of a potentially elite scorer. The ACL injury he recently returned from muddies the waters a bit, but in limited action in the five games he has played LaVine appears to be well on his way to returning to his high-flying self. If he can stay healthy and put it all together he has a chance to become a special player in the Windy City.
Could it be a player not currently on the roster?
An out of house solution may also be in order. While recent history hasn’t exactly been kind to the Bulls regarding free agency, Chicago is still a large market with an exciting young core. All-Star caliber players could be persuaded to play in Head Coach Fred Hoiberg‘s space and pace offense. Especially since at this point the Bulls sorely lack a true number one option.
An All Star might even come in the form of a trade as early as this season’s trade deadline. Nikola Mirotic is likely to be moved, and you never know what any new player can do in a system that lacks a star clear star player (see Victor Oladipo). While new blood could prove to be effective, what the Bulls are truly after is a first round pick.
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The upcoming draft class is deep and comparable to this years class that has featured several legitimately good young players. All stars could be any and everywhere in this field, and having an additional pick only strengthens the chances of hitting it big.
It is unclear at this point in time where the next great All-Star for this team will come from. It is clear that the Bulls must be aggressive in developing their in-house talent and in pursuing great talent.