Chicago Bulls: How to find their way out of perpetual sadness

The Chicago Bulls have been stuck in a seemingly never-ending cycle of sadness for multiple years. Who needs to take ownership of what’s going on in the organization?

The Chicago Bulls are a funny team. Not funny in the same charming way that the Golden State Warriors are funny, though. The Bulls are funny in a unique way.

If you’re still a fan of the team, the Bulls are funny in a way that makes you laugh quietly under your breath because you’re tired of being sad. If you’re simply a general NBA fan, the Bulls are funny because they constantly provide you with hilarious headlines.

Per K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune, Bulls guard Zach LaVine seems to know exactly where the team is at.

"“The NBA, the things that’s going on with us, we’re looked down upon,” LaVine said."

At least LaVine has a high level of self-awareness and realizes that the Bulls are a joke among NBA circles. But still, you never want your star player to have to say the words “we’re looked down upon.” That’s not fun to hear.

This was supposed to be the season that the Bulls took a step forward in the rebuild. We were supposed to see the best basketball that Zach LaVine, Lauri Markkanen and Kris Dunn have ever played. While all three of those guys have had some incredible games, the Bulls as a unit have backslid.

Maybe the backslide is because of injuries, maybe it’s because of coaching. Either way, the Bulls are currently 11-39 and look like a much worse team this year than they were last year.

One thing the Bulls aren’t getting from their opponents is respect. Other struggling teams like the Washington Wizards, Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies at least have earned the respect of their opponents when they have to play them. Not the Bulls, though. I can’t imagine opposing teams feel anything but glee when the Bulls come to town.

So how do the Bulls get out of this rut? How do they become a respectable team again? It all starts with Jerry Reinsdorf.

Most Bulls fans are frustrated with the front office. Bulls nation has been calling for the jobs of Gar Forman and John Paxson for years. But who keeps giving them the responsibilities that they have? Jerry Reinsdorf. Who still thinks they’re well-suited for the jobs that they have? Jerry Reinsdorf.

If the Bulls want to find their way out of the perpetually sad state that they’re in, there has to be a moment of realization for top dog Jerry Reinsdorf. He needs to fill the organization with qualified people who understand the modern era of basketball. No more letting his front office hire coaches who refuse to get out of the ’90s, no more letting his front office make weird off-season decisions.

Gar Forman, John Paxson and Jim Boylen simply aren’t cutting it. Until changes are made, the Bulls aren’t going anywhere.