Chicago Bulls: The value of returning to the playoffs

It’s easy to think tanking is the best strategy for a team that isn’t contending for a championship. But for a young team like the Chicago Bulls, making the playoffs would provide immense value.

The concept of “tanking” has taken over the NBA. Sure, the Philadelphia 76ers have made it work (if you consider whatever they’re doing to be “working”), and sure, tanking definitely has its place in the league. But tanking can only take a team so far. At some point, it’s time to win. 

The Brooklyn Nets are a good example of a team that knew when it was time to stop tanking and win some ball games. Coming into this season, they had a roster full of inexperience and potential. Instead of fixating on the inexperience, they focused on the potential. And now, because of their decision to leave tanking behind (and some luck, of course), they can no longer say that inexperience is a problem.

Yes, Brooklyn lost in five games to a much more talented Sixers club, but they had one of the most productive seasons of any team in the league. No more trying to figure out what/who they have on their roster. They know who they are now. They have established good players like Spencer Dinwiddie, Jarrett Allen, Joe Harris, D’Angelo Russell and Caris LeVert – guys that other teams either gave up on or didn’t want in the first place. In other words, the Nets have an identity – arguably the most important thing a team can possess.

The Chicago Bulls are still looking for their identity – and that’s okay. There’s no set date on when they have to figure everything out by, but it’s time to start pushing forward instead of settling for high draft pick after high draft pick.

It would’ve been easy for the Nets to throw themselves in the tanking race during the 2018-19 season. All they would’ve had to do was give up on the season after starting 8-18.

If you’ve watched enough of teams trying to tank, then you know what it looks like. D’Angelo Russell and Jarrett Allen probably would have been involved in some heavy “load management,” and Caris LeVert probably would’ve taken the rest of the season off after suffering a gruesome injury in November instead of returning to the court in February.

The Bulls need to follow in the footsteps of Brooklyn. In some ways, they already have. Outside of the last few weeks of the season, the Bulls actually weren’t tanking. They were trying to win games, which is almost more embarrassing given the result of many of the games. But they also need to follow Brooklyn’s resiliency and dedication – two things the Bulls haven’t had in years.

I don’t think anyone is questioning whether or not the Bulls want to make the playoffs next year. They definitely do. But as fans, it’s time to recognize the value that any sort of playoff experience – no matter how short-lived – can bring a young team.

When you have a team of veterans that isn’t trending in the right direction – like the Charlotte Hornets (or the Bulls prior to the Jimmy Butler trade) – then sure, trade your top guys away for some future assets and be frustrated with mediocrity. But it’s time to stop thinking of the playoffs as useless just because you aren’t a championship contender. Mediocrity would be outstanding for the Bulls right now.

The Nets weren’t the only team to throw tanking away in hopes of returning to the playoffs. The Orlando Magic did the same thing. Like the Nets, they lost in five games to a superior team, but their short playoff run was by no means a waste of time. Young guys like Jonathan Isaac and Aaron Gordon now have playoff experience under their belts for whenever the Magic are ready to make some real noise.

The Bulls need to pull out all the stops to make the playoffs next year. Maybe that means spending some money on vets to deepen the bench. Maybe it means being buyers instead of sellers at the trade deadline. Maybe it means looking at buy-out candidates to add to the roster. There are plenty of ways to add winning players to a team full of young guys. The Bulls just haven’t done it yet.

Next year is the year. Zach LaVine needs playoff experience. Lauri Markkanen needs playoff experience. The whole Bulls franchise needs to return to the playoffs. It’s crucial for the future of this ball club.