There’s an old proverb that states “a bad workman will never find a good tool”. The Chicago Bulls appear to be living that reality.
Chicago Bulls management recently fell into a familiar refrain when discussing this season. The trade deadline came and went without so much as a peep from the Bulls, and John Paxson spoke with reporters about why. Health was a big factor with 60 percent of their starters with Lauri Markkanen, Otto Porter, and Wendell Carter (as well as key reserve Kris Dunn) shelved.
It’s a valid argument but it’s the same one he’s spouted since Derrick Rose. The extra patience afforded to this front office has caused this to be an all too frequent occurrence. Worse still, it points to a larger issue at hand.
One that comes up often just to be brushed aside as nonsense from the organization.
Same Shtick, Different Day
The Bulls, dealing with multiple injuries, limped into the All-Star break several games out of the playoffs. Sound familiar? That’s because it was a large part of the story surrounding this team last year as they struggled to a 5-19 start and a coaching change. The blame then obviously went on Fred Hoiberg.
This time around, Jim Boylen has dodged any real criticism from the powers that be. Instead, Paxson blames the product on the floor. Isn’t he just revealing himself to be the poor workman?
At the 24-game mark this season Chicago was three games ahead of their pace when they fired Hoiberg. They fancied themselves as playoff contenders despite their rough start and current standing. Were they to find themselves in the postseason somehow, it’s hard to see them getting a game off of the Milwaukee Bucks, Toronto Raptors, or Boston Celtics.
It stood to reason, then, that they’d be looking to divest some assets in an attempt to load up for another rebuild. Or at least unload some lesser-used (and clearly unwanted) pieces to a contender.
Nope.
Justifying and Normalizing
Paxson reaffirmed his commitment to the Bulls core. A core of Markkanen, Carter, and rookie Coby White. Who else was mentioned in that group? Zach LaVine, the closest thing the Bulls have to an All-Star. LaVine’s standing in the organization’s eyes was in question heading into the deadline.
LaVine’s exclusion from the All-Star roster was met with mixed reaction. Regardless, the host city of the All-Star Game not having a representative in the exhibition (barring injury replacement) is a bad look. The same goes for his omission from the Olympic roster. Whether it’s worse for the player or franchise is debatable but it doesn’t help either. At least he’s in the three-point contest.
Now the Bulls sit at 19-36 and were just leapfrogged in the standings by an equally depleted Washington Wizards team and five games out of the playoff picture.
Not that a mid-season turnaround was in the cards, but hearing that the organization is awaiting the return of it injured players to build back optimism is in itself very depressing. Not just because it’s the same story as last year. Not because it means dealing with another middling season in basketball hell. But because most on the outside don’t need to see anymore.
They want changes.
Hope Springs Eternal
Imagine the tepid joy fans experienced when word broke that changes could be on the way for the Bulls, particularly with John Paxson and his role. Paxson has been in charge for over a decade with less than mediocre results. The edict is only about five years behind the sentiments of the majority of the fanbase.
Still, a rearrangement of the organizational structure could be beneficial. It appears to be working for Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf’s favorite organization, the Chicago White Sox. They moved Kenny Williams (who’s tenure was viewed much like Paxson’s is) away from the on-field decisions and seem to be on the path to relevance once again.
The Bulls can only dream.
Save for rumors about his holding his baseball team in higher regard than his basketball one, Reinsdorf’s feelings about the state of the team are basically a mystery. We can only assume he is mostly ok with it because no real changes have been made outside of coaching changes that fall under Paxson’s jurisdiction. Could the rumors mean Jerry (or his son Michael) is fed up?
Only time will tell.