Chicago Bulls: Former players don’t view this as destination for top free agents
The city of Chicago may be home to the mecca for basketball and is the latest city to host the NBA’s All-Star Weekend, but some former NBA players say they are less inclined, or decline altogether, to make mention of the Chicago Bulls organization as a destination for top free agents.
Here’s a look at how the All-Star break gave fans of the Chicago Bulls and the NBA alike something to takeaway from the experience.
The company behind the mobile app dubbed Posterized: The Experience, in partnership with the Hometown Host Committee, hosted an invitation-only event last week to give people the opportunity to get into the spirit of the weekend.
Among those at the event were Kenyon Martin, Antoine Walker, Tim Hardaway Sr. and Shawn Marion.
The last time Chicago hosted the NBA’s All-Star Weekend was 1988. At that time, Michael Jordan represented the city well by winning the All-Star Game MVP honor. This time, the Bulls were represented by Zach LaVine in the three-point shooting contest and Wendell Carter Jr. in the Rising Stars Challenge.
Nazr Mohammed, a member of the Hometown Host Committee, had this to say of the league bringing the All-Star Weekend back to Chicago.
"“Honestly, I am surprised it has taken 30 years for the game to come back to Chicago,” he said. “From a basketball standpoint, Chicago is a mecca of basketball. And, being from Chicago, of course, I am biased, but there is no better city than Chicago to host any event. I just wish All-Star was in the summertime.”"
The All-Star Weekend did not come without its share of issues for the Bulls. During that time, the organization started trending on Twitter over rants made by the fan base calling for the firing of Gar/Pax.
Why, you ask?
It’s no secret the Bulls are in the middle of a rebuild, trying to develop young talent to help entice top free agents to sign with the team. The team hasn’t had much luck to make that possible in recent years.
When asked if the Chicago Bulls is viewed as a destination for top free agents, Walker had this to say.
"“I do not think Chicago is a free agent destination because they haven’t yet shown that they’ve been able to attract big free agents,” he said. “They don’t really go after big time free agents. I think without a big name coach and no big time players makes it very difficult to go after free agents. I think they do have some young talent on their team that they’re going to keep and start building around. … Free agents are not looking at Chicago as a place that they want to come play. It’s unfortunate because we have such a great city, a great fan base, people here will get behind you and support you, but since Derrick Rose, it’s been a stale mate.”"
Mohammed declined to comment when asked the same question, only saying he is “currently front office staff member Scout and Advisor of Oklahoma City Thunder.”
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Walker shared what he believes the Bulls need to do moving forward.
"“They’re just going to have to do a better job of developing their talent, which I do believe they have a couple guys on their team that could be really good,” Walker said. “You have to be willing to spend the money on the big time free agents.”"