Are the Chicago Bulls becoming the new Orlando Magic?

Since the trade deadline saw the Chicago Bulls try and dramatically upgrade the roster back on March 25, the results in the win column have not consistently followed. The Bulls hold a record of 3-7 in their 10 games since the trade deadline. It’s unacceptable that first-year head coach Billy Donovan and the Bulls are not holding their own despite a few big acquisitions last month.

Star big man Nikola Vucevic has played well, but not even up to the same level that he did with the Orlando Magic earlier this season. Really the only new acquisition for the Bulls that has played at a higher level in Chicago than he did with his previous team is the former Boston Celtics center Daniel Theis.

To get Vooch, the Bulls made a deadline day deal with the Orlando Magic. The Bulls snagged Vooch and forward Al-Farouq Aminu from the Magic in exchange for two first round draft picks, third-year center Wendell Carter Jr., and veteran small forward Otto Porter Jr.

While that deal still looks good in terms of how it helps the Bulls roster win now, hopefully, it doesn’t amount to looking back with 20/20 hindsight. Looking back on the Jimmy Butler trade that the Bulls pulled off back during the 2017 offseason doesn’t look great today, despite the rise to stardom of first-time All-Star shooting guard Zach LaVine.

The Bulls didn’t get a whole lot out of Aminu yet, as his role in the deal appeared to be more of one to help match salaries. He’s only played in one game out of 10 for the Bulls since arriving in the Windy City at the trade deadline.

Nikola Vucevic isn’t helping the Chicago Bulls trend in the right direction

In their last three games, the Bulls had opportunities to continue a winning streak that was built up to three games in the week prior. The Bulls fell short on April 12 to the Memphis Grizzlies 101-90, 121-117 to the Minnesota Timberwolves on April 11, and 120-108 to the Atlanta Hawks on April 9.

Donovan and the Bulls had a shot to beat each of those teams that they could hold an edge against. It is largely unacceptable for the Bulls to be losing three straight games to teams like the last-place Timberwolves, Hawks, and injured Grizzlies.

Moreover, LaVine’s effectiveness has fallen off a bit since the All-Star Break, but he’s still productive in most games. The problem that LaVine is facing of late is coming through for the Bulls when they need it most in crunch time.

And the Bulls aren’t getting the ball in the hands of Vooch when it matters most late in games either. Really the only time they’re able to do that is when other defenses know exactly what is coming and can effectively put a double-team on him.

Even if the Bulls are able to turn it all around here soon, it doesn’t feel like this current team’s ceiling is much higher than a middling playoff team in the Eastern Conference. The Bulls did mortgage part of their future in this trade with the Magic.

Ironically, if the Bulls do wind up becoming a middling team in the East this year, then they will turn into a team that was in a very similar situation to the Magic pre-trade deadline. The Magic were one of the most notable mediocre teams in the East in the last few years.

In each of the past two seasons, the Magic finished in seventh place in the standings in the East. And that just led them to early first round exits both years. That’s not the situation that the Bulls want to find themselves in the near future.

The Bulls currently sit in 10th place in the standings in the East, following their April 12 loss to the Grizzlies. They currently sport a record of 22-31, which places them in the picture to get the final seed for the NBA’s play-in tournament next month.

What is also ironic about comparing the current Bulls roster to Magic teams from the past two years is that these two teams meet on the hardwood on April 14. Tip-off time between the Bulls and Magic is set for 7 p.m. CT at home at the United Center in Chicago.