The times are changing for the Chicago Bulls, and there are players still around with this team that don’t look like they will be here for much longer. That is the case for a lot of the pieces acquired by the former front office pairing of John Paxson and Gar Forman. The direction of the franchise is going to be much different now under the leadership of executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley.
The Bulls are also still hoping to land a spot in the play-in tournament later this month. Currently sitting with a record of 29-39, and riding a three-game winning streak, the play-in tournament will be tough to make but is still possible.
Ahead of their meeting with the Brooklyn Nets on May 11, the Bulls sit 2.5 games back of the Washington Wizards and three of the Indiana Pacers for that final spot in the play-in tournament. They only have four games remaining in the regular season, so the Bulls really can’t afford to lose another game. And they’ll essentially need either the Pacers or Wizards to lose out.
Which Chicago Bulls are meshing with Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic?
Moreover, given the slim odds still for the Bulls to make it to the postseason, there’s just as much focus placed on building the roster up this offseason as there is what’s left this season. The Bulls have a star duo in center Nikola Vucevic and shooting guard Zach LaVine that gives this team a more legitimate foundation to build a contender around than they’ve had since Jimmy Butler was traded four years ago.
Karnisovas and Eversley have already altered the roster a good bit to build around the likes of LaVine and Vucevic, but it’s clear that further change is needed. Here’s a look at three Bulls players that could soon be let go that aren’t the best fit with LaVine and Vucevic.
Tomas Satoransky, CG
Sitting on a rather team-friendly contract, and bits and pieces of productive stretches over the course of his two years in Chicago, combo guard Tomas Satoransky is one of the Bulls’ very tradeable players in the near future. Sato did hold the starting role at the one for the Bulls over second-year point guard Coby White. But he has since lost that starting spot.
It doesn’t seem like the Bulls’ future point guard for this building starting unit is going to be either Sato or White. Given that along with the need to add a point guard this offseason, Sato might not be around in the Windy City for much longer.
I’ll be the first to admit that Sato still offers a lot of value in pretty much every NBA rotation. But his role just won’t be long-term for the Bulls and Karnisovas and Eversley already proved they won’t hesitate to trade key players for this team when the right deal presents itself.
At this point, I’d say it’s a coin flip’s chance as to whether Sato is still with the Bulls next season. Sato will be in the final year of his current contract next season, and it is only partially guaranteed. And if the Bulls plan on bringing in at least one point guard this offseason, while also keeping White around, the role of Sato would continue to decrease.
What also doesn’t help Sato’s case is the fact that he hasn’t played at his best down the stretch. Post-All-Star Break, nearly all of Sato’s shooting percentages and advanced metrics have dropped. And while he’s maintained his averages in terms of points per game, rebounds, and assists, since then, his turnovers have also skyrocketed.
For some reason, Sato’s numbers just haven’t picked up since the Bulls landed Vooch at the trade deadline.
Lauri Markkanen, PF
About the most hotly discussed Bulls player heading into the offseason is the former lottery pick and fourth-year power forward Lauri Markkanen. With the seven-footer and former Arizona Wildcat Markkanen set to become a restricted free agent this offseason, he could have a number of suitors after him. And that could lead to opportunities for the Bulls to execute on a sign-and-trade deal.
The length, versatility, and floor spacing ability of Markkanen still makes him a highly sought-after commodity in the modern NBA. There’s going to be some team out there that really buys into what he brings to the table. It just doesn’t look like he is the best fit with first-year head coach Billy Donovan along with the team’s star duo of LaVine and Vooch.
The writing on the wall is there for the lottery picks from the GarPax regime. Karnisovas and Eversley shipped off the likes of third-year center Wendell Carter Jr., second-year center Daniel Gafford, and former Vanderbilt Commodores big man Luke Kornet at the trade deadline. Markkanen could very well be next.
It was a known fact for a good while now that the Bulls’ new front office regime didn’t have significant long-term plans for Markkanen. They had a chance last offseason to sign him to a contract extension and elected not to. He also swirled in trade rumors ahead of the deadline back in March.
Just like with Sato, Markkanen’s shooting percentages and advanced metrics are down almost across the board post-All-Star Break. But the even more concerning aspect for Markkanen is that his counting stats are down too.
Thaddeus Young, F
The most difficult name I had to put on this list among those Bulls players that weren’t the greatest fits with the star duo of LaVine and Vooch is the veteran 32-year-old forward and New Orleans, LA, native Thaddeus Young. He’s one of the most versatile and efficient Bulls players this season, and that deserves to be commended.
Including Young on this list does nothing to take away from his stellar 2020-21 campaign he’s had in his second year with the Bulls. Donovan did a lot to elevate Young’s game, and that shouldn’t be overlooked. The overall value that Young brings to the table for almost any NBA team has greatly elevated since the start of the season.
The problem that both Young and the Bulls face in the near future is figuring out where his role lies with the team. His contract will pay him more than $14 million next season, which is a lot if the Bulls don’t plan on keeping him in the starting five. And it’s hard to shake the feeling that Young’s spot in the rotation felt displaced after the Bulls landed Vooch and center Daniel Theis at the deadline.
Another problem is that Young’s numbers have dropped significantly since the All-Star Break. While other Bulls players like White and rookie forward Patrick Williams have picked up the pace since the All-Star Break, this trio of Bulls players on this list have not. Young’s assist-to-turnover ratio, assists per game, true shooting percentage, and offensive rating, have all dropped since the All-Star Break.