The Chicago Bulls are built for this year, next year, and beyond
The Chicago Bulls have undergone a serious transformation over the past two seasons with Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley. They rid themselves of Jim Boylen ahead of last season and moved on from several young pieces in Wendell Carter Jr. and others last season bring in Nikola Vucevic and a few other pieces.
This offseason, they continued what might be the fastest makeover in team history by landing Lonzo Ball, DeMar DeRozan, Alex Caruso, and on Wednesday they added 23-year-old big man Tony Bradley.
What they’ve effectively done is protect themselves this coming season, next season regardless of what happens with Zach LaVine, and in the future as a destination for free agents.
The Chicago Bulls have had one of the best offseasons in the NBA and maybe team history
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There’s been more mixed reaction to what the Bulls did than is deserved. This was a homerun offseason, and that isn’t overstating things. The addition of Ball gives them a pair of young players to build around with his progression and the anticipated growth of Patrick Williams.
It also gives them protection no matter if LaVine re-ups with the team or decides to leave for greener pastures. He recently spoke of wanting his next deal to show proper respect.
Trading for DeRozan gives the Bulls a legit third option on offense with LaVine and, along with Vooch, the makings of the next trio should he the scoring dynamo leave following the 2021-22 season.
If his tweet following Tuesday’s action is any indication, though, LaVine is feeling the moves which only increases the odds he’ll re-sign.
https://twitter.com/ZachLaVine/status/1422731288407019524
The questions people have are understandable. None of LaVine, Vucevic, or DeRozan are great or even good defenders. DeRozan is also a non-shooter from deep range. He also has the reputation of not being able to carry the load in the postseason.
Well, he won’t have to with LaVine and Vucevic both being top-10 in shot attempts last season.
Lastly, Ball’s passing is better in transition than the halfcourt, which doesn’t necessarily jibe with Vucevic who is a stud in the post.
Except, LaVine, Vucevic, and Ball can all operate as shooters in the halfcourt offense. LaVine and DeRozan can work primarily off screens and as cutters around Vucevic as a hub at the top of the key.
And we saw the value of the mid-range shot — a DeRozan specialty — during this past postseason.
The Bulls didn’t stop, adding on-the-rise big man Tony Bradley on Wednesday.
He should capably replace what the Bulls lost by trading Daniel Gafford last season and do even more on the offensive side. That Chicago snagged him for a minimum contract further goes to show how shrewd they have been despite spending a hefty sum on their targets.
Patrick Williams will be the defensive anchor for the starters, and that’s a scary proposition for a second-year player. But he was drawing praise from the top dogs as a rookie. He’ll be fine.
Alex Caruso, Coby White, Troy Brown, and Marko Simonovic would figure to round out the Bulls bench and, suddenly, it’s a group with capable shooting and hard-nosed defense.
Next. Chicago Bulls: 3 remaining free agents that fit perfect with Lonzo Ball. dark
At this point, if you don’t like what the Bulls have done, you’re better off waiting for the next regime. Nothing Karnisovas and Eversley have done would suggest that time is coming anytime soon though.