These former Chicago Bulls players highlighted the failures of the GarPax regime.
Kris Dunn
Once a top-five draft pick and prized piece of the Chicago Bulls’ attempt at a post-Jimmy Butler rebuild, Kris Dunn has fallen from grace in recent years. He’s bounced around the league ever since the Bulls decided to not extend his contract, including stops in Atlanta, Boston, Portland, and the G League. Dunn has only played 17 games in the two years since leaving Chicago, and is currently still a free agent. Given that his offense never caught up to his incredible defensive prowess, it’s hard to envision a place for him in today’s NBA.
Chandler Hutchison
Although frequently likened to being a “Baby Scottie Pippen” by fans, Chandler Hutchison would never even come close to making good on those comparisons. He’d be traded away while still on his rookie contract after two and a half extremely lackluster seasons before earning the ire of fans with a controversial video he posted on Tik Tok. Ironically, he’d be traded and waived once more just a few months later. Hutchison only played in 22 total garbage time minutes last season and now plays in the G League with very little chance at making a return to the big leagues.
Cristiano Felicio
One year of easy lob opportunities at the rim courtesy of Rajon Rondo and Dwayne Wade, and suddenly you’re a $32 million man. Cristiano Felicio never had the makings of a real NBA player, but was propped up by veteran talent just long enough to fool Chicago’s front office (and the fanbase, even though most wouldn’t admit it) to secure his bag.
Felicio has never played a minute in the NBA for any team other than the Bulls and never will. He provided his fair share of frustrating moments back in the day, but time heals all and has allowed us the opportunity to revel in his lowlights and continue rooting for the loveable loser in his international career over in Germany with Ratiopharm Ulm.
Antonio Blakeney
Antonio’s Blakeney claim to fame with the Bulls came in the 2018-19 season when he notoriously averaged more shots per game than passes. That level of hyper-selfish helped Blakeney win the NBA G League Rookie of the Year award in 2017-18, averaging a ridiculous 32 points and 6.6 rebounds. Of course, that hype never translated to the NBA where Blakeney posted just 7.5 points per game and 40.6% shooting from the field with the Bulls.
Things took a turn for the worst in 2021, when Blakeney was arrested on armed robbery charges. That was the effective end of his NBA career, and he’s taken to playing internationally in Bahrain, China, and Israel ever since.
Jabari Parker
Given how the fanbase has treated Derrick Rose, Ayo Dosunmu, and even temporary role players like Walt Lemon Jr., it’s clear that we all have a collective soft spot for the hometown kid. Just like Derrick, Jabari Parker was a product of Simeon and a high school star, and should have had all that going for him too. The Bulls offered Parker $20 million, a starting role, and essentially every opportunity to bounce back from a devastating ACL injury. He returned the favor by allowing himself to get out of shape and delivering the infamous line, “They don’t pay players to play defense”.
His poor attitude ruined any shot he had at returning to being a premiere player in the NBA, as evidenced by the fact none of the four teams he’s played for since have kept him around for more than even half a season. Parker has remained a free agent for the last seven months and saw no suitors during the offseason, likely closing the last chapter on his playing days in the NBA.