The Chicago Bulls have made the playoffs just once in the last six years, but they could be paying the luxury tax if they bring back all of their key pieces in free agency. Nikola Vucevic, Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, and Patrick Beverley all need new contracts to return as Chicago sits just 39.7 million under the tax. There is zero way they re-sign all four without paying next season.
Rumors suggest the Bulls will re-sign Vucevic in attempt to keep their core together, despite playing just five playoff games since building it. Is bringing him back a mistake? How can the Bulls get out of the middle and back to contention?
There is only one way to make that happen, and it involves a difficult path that would likely cost Arturas Karnisovas his job as executive vice president of basketball ops. The Bulls must make changes or they will be stuck in the middle for years.
Moves that get Chicago Bulls out of the mess they created
5. Sign-and-trade Vucevic to the highest bidder
Nikola Vucevic is a two-time All-Star that offers a unique skill set. He is an elite rebounder that can space the floor, score 18 every night, and make plays. The 6’10 big man will have value, and the Bulls should look to sign-and-trade him to the highest bidder.
They have made one playoff appearance in his three years in Chicago. It is time to move on and retool their roster. What can the Bulls get? They gave up two role players and two first-round picks to acquire him in 2021, but Chicago would have to settle for significantly less this summer. Could they get one first? Does someone step up with a couple of role players?
The Bulls should take what they can get and quickly pivot away from their current core by trading another former All-Star that will be searching for an extension this summer.
4. Sell DeRozan for draft picks
DeMar DeRozan turns 34 in August. He is still an elite player, but for how much longer? The 6’6 wing is a master in the mid-range, who just scored 24.5 points per game. There is still plenty to be excited about, but will he be dropping 20 a night at 38 years old?
DeRozan is extension-eligible this summer as he heads into the final year of his contract. He will likely want $30 million per season over the next three years, but the Bulls cannot afford to pay him $90 more million without seeing an uptick in victories. With Lonzo Ball out for the foreseeable future, the wins are not coming in Chicago.
DeRozan should have plenty of trade value after back-to-back All-Star appearances. Can they convince some team to part with two first-round draft picks for the veteran? The Bulls should be looking to make a move before the regular season begins. Teams will certainly be interested, but the price is a mystery.
The Chicago Bulls cannot give DeMar DeRozan a long-term contract unless they want to be stuck in the middle for four more seasons. Now is the time to trade the six-time All-Star, but the franchise should not stop there.
3. Trade Zach LaVine to the highest bidder
Moving on from Nikola Vucevic and DeMar DeRozan should start a full-scale rebuild in Chicago. Yes, LaVine is only 28 and under contract for three more years, but should the Bulls pay him $40-plus million per season to win 30 games? The two-time All-Star is an elite scorer that should be in the middle of his prime.
LaVine is no stranger to trade rumors, but what could the Bulls get in return? The package for an All-Star is often higher than fans anticipate because there are only so many elite players. Could the Bulls get two first-round picks and a young player back for LaVine?
Suddenly, the Bulls have a ton of capital to improve their roster. If they get four additional first-rounders plus a couple of young talents for their three stars, Chicago could quickly sink to the bottom of the league. After three or four years, the Bulls could be right back in the mix with a talented young core.
If the Bulls deal all three stars to get out of their current mess, they should not stop there. The Chicago Bulls needs to maximize the value of every player on their roster if they want to return to contention in a few years.
2. Deal Caruso for draft capital
Now is the perfect time to trade Alex Caruso. He is 29 years old and has one-year plus a small guarantee for the 2024-25 season remaining on his contract. Contending teams could be looking to upgrade their defense and depth. Rebuilding teams could be interested in his contract. The Bulls would be set up to get a strong haul for the 6’4 guard either way.
There is no sense in keeping Alex Caruso if the Bulls rebuild. He will be in his mid-30s by the time Chicago is ready to contend again. Getting draft picks and young talent should be the focus, and teams will be interested in acquiring the first-team All-Defensive guard.
Suddenly, the Chicago Bulls have a mountain of draft capital to go with Pat Williams. It would open the door for them to re-sign Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu to jumpstart their rebuild. The Bulls do not have a 2023 first-round draft pick, but they may acquire one. If not, they could bottom out next season and hope to get rewarded with the number one pick in the 2024 lottery.
Even a top-five selection will have the Bulls in a better position than they are currently. At least they would be building for something. Right now, Chicago has an aging roster that cannot make the playoffs.
If the Bulls go this route, they cannot get antsy and fall back into the same mistakes.
1. Save draft picks and develop young talent
Since 2015, the Bulls have drafted Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr., and Bobby Portis. All three have gone on to play better after leaving Chicago, including Markkanen becoming an All-Star in Utah. The Bulls are always in a rush to be contenders again and that rarely works. They traded for Nikola Vucevic and Carter Jr. quickly blossomed into a comparable player in Orlando.
Chicago cannot try to speed the process up. They need to draft one young talent and develop him. While he is blossoming, select another skilled prospect and bring the best out of him. It can be a slow process, but it is the only way the Bulls are going to get out of their current mess.
If Chicago wants to acquire a second star after developing one from the draft, that is a viable option, but there is work to do first. The Bulls have to make the trades and wait for the right time to strike.
Do not expect the Chicago Bulls to follow this approach. They appear committed to re-signing Nikola Vucevic this summer and will likely be vying for a spot in the Play-In Tournament next season. Can they break through and get back to the playoffs? Stay tuned to find out.
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