As we prepare to enter the 2023-24 season, there’s one unavoidable truth that can’t escape the back of my mind. As much as I’d like to see the Chicago Bulls’ current core develop over the years, the clock is ticking. DeMar DeRozan is 34. Nikola Vucevic turns 33 next month. Even Zach LaVine is only 18 months away from turning 30.
This Bulls core will not be permitted to grow organically. If they want to seriously compete and go far in the postseason, they’re going to have to do it quickly. In the event they fail to become a true contending team, we’ll just as soon see them replaced by the next generation.
But would would the “next generation” look like?
Ideally, the Bulls would find a way to build a team that crosses the bridge between competing now and building for the future. If they managed to balance the mix between intriguing prospects and star talent, Chicago could certainly return to prominence like the glory days of the 90s. If we were to fast forward five years into the future, I believe this hypothetical starting five would be the absolute best-case scenario for the Chicago Bulls moving forward.
Dream starting point guard for the Chicago Bulls: Lonzo Ball
- Age in 2028: 30
- Comparison: 2021 Chris Paul
Since we’re hypothesizing dream scenarios here, how about one in which Lonzo Ball makes a full return to the court? When healthy, Ball proved he was the perfect complementary player to this Bulls’ offense, elevating the performance of the team even when the ball was not in his hands.
The areas of the game in which Lonzo specialized — namely shooting, playmaking, and defending — are not things that deteriorate with age. His keen mind for the game will keep him relevant in this league for as long as his body manages to hold up. Even at 30 years old, Lonzo would still be the guy I’d want calling the shot as Chicago’s floor general.
Ball has proven to be an effective fit with this current Bulls team, as he helped propel the team to a 51.5-win pace in games he participated in. Even as the Bulls inevitably move on from this current core in the coming year, Lonzo’s unselfish brand of basketball would make him a seamless fit for any roster. If he can return to even being 80% of the player he once was, Ball would be a high-value, low-cost addition to this team so that they can prioritize spending big in other areas.
Dream starting shooting guard for the Chicago Bulls: Zach LaVine
- Age in 2028: 33
- Comparisons: Modern-day James Harden, Klay Thompson
After earning two All-Star nominations in his last three seasons in Chicago, Zach LaVine has thoroughly established himself as not only one of the best Bulls players of the decade, but of all time. LaVine has scored the 8th-most points of any player in Chicago Bulls history and could leap to as high as third place if he maintains his current pace for the next five seasons.
In today’s NBA, being 33 years old doesn’t even particularly mean your best days are behind you. We saw DeMar DeRozan and Jimmy Butler play some of the best basketball of their lives at 33 just last year. If Zach continues to take care of his body and develop his off-ball gravity, his game will age like fine wine.
The real beauty of this situation is that having LaVine on the roster in 2028 does not necessarily mean he has to play out the remainder of his current contract in Chicago. If the Bulls do decide to switch lanes any time in the next few years, LaVine could easily be shipped off for a few valuable assets. With his contract set to expire after the conclusion of the 2026-27 season, LaVine would be a free agent and could re-sign to a reinvigorated Bulls team.
Much like the modern versions of James Harden and Klay Thompson, Zach’s shooting and on-ball defense would make him an extremely valuable asset even as he begins to lose his athleticism with age. Returning on a cheaper contract would allow the Bulls to make the most of their newfound assets, potentially even taking a big swing for the next player on this list.
Dream starting small forward for the Chicago Bulls: Cooper Flagg
- Age in 2028: 21
- Comparison: Bigger Mikal Bridges, Quicker Jaren Jackson Jr.
We move away from the already-established NBA players here by investing the Bulls’ future in a prospect who’s still playing high school basketball. Cooper Flagg has made quite the name for himself in recent months, after dominating the EYBL Peach Jam in Georgia and getting tangled in a since-debunked beef with NBA star Bradley Beal.
Although the Bulls traded their 2025 first-round pick away to the Spurs to acquire DeRozan in 2021, it’s still top-10 protected. If he maintains his current trajectory, there’s no chance Flagg will slip past the first pick or two. This dream scenario has Chicago landing the top pick to land Flagg, so San Antonio won’t be able to ruin our fun here just yet.
Flagg has used his size to his advantage at the high school level, dominating in the paint with his scoring and rebounding ability. What makes him such a great prospect, however, is his incredible in-game awareness and ability to provide help defense nearly instantaneously. He has not only the body of an NBA player, but also the mind of one.
At 6-foot-9, there’s no doubt in my mind that Flagg could very well develop into a combo forward capable of playing either position. But if his agility holds up with his size, it’s hard to not envision him as having a Kevin Durant-esque presence at small forward with the defensive capabilities of a Jaren Jackson Jr. or Anthony Davis. By all accounts, Cooper Flagg is the dream prospect for the Chicago Bulls.
Dream starting power forward for the Chicago Bulls: Giannis Antetokounmpo
- Age in 2028: 33
- Comparison: There is no comparison for the Greek Freak
Up to this point, I’ve been playing things relatively frugal with Chicago’s payroll. Both Lonzo and LaVine should be on more affordable deals five years from now than the ones they’re currently on, and Flagg will be an absolute steal on his rookie contract. Now, it’s time to break the bank and push all the chips in for the pursuit of a true championship-caliber superstar like the one and only Giannis Antetokounmpo.
As I previously mentioned in an article late last month, it seems the Bulls are keeping this potential opportunity very close in mind with their decisions made this summer. By signing Nikola Vucevic, Coby White, Jevon Carter, and Ayo Dosunmu each to three-year deals, the Bulls ensure they’ll remain relatively competitive as a potential destination for a player like Giannis, while still retaining enough flexibility to get off their money and build around the star.
Here’s what Antetokounmpo had to say in a Fox 32 Chicago interview from last year about potentially joining up with the Bulls.
"“It’s a team that won multiple championships, it’s a team that one of the greatest players, if not the greatest player to ever play this game played for. So it’s a no-brainer, everybody would love to play for Chicago. Down the line you never know, you never know how life brings it, maybe I play for Chicago, but right now I’m committed to Milwaukee.”"
If this core were to come together, Lonzo and LaVine would immediately fill the roles currently played by Jrue Holiday and Khris Middleton on the Bucks. It’s a recipe that’s proven to have won before and it can certainly win again. By adding Flagg to the mix and still having plenty of remaining cap space left to fill out the roster, this hypothetical Bulls team would without a doubt be the most talented team Antetokounmpo has ever had the pleasure to play for.
Dream starting center for the Chicago Bulls: Myles Turner
- Age in 2028: 32
- Comparison: Brook Lopez
If we’re going to continue with this attempt to rebuild a better version of the championship-winning Bucks around Antetokounmpo, it only makes sense to pursue another rim-protecting big man who can space the floor in the vein of Brook Lopez. For that reason, why not empty the piggy bank for Myles Turner?
Among all centers, Turner ranked 4th in blocks and 6th in three-pointers made per game. He may not viewed as a star in this league, but when it comes to these specific areas of the game, very few players provide this level of elite production as a ‘3-and-D’ center.
With Turner’s current contract set to expire the same year as Giannis’ (assuming he declines his player option), the Bulls would be able to assemble this frontcourt duo in the same summer if they play their cards right. Failing that, a player like Kristaps Porzingis or a young up-and-comer could vill the same void in the event Turner plays himself out of Chicago’s pay range.
By building a team around a superstar talent and complementary pieces to his skillset, the Bulls could genuinely compete for their first championship of the 21st century. Each of these players ranges from competent to great on the defensive end, while also being very capable of shooting the ball and preventing ‘The Giannis Wall’ from becoming an issue.
Obviously, this scenario is incredibly optimistic. It would involve the Bulls both winning the draft lottery to select Flagg and then subsequently returning to relevance soon enough to be seen as a legitimate destination for Giannis. But isn’t that what dreams are for? The fact that it’s even a remote possibility is enough for me to boot up 2K and patiently await better days for the Chicago Bulls.