The Chicago Bulls have lost eight straight. If not for the league’s ongoing (largely overplayed) tanking epidemic, it would likely be the NBA’s longest active losing streak. Instead, Chicago’s eight consecutive losses rank third-most in the association, trailing only the Dallas Mavericks (10) and Sacramento Kings (16).
With eight consecutive losses and counting, one would assume the Bulls are experimenting. Adjusting lineups, testing players in new roles, etc. The Kings, for instance, have prioritized rookies Nique Clifford and Maxime Raynaud. The Mavericks have deployed a myriad of different rotations since the trade deadline, even rolling out a different starting lineup in every game.
Bulls are losing with no clear plan
Meanwhile, the Bulls have practically tossed their new additions to the curb. Okay, not entirely. Guerschon Yabusele logged 24 minutes in the 126–110 loss to the Detroit Pistons. Yes, that Guerschon Yabusele. The one the Bulls traded Dalen Terry for, who eventually was rerouted, then released, only to latch on to the Philadelphia 76ers, signing a two-way contract.
As for Chicago’s other six new additions? Jaden Ivey was a recent DNP-CD before being shut down for two weeks with knee soreness. Anfernee Simons came off the bench against Detroit, logging just 13 minutes before exiting with an injury. Collin Sexton joined him off the pine, playing 15. Leonard Miller totaled three minutes. Nick Richards saw 19.
And then there’s Rob Dillingham, arguably the most intriguing addition at the deadline, who was on the floor for a mere eight minutes. It's becoming indefensible.
Weird situation here for the Bulls. They've been down 20 all half. Simons left in the 3rd. No Ivey. And still, Dillingham will end up with less than 9 minutes today, including 2.5 min of garbage time. No Leonard Miller either.
— Will Gottlieb (@Will_Gottlieb) February 22, 2026
Chicago is opting for veterans over development
Yabusele is a solid player. He finished with 12 points, nine rebounds, and eight assists against the Pistons. But should the Bulls really be giving a sizable role to a 30-year-old set to enter unrestricted free agency in a few months? Probably not.
There’s an argument that Yabusele fills a necessary role on a guard-heavy roster. Still, 12–18 minutes per game feels far more appropriate.
The same logic applies to Patrick Williams, who has averaged a season-high 24.4 minutes in February while producing just 9.3 points per game on 39.2 percent shooting. At this stage, there’s little justification for him playing more than 10–12 minutes a night.
The players deserving of an extended look are Dillingham, Ivey, and even Miller. Dillingham was the eighth overall pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. He’s still just 21 years old and was never given much opportunity with the Minnesota Timberwolves. With multiple seasons remaining on his rookie contract, now is the time to determine whether he can develop into a long-term starter.
Player evaluation should be the priority
Ivey, like Dillingham, is a former lottery pick who fell out of favor with his previous team. Yet he produced in Detroit before injuries stalled his momentum. Another extended injury absence is concerning, but his recent DNP-CD understandably frustrated the Bulls’ fanbase. When healthy, the 24-year-old deserves an extended run. Chicago traded for him for a reason, and it's not to keep him glued to the bench.
Lastly, there’s Miller, who's virtually an unknown at this stage. The former 33rd overall pick in 2023 is still just 22 years old. He’s dominated the G League but has rarely seen the floor through two-and-a-half professional seasons.
At 6-foot-10, why not use the former Timberwolf to inject much-needed size into an otherwise guard-heavy rotation? Richards and Yabusele may be more polished bigs, but Chicago is losing regardless. Expanding Miller’s role would at least provide clarity on whether the 22-year-old is a keeper for the long term.
There are too many questions left unanswered. It’s still February, so the towel hasn’t officially been thrown in. Yet the trade deadline felt like an acknowledgment of reality. Chicago has been bounced from the Play-In Tournament three straight seasons. An influx of new talent was supposed to inject some excitement, even if the losses continued. That spark hasn’t materialized.