The Chicago Bulls went from a magical 5-0 start (their best start since the historical 1996-97 season) at the beginning of November to a 9-11 record to start December. The team's flaws have been glaringly evident since their unbeaten run ended, especially on the defensive end.
Isaac Okoro remains the only capable stopper on the roster, and the discussion about a potential trade has gained more traction in recent days. Amid a four-game losing skid, which includes losses to the New Orleans Pelicans (3-19), Charlotte Hornets (6-15), and the Indiana Pacers (4-17), it's become obvious that Chicago needs to bring in external help.
Josh Giddey has played at a high level, averaging 20.6 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 9.1 assists per game, while shooting 47.4 percent from the field. At 23 years old, he is just scratching the surface, but this is the time the Bulls should start building around the point guard and set him up for success once he reaches his prime.
Bulls have copied the Indiana Pacers' formula to compete
After seeing the Indiana Pacers go on a remarkable, yet improbable, run to the 2025 NBA Finals, the Bulls decided to take one or more pages from Indiana's playbook to try to replicate its success. Coach Billy Donovan admitted they are trying to emulate what the Pacers did.
"That's who we have to be," Donovan said, per ESPN. "We have to be better than the sum of our parts… Everybody sees Indiana play, and the thing that everybody goes to right away is Oh, their pace, their pace, their pace."
There's still one thing missing on the Bulls roster: a second star. Chicago is well aware that a superstar can't win alone. Not even Michael Jordan could during his two three-peats.
Bulls need to pair Josh Giddey with a second star
The Pacers canvassed the league and found their guy on the Toronto Raptors. They traded for Pascal Siakam in 2024, which paved the way to their 2025 Cinderella run. Chicago made another big move several months later, landing Josh Giddey from the Oklahoma City Thunder in exchange for defensive specialist Alex Caruso.
Giddey, 21 at the time, was considered the perfect candidate to lead the Bulls of the future. He has elevated his numbers and become a reality in Chicago. But what's next? The team needs to find its Siakam.
"They have Haliburton, who is an All-Star, and they have Siakam," one Bulls source told ESPN. "If Giddey can develop into an All-Star and be what Hali was, when do we pull the trigger to get our Siakam?"
They have a talented young core around Giddey, which includes Coby White, second-year Matas Buzelis, and 18-year-old rookie Noe Essengue. Veteran center Nikola Vucevic is trying to mentor the younger guys, but it's clear he is not in condition to be a proper sidekick for Giddey.
Siakam has never been a superstar-caliber player, but his impact on his respective team is undeniable. The Bulls are a bigger market, and they could aim higher, but a player similar to the 2019 NBA champion would put them in a privileged position in the Eastern Conference.