The Chicago Bulls are owners of the worst losing streak in the NBA as they enter a much-needed four-day lull in their schedule. And they have some serious questions to answer during that time off.
Who can -- and should -- be traded? How should rotations be changed and managed for the rest of the season? Who needs more minutes and who needs less (or none)?
Should they even be trying to win?
After a 5-0 start, the Bulls sank to rock bottom in a hurry. A 123-91 home loss to the Golden State Warriors, who were playing without Stephen Curry and Draymond Green, was a microcosm of everything that's gone wrong in the Windy City.
The things the Bulls were supposed to be good at, they're bad at. And the things they were expected to be bad at, they're even worse at. Billy Donovan needs to find a way to stop the bleeding ... if it's not already too late.
The Bulls must decide who's expendable
Chicago has seven players on expiring contracts: Nikola Vucevic, Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Zach Collins, Kevin Huerter, Jevon Carter and Dalen Terry.
The biggest offseason decisions will come on White and Dosunmu. The former is the team's leading scorer (22.1 points per game) and most talented bucket-getter. He's also played only seven games, missing time with injuries to both calves. Going into the season, he was hoping for a long-term contract worth around $30 million per season, but that ship is quickly sailing.
Dosunmu has been one of Donovan's most critical pieces. He's averaging a career-high 15.2 points with 52/48/86 shooting splits and is the team's most dangerous rim attacker. Based on the year's first 23 games, he's worth a more lucrative deal than any of Chicago's other free-agents-to-be.
It's time for Vucevic to be traded. Full stop.
Arguments can be made for both keeping and trading Huerter and Collins.
It's getting close to time for a fire sale, and the Bulls front office should be considering all offers.
Chicago's rotation needs to change
Something isn't working. Actually, lots of things aren't working. Donovan has some fairly obvious alterations he can make to his lineups -- whether he makes them is a legitimate question.
Important caveat: The Bulls need to get healthy before anything changes.
Josh Giddey has been Chicago's best player, and it's not particularly close. Vucevic has been just about irreplaceable ... but he needs to be replaced. White needs to find a rhythm. Dosunmu has to be utilized correctly -- potentially as a reserve point guard. Matas Buzelis has stalled, but as a future pillar of the franchise, he needs to be thrown to the wolves over and over.
Maybe four-guard lineups with Buzelis at center are worth trying. Or wing-heavy groups with Patrick Williams, Isaac Okoro, Huerter, Terry and Julian Phillips. It's worth chucking stuff at the wall to see what sticks.
Bulls must stop straddling the mediocre line
Executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas needs to cut the cord and embrace a tank. Trade most, if not all, of Vucevic, White, Dosunmu, Collins and Huerter. Bottom out. Accumulate draft capital. Build around Giddey, Buzelis and Noa Essengue next season. Maybe the organization will finally do it.
Who are we kidding.