There’s little to salvage from the Chicago Bulls right now. Seven straight losses have exposed a faltering offense, a defense that remains a liability, and a level of physicality that’s all but vanished. Add in a mounting list of injuries, and the team’s 5–0 start feels like a distant memory.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a single fix for the Bulls’ problems. Yes, trades could help around the margins, but losses to multiple underperforming teams paint Chicago as a bottom-feeder. This isn’t a roster that should be trying to upgrade at the deadline—not when it can’t even take care of teams like the Indiana Pacers or Brooklyn Nets.
And that leads to the biggest issue: this roster simply isn’t worth building upon. Despite Artūras Karnišovas’s belief in assembling “9-to-10 very good players,” it’s clear that philosophy isn’t delivering results. The absence of true high-end talent was already a problem, and the recent losing streak has only made it impossible to ignore.
Chicago's roster-building theory isn't working
Getting lit up by players like Desmond Bane, Pascal Siakam, and Michael Porter Jr. in recent games has only highlighted the problem. The Bulls lack the top-end talent to match even these second-tier stars. And a 32-point loss to a Steph Curry-less Warriors team drives the point home from the opposite angle: Chicago also can’t keep up with a roster built on “9-to-10 very good players.”
The Bulls don’t have a player who can go toe-to-toe with a borderline All-Star, nor anyone capable of taking over against an injury-depleted Warriors team. Until meaningful changes are made, this trend will continue to define the roster.
Coby White and Josh Giddey are the closest the Bulls have to All-Star talent, but both function more as secondary pieces than true No. 1 options. White is a versatile scorer, though he’s only played six games as a primary option and lacks the defensive ability to be a cornerstone. Giddey, meanwhile, is an unselfish playmaker whose best skill is creating opportunities for others, not taking over a game by himself.
There’s hope Matas Buzelis could develop into a star, but it’s wishful thinking at this point. As Billy Donovan said prior to the season, “[Buzelis] has not arrived.” The 21-year-old still needs to add bulk, refine his ball-handling, and improve his individual defense.
Beyond those three players, and perhaps 35-year-old Nikola Vucevic, there isn’t a guaranteed starter on a playoff team. The Bulls are devoid of high-end talent, and until that changes, advancing past the Play-In Tournament is unlikely. The solution is clear: Chicago needs to reset. With seven players on expiring contracts and the season still in its early stages, now is the perfect time to rebuild and position the team for a top-five draft pick.