The Worldwide Leader in Sports came out with a "Free agency NBA Power Rankings," ordering all 30 teams in the NBA following the initial flurry of free agency. ESPN utilized a hoard of contributors to articulate these rankings, and notably listed key additions and departures for all 30 teams.
To kick off the post-free agency power rankings are the reigning champions—the Oklahoma City Thunder. Oklahoma City is then followed by two Western Conference squads before the first Eastern Conference team, the Cleveland Cavaliers, makes an appearance at four.
Only three of ESPN's top 10 teams reside in the East. Joining the Cavaliers in the top third of the rankings are the New York Knicks at five, up by two spots since the conglomerate’s last rankings, and the Orlando Magic, who have seen a five-spot jump since acquiring Desmond Bane from the Memphis Grizzlies.
ESPN ranks the Bulls 23rd in its post-free agency power rankings
To find the Chicago Bulls, you'll have to scroll down to the bottom third of the rankings. Chicago comes in at 23rd in ESPN's Free Agency NBA Power Rankings. Chicago-based ESPN reporter Jamal Collier wrote the Bulls' blurb and provided the reasoning behind the ranking.
Collier wrote, "Despite finishing 39-43 in back-to-back seasons, the Bulls are in a position to return a virtually identical roster next season," before mentioning the Lonzo Ball for Isaac Okoro swap and the seemingly never-ending restricted free agency saga between Josh Giddey and the Bulls.
Of the Eastern Conference teams, Chicago ranks 11th, just outside the Play-In Tournament range. For reference, we also placed the Bulls at 11th in our Eastern Conference Power Rankings. Following the Bulls in ESPN's iteration are the Toronto Raptors (24th), the Charlotte Hornets (27th), the Brooklyn Nets (28th), and the Washington Wizards (29th).
However, perhaps what's most noticeable is that the Bulls are one of six teams to have remained stagnant since ESPN's last Power Rankings, which were released on the final day of the NBA season. Moreover, Chicago is the only one of these six teams to be ranked in the 20s.
Collier also penned the Bulls' "Way-Too-Early Power Rankings" paragraph, uttering a similar message. Collier wrote, "The Bulls have finished with the same record in consecutive years and have lost in the play-in tournament to the Heat in three straight years. But don't expect big changes in Chicago this offseason," before discussing the Bulls' intent to re-sign Giddey.
As has been the common theme in the Windy City, stagnation has become the norm. Sure, the Bulls have exiled several veterans over the last year and some change, yet the team isn't all that different. Billy Donovan is still the coach, and for several more seasons at that, while Artūras Karnišovas and Marc Eversley continue to make personnel decisions. With that being said, don't anticipate much, if any, movement from the Bulls in ESPN's preseason power rankings.