It’s been a confusing offseason for the Chicago Bulls that saw them lose two of their best players, but they are not bereft of talent or hope.
Josh Giddey is still very young and could thrive in a more suitable role. Coby White was one of the NBA’s most improved players last season and may have another level as a featured guard in the offense.
Matas Buzelis has already shown glimpses of tantalizing talent and Patrick Williams has upside that is yet untapped.
Two of the young Bulls featured in recent rankings of the top 30 point guards in the NBA according to HoopsHype. Coby White came in at 21 on the list and Josh Giddey was right behind him at 22.
The rankings show promise, but also problems that have persisted for the Bulls.
The Chicago Bulls are still searching for an elite point guard
The Bulls haven’t had a great point guard since the Derrick Rose days, though one of these two could certainly change that. They’ve gone through sort of point guards like Zach LaVine and a short taste of Lonzo Ball, but both of those guys are more playmaking wings than real point guards.
You could probably say the same of Coby White, who is a capable playmaker but still more of a score-first guard. If Giddey reaches his ceiling, he could be that guy for the Bulls, but until he proves himself, Chicago is still searching for their next great point guard.
The Bulls collecting good, not great players
One of the hallmarks of the Bulls over recent years is that they’ve had some good/not great players and have lacked a real superstar.
With White and Giddey as two of their foundational pieces, having them only 21st and 22nd at their position is not ideal and isn’t a clear sign that Chicago’s recent history of talented but not elite players is changing anytime soon.
The best teams’ best players are usually top-10 at their position and the Bulls don’t currently have anyone that profiles in that range.
There is hope
The good news is that Giddey is still 21 years old and at 24, Coby White is just entering his prime.
Giddey gets to run his own team without having to share the duties with an MVP candidate and we will get to see what White can do as the #1 option in the offense, which he never was with DeMar DeRozan on the team.
There is a strong possibility that both of these players will improve and move up the rankings over the next few seasons. They may never be top-10 point guards in the league, but they could get close, which would be enough if they can find elite talent at other positions.
The Bulls are not in the worst shape when it comes to talent, but eventually, they will need to hit on a superstar and there is no current evidence that they have.