The Chicago Bulls aren’t the dictionary definition of a perfectly run franchise. The front office has made numerous, rather grotesque, errors (see: Patrick Williams). But it’s not all bad.
Zach LaVine finally got traded this season after more than a calendar year of posturing. Return aside, getting the 30-year-old's two years and $96 million off the books must be considered some form of a win.
It appears the organization struck gold with Matas Buzelis after the Illinois native fell to No. 11 in the 2024 draft. The 6-foot-10 forward averaged 13.0 points, 4.5 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 1.1 blocks in 31 starts when he finally got the nod in Billy Donovan’s leading group, showing potential as an explosive driver and instinctual shot-blocker while improving his shooting efficiency.
Executive VP of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas and General Manager Marc Eversley got their 2025 first-round pick back in the LaVine deal, which could become another lottery selection and opens up more avenues for potential trades in the future.
So it’s not all bad. And certainly not Phoenix Suns bad.
Latest Suns blunder should make Bulls fans grateful, excited
Mat Ishbia’s purchase of the Phoenix Suns was made official on Feb. 7, 2023. He immediately began making aggressive moves, sending a massive package to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for Kevin Durant and another haul to bring Bradley Beal from Washington to the desert.
The Suns gave up Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Juan Pablo Vaulet, four first-round picks, a first-round pick swap and two second-rounders for Durant. Then, Phoenix sent Chris Paul, Landry Shamet, the rights to Bilal Coulibaly, five second-round picks, four first-round pick swaps and cash to the Wizards for Beal.
Including pick swaps, the Suns don’t have access to a single one of their draft selections—first or second round—through 2031.
Phoenix also let go of its second head coach in as many years. The organization fired Frank Vogel after the 2023-24 season and hired Mike Budenholzer last summer, only to fire him on Monday.
The Suns have no draft picks; aging veterans with diminished trade value, one of whom has a no-trade clause; and will pay three different head coaches whenever they hire their next one. Ishbia has devolved his franchise into the NBA abyss.
Regardless of what Bulls fans think of their own front office and ownership group, things could be a lot worse.
Donovan has been in charge in Chicago since 2020-21 (and is now a Hall of Famer). The franchise assembled a foursome of LaVine, Vucevic, DeMar DeRozan and Lonzo Ball that temporarily held the No. 1 spot in the Eastern Conference before Ball hurt his knee and things fell apart.
The Bulls now have a young core led by guards Josh Giddey (22 years old) and Coby White (24). Buzelis is only 20. Six of their 10 leading scorers this year are 25 or younger, and that excludes Kevin Huerter, who’s 26.
Chicago will need to re-sign Giddey and likely extend White, but it can clear up to $78.5 million of cap space by the 2026-27 season. Karnisovas and Eversley have all of their first-round picks to use how they see fit.
Sure, the Bulls have been a middle-of-the-pack team for far too long, and the Suns took a massive swing, something a section of Chicago fans wouldn’t have minded at one point or another. After the way things have blown up in Phoenix, though, the Windy City crowd should be at least a little thankful for what they have: a future.