Bulls Post Trade-Deadline Review

Now that the (non-existent) smoke of the trade deadline has cleared and the All-Star break is in effect, it’s time to take a look at where the Bulls are and their prospects moving forward.

As you might recall, I published a [preseason review](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicagobulls/comments/16v89s9/reasons_to_be_optimistic_and_pessimistic_about/), arguing that the Bulls are better than they showed last season and that they could make the playoffs this season. I followed that up with my review following the [first quarter](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicagobulls/comments/18m7fq0/first_quarter_bulls_season_review/) of the season and my review at the [halfway point](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicagobulls/comments/19en2he/midseason_bulls_review/) of the season.

Before, I continue, I want to thank the many Bulls fans who kindly provided great feedbacks on my prior reviews. I really enjoyed reading them!

**What Happened at the Trade Deadline?**

Nothing.

After rumors that LaVine would be moved started to bubble, Lavine ended up opting to have season ending surgery. There were rumors involving Alex Caruso, DeRozan, and Drummond, but the FO decided to stand pat with the aim of trying to stay competitive.

I know this has disappointed many fans. But in my view, it’s somewhat understandable. Zach’s surgery made him untradable, and, even before then, there was talk the Bulls might need to “[attach](https://www.reddit.com/r/chicagobulls/comments/1aheqe4/kc_johnson_theres_a_growing_feeling_among_rival/)” one of their young assets to move him, which made little sense to me.

Drummond could have apparently been traded, but the going rate may have been as little as just a second round draft pick, which I don’t think would move the needle much in any rebuild. The Bulls had asked for [3 second rounders](https://sports.yahoo.com/report-bulls-asking-price-andre-202900351.html), but there’s no confirmation that Philly was ready to match that.

Bulls also reportedly [asked](https://www.bleachernation.com/bulls/2024/02/09/trade-kuminga-alex-caruso/) for 2021 Warriors lottery pick Kuminga in exchange for Caruso.

Basically, the Bulls were willing to consider trades, but they didn’t want to sell low on their assets and, frankly, I’m ok with that.

**How are the Bulls Doing?**

The Bulls are 26-29, with the 20th best offense and the 16th best defense. They are 9th in the East, 4 games behind Miami and Orlando, and 2 games ahead of the resurgent Hawks, whom they kicked down recently.

Recent play has been mixed but generally positive, with a disappointing loss to the Raptors, but also an inspiring overtime win against the Timberwolves. Overall, the team has been competitive. They had chances to win the road games in Orlando and in Phoenix (the latter against a team that was tipped by some as a championship favorite in the offseason). They lost a close road game against a healthy Cleveland squad that’s the hottest team in the NBA over the last 10 and might well be the best team in the East if it wasn’t for injuries. They’ve been doing this with $60 million to $70 million of payroll sitting on the sidelines with injuries. The team is playing well considering everything, going 21-15 in their last 36 games since an awful start. The younger players are getting good experience under pressure while the coach increasingly experiments with an interesting retro Twin-Towers lineup. The games have been very watchable.

**What to Expect in the Future.**

The Bulls have steadily continued to edge closer towards 0.500, but it seems questionable whether they can ever get there now that LaVine is confirmed out for the entire season. The Bulls have been able to win, on balance, without him, but with PWill also sidelined, and with Lonzo’s $20 million contract continuing to burn a hole in the payroll, one has to wonder how far they go until the wheels might just fall off. There’s only so much a team can do with so many injuries.

There’s been talk that the Bulls may review the buyout market to adds some help down the stretch. Perhaps a player like Evan Fournier could give the Bulls some help. He’s admittedly another wing, but some of the Bulls guards/wings are playing ultra heavy minutes, which Fournier could help ease (DeRozan is tied for the league lead in minutes played per game, and Coby leads the NBA in total minutes played). But, it seems doubtful that any player so added could have a Pay Beverely like impact this season.

Expectations may need to be tempered at this point. Making the playoffs is still [theoretically a possibility](https://www.basketball-reference.com/friv/playoff_prob.html), but just making the play-in while remaining mostly competitive might be a more appropriate goal for the remainder of the season–you never know what might happen in the play-in! The team did upset the Raptors on the road last play-in and were ever so close to doing the same to ultimate NBA finalist Miami.

I think that continuing to push for wins is more meaningful both for the fans and for the younger players than trying to “blow” the team up and playing for ping pong balls. The Bulls have already won 26 games so it’s not like they can easily tank their way to a bottom-3 record. Further, the Zach injury provides a similar effect as blowing up the team as it is akin in the short term to a trade that sends away last season’s top scorer without netting any new players in return. It’s a positive that this team remains competitive despite this and other injuries and there’s no reason to “force” a tank at all costs by trading every vet with a heartbeat for anything whatsoever while tying 50-pound weights to Coby’s ankles.

While this will undoubtedly disappoint some fans, I think it’s important to keep the big picture in mind.

The team is 112-107 in the Lavine/DeRozan/Vuc era, which is hardly spectacular, but it is a winning record despite having to deal with various injuries.

Further, this season, the Bulls have seen their backcourt of the future emerge, which in my view, is a major marker of success for the season, even if the playoffs are unlikely. It has changed the narrative of a mediocre team completely reliant on LaVine. Coby made huge strides and is now a serious contender for Most Improved Player. He’s also locked up on a great deal another 2 seasons after this one. Ayo has put his sophomore blues behind him and is also having a very solid season, shooting over 50%/40%. PWill remains statistically largely the same player as he was in his rookie year and is now also recovering from a pretty concerning injury, but, putting the Kawhi comparisons aside, he is just one step away from becoming a pretty solid player. Him having a mixed season could also help the Bulls to resign him on a reasonable deal in the offseason. Again, there’s no young Wembanyama-like superstar, but there are some exciting pieces.

It’s often said that the Bulls have “mortgaged” their future, but the Bulls mostly have their 1st round picks going forward. The Bulls will likely onboard a late lottery pick in the upcoming draft.

Next season, AK might finally succeed in trading Zach, either in the offseason or, preferably in my opinion, if he plays himself back into form (his contract would likely be more tradeable next season if he can regain his form). Or the Bulls could continue to roll with him (they were 5-2 in his brief return).

Next season, perhaps even Lonzo might return.

It remains a somewhat challenging time for Bulls fans, but I think the big picture is hardly bleak.

There are some reasons to be optimistic about the future. Meanwhile, the team obviously hasn’t given up on the season. I don’t think the fans should give up on the team either.