The Chicago Bulls appear to be mired in mediocrity. The Bulls have a lot of young, talented players. However, they lack All-Star-quality players, and Joe Crowley of the Chicago Sun-Times has not been particularly impressed with the Bulls’ front office.
Chicago has missed the playoffs the last three years and eight of the previous 10 seasons. While the Bulls have been more competitive recently, they have lost in the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament in each of the past three seasons. The Bulls are 118-128 during this stretch, which is the 12th-worst record in the league.
Chicago Bulls New Future Star, Upcoming Important Decisions, and Patrick Williams On Trade Block
Rumors have been swirling around Chicago since the offseason began. There has been a belief that the Bulls were looking to move on from Nikola Vucevic, via trade or buyout. The Bulls were also thought to be interested in trading Ayo Dosunmu and reportedly have rejected overtures for Coby White. Also, restricted free agent Josh Giddey remains unsigned.
“Executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley began the offseason with no real plan about how to land a superstar who would make the Bulls appear to be a -serious organization, then spent the last four months carrying out that plan of no plan to perfection,” Crowley wrote recently.
Chicago traded oft-injured Lonzo Ball for Isaac Okoro, who is expected to solidify the defense. The Bulls did re-sign backup point guard Tre Jones and selected Noa Essengue with the No. 12 pick in June’s draft.
Chicago has 14 players on standard contracts while holding the 15th spot for Giddey. It is expected that the Bulls and the 22-year-old Australian will reach a compromise on their roughly $10 million per year difference through a multi-year deal. They also have all three of their minor league spots accounted for. Caleb Grill and Wooga Poplar have signed Exhibit 10, training camp deals.
What Is Left For the Bulls To Do This Offseason
Besides re-signing Giddey, the Bulls only have one roster decision left. They could add another player to a training camp deal, as they will be just one player short after Giddey inks his contract.
Karnisovas and Eversley have two other decisions. One decision is easy: to pick up Matas Buzelis’ third-year option. The Bulls must do so by October 31 or he will be a restricted free agent.
Their other decision concerns Zach Collins. Collins, on an $18 million expiring deal, is extension-eligible.
Collins is a solid role player who has been relatively productive. The 27-year-old does his best work around the rim on both ends. However, he is currently overpriced, as he is earning starter money despite being a part-time starter at best. If Collins demonstrates he fits with the team going forward, the Bulls could sign him to a friendlier contract at any time until next July.
Speaking of Buzelis, the hometown kid is expected to make a huge leap in his sophomore year. However, Joel Lorezi of The Athletic asked if Buzelis is capable of being a future star of the franchise.
Buzelis improved every month last season and played some solid basketball the previous three months. Athleticism and shooting define his game. He was a second-team All-Rookie selection and 12th in block percentage.
“If Buzelis ends up closer to Pascal Siakam in terms of impact, that’s a major win,” Lorenzi said. “He’d be a talented second option capable of raising the ceiling for a team that didn’t necessarily need an All-NBA first-teamer. Even a future as a third option would make Buzelis a prize. But it should go without saying that if a player on that track is leading a team, it won’t be to the finals.”
Patrick Williams On the Trade Block?
Patrick Williams is entering the second year of a monster $90 million extension. Williams is an athletic, undersized defensive forward who is not a significant factor on the offensive end. While the 24-year-old has had big games in the past, consistency is an issue. He does average 1.2 threes at a 39.2% clip.
However, after posting career numbers in 2022-23, Williams’ production has declined over the last two years. Williams averaged 9.0 points, 3.8 rebounds, and a career-high 2.0 assists in 25 minutes over 63 appearances. He was just a part-time starter and produced shooting splits of 39.7/35.3/72.3. The Bulls were 14-22 in the 36 contests Williams started, and more significantly, they were outscored by over five points in those games when he was on the court.
Isaac Okoro
Just like Williams, Okoro was viewed as a “3-and-D” prospect when Cleveland selected him with the No. 5 overall pick. Okoro, who is a defensive ace, could start for the Bulls. However, Okoro is more of an offensive liability than Williams. His highest scoring game last year for Cleveland was 16.
Okoro is coming off a career-worst season. The 24-year-old averaged 6.1 points and 2.4 rebounds in 55 games. He is only an average 3-point shooter and posted shooting splits of 46.4/37.1/71.7.
“The Bulls sought Okoro, specifically with the idea of establishing their defensive identity,” Lorenzi said. “Chicago has had a penchant for collecting questionable shooters in recent years, but one can assume the Bulls snagged Okoro with the hope he’ll improve there, and that this new chapter will see him turn a page toward impact. It’s not a one-on-one proposition, but Okoro’s emergence does seem to make things murky for Williams.”
“Not to say the two can’t play together — or that the Bulls won’t try it — but it’s not exactly aligned with the progressive, fast-paced, post-All-Star break offense,” Lorenzi continued. “It would be wise to leave no stone unturned with lineups, considering it’s unclear how many trade-worthy assets the Bulls actually have. But rehabbing the value of either Williams or Okoro feels significant.”
Photo Credit: Kyle Ross, Imagn Images
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