What Are the Bulls Short-Term Goals? Trade Candidates, Popular Merch, And Other Bulls Bullets

Jan 20, 2020

In other sports news: THE PACKERS LOST LOLOLOLOL

Chicago watching Aaron Rodgers walk to his couch on February 2nd.
pic.twitter.com/yHUL7tY00b

— Elias Schuster (@Schuster_Elias) January 20, 2020

I can’t laugh too hard though because the Bucks will likely destroy the Bulls tonight.

The fact of the matter is, the Chicago Bulls season isn’t over yet (and not just literally). The Bulls sit 3.5 games back from the 8th seed at the moment and, after tonight’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks, will play five of the next six games against below .500 opponents. Then, after a game against the Toronto Raptors, the Bulls will have yet another favorable stretch with six of eight games against teams with a losing record. Without Wendell Carter Jr. and Daniel Gafford, it’s hard to imagine this team can stay afloat (let alone do anything more than that), but thanks to this lackluster Eastern Conference, the Bulls organization can still claim their “playoff goal” as obtainable.

To be clear, I threw my postseason towel in weeks ago. However, I think it’s important to keep all of this in mind, because it can certainly impact the narrative/strategy moving forward. For example, if the Bulls somehow rattle off wins against upcoming weaker opponents, what would it mean for their actions at the trade deadline? Would they still try to move Kris Dunn or Thaddeus Young? In addition, as the season drags, the closer the NBA Draft becomes. The new lottery odds discourage from a full-on tank, but if the Bulls still opt for a playoff push, their chances at a top pick continue to go down.

The Athletic Darnell Mayberry writes that it’s time to focus on player development rather than the playoff conversation, which I have to agree with. Even if the Bulls can hover right around the 8th seed with what they’re currently doing, that doesn’t mean they should. Mayberry recommends several changes the Bulls should consider over these next 38 games.

Speaking of the trade deadlines, it unclear if Thaddeus Young will be on the move, but the Bulls should grab whatever they can for Denzel Valentine. To remind you, he’s a restricted free agent at the end of this season, and it’s obvious he isn’t apart of the Bulls plan moving forward. If that’s the case, they can’t just let him walk for nothing. Competitors always need shooting. Trade him and at least get a second-rounder. NBC Sports Chicago’s Rob Schaefer brainstorms more realistic trade ideas here.

I thought maybe I’d get through bullets without talking about Zach LaVine and the All-Star game, but here we are. It’s hard to say another player in the NBA is making as strong of a final push for an All-Star nod. Forbes Contributor Jason Patt talks about LaVine’s huge month of January where he’s averaging 30.6 points per game. I still think he just misses the cut, but he’s making a compelling case to NBA head coaches (In case you don’t know, reserve spots come down to coach votes).

OH.

Per @ckamka, Bulls 20+ point games this season

29 Zach LaVine
20 Everyone else combined

— Bulls Talk (@NBCSBulls) January 17, 2020

GETTING TO THE RIM >>>>>

Field goal attempts in the restricted area per game in January:

11.6- Ben Simmons
11.6 – Russell Westbrook
10.3 – ZACH LAVINE
10.2 – Clint Capela
10.1 – Montrezl Harrell

via @nbastats

— Jeff Mangurten (@JeffGurt) January 20, 2020

The Chicago Bulls still selling the 6th-most team Merchandise is somehow surprising and not surprising all at the same time.

LeBron and Lakers top latest jersey sales charts, per NBA. pic.twitter.com/rdtz0cpOk0

— Howard Beck (@HowardBeck) April 25, 2019

I may or may not have been telling people for the last two years that I think the Bulls should hire Becky Hammon.

Chicago Bulls fire Jim Boylen and hire Becky Hammon challenge https://t.co/wKmrkcpL95

— Ricky O'Donnell (@SBN_Ricky) January 20, 2020

If you want to see Coby’s hair in person …

I’ll be at Mike’s Sports N More this Thursday signing autographs with @FansAuthentic from 7-8:30 PM. pic.twitter.com/R1biMsPUFp

— whitecoby2 (@CobyWhite) January 20, 2020

written by

Elias Schuster

Elias Schuster is the Lead Chicago Bulls writer at Bleacher Nation. He started with BN full-time in 2019 immediately after graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign with a degree in Journalism (yes, he started with the Jim Boylen Era). Since joining, Elias has been the driving force behind Bulls and NBA content for both the site and social accounts. You can follow him on Twitter/X @Schuster_Elias.

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