Build on the Core or Look to the Future? Transaction Pause Extended, Best Bulls Hairstyles, and Other Bulls Bullets

Who here knows Matt Steigenga?

The guy played literally two games for the Bulls in 1997 in what was his only season in the NBA. And guess what? He got a ring.

  • What will the Bulls roster look like at the start of the 2020-21 season? My guess is a very similar squad to the one they have now; after all, the Bulls have barely any financial flexibility this upcoming offseason. However, with a new executive VP of basketball operations, we can’t rule out any kind of change, however substantial. Arturas Karnisovas might want to hit the ground running with a significant roster shakeup, which could make for a fun next couple of months (well, if you ignore the whole world is kind of on fire part, and basketball isn’t even being played).
  • I may be too optimistic, but I don’t see the need for a complete restart to the rebuild. Coby White, Zach LaVine, Wendell Carter Jr., Lauri Markkanen, and Daniel Gafford are all solid, young pieces on which to build, and none of them have to go anywhere. No, I don’t think all of these players will be a part of the new longterm plan, but I think the majority certainly can be. If Karnisovas can fix the player development department and hire a head coach who understands how to actually use his personnel (shots fired at Jim Boylen), I don’t see why this core can’t be competitive.
  • (Photo by Getty Images)

  • With that said, it’s going to take some mixing and matching. Karnisovas has an eye for talent, and he’ll have to evaluate which of the Bulls current young players have the brightest futures. His first decision will have to be whether to work on an extension with Markkanen this offseason. Toward the end of his rookie contract, the 22-year-old can now try to construct a new deal, but does Karnisovas value him enough? Could he instead be dangled in the trade market sometime soon?
  • The only way to really make an impact on this roster from the get-go will be to trade pieces away, and with that being the case, next season’s trade deadline could be seriously interesting. Not only will teams be looking to clear space for the stacked 2021 free-agent class, but Karnisovas may have a better understanding of his talent by then. Perhaps the new VP could wait to make a substantial move until this time.
  • Meanwhile, Bleacher Report said the Bulls young core is just built to collapse. Yippie.
  • JUICY. The Athletic wrote about everything that’s been happening behind-the-scenes for the Jazz since the NBA’s suspension. And according to the report, star players Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert are still on very bad terms following the team’s COVID-19 fiasco. In fact, one source even said the relationship “doesn’t appear salvageable.” Yikes. Well, if Mitchell or Gobert need a home, I know a great city that is about to get quite the basketball makeover! Hit me up (since obviously both are hardcore BN supporters and 100 percent reading this)!
  • Smart.
  • The Chicago Bulls keep getting that positive national attention!
  • Jamal Crawford should still be playing.
  • Rodman, Joakim, Coby. Next.
  • Why you got to attack me like that, Mayor Lightfoot?
  • KEEP DOING THAT AWESOME WORK!
  • written by

    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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