The Bulls fan in me is happy, but the basketball fan in me is happier.
While I don’t particularly dislike any one player on the Boston Celtics, it’s simply not a franchise I want to see hoist another Larry O’Brien Trophy. If the East isn’t running through Chicago, I don’t want it running at all. Period.
Even more satisfying than a Celtics defeat, however, was a Warriors win. I’m not any kind of Golden State stan, but my sheer love for the history of the round orange bouncy thing had me salivating over what the franchise accomplished last night.
The Warriors – led by a top-12(?) player of all-time in Stephen Curry – perfectly define this most recent era of NBA basketball, thus feeling like the ideal champ for the league’s 75th Anniversary. They have now joined teams like the 90s Bulls and the 2000s Lakers in defining their own special stretch of history. Last night’s victory solidified their status as a true dynasty, and it’s arguably the most unique one we’ve seen to date.
Congrats to the Warriors. And congrats to Stephen freakin’ Curry. I have nothing but love and respect for Kevin Durant’s greatness. However, too many people questioned what Curry and his teammates could accomplish when he left. They won before Durant, and they’ve now won after him. That’s impossible not to respect.
Darn, guess the Bulls are going to have to tie things up again next season!
Here’s a fact I am having trouble coming to terms with: Otto Porter has a ring. Look, I don’t really have that much of a bone to pick with the guy. Injuries are injuries, and it’s not his fault they refused to leave him alone during his time in Chicago. But it’s still hard not to let out a slightly annoyed chuckle knowing he won a ring one season after he was traded away. I mean, seriously!? And it’s also not like he didn’t contribute! He played in more games during this one season for Golden State than he did during his entire three-season tenure with the Bulls. Porter’s 19 playoff appearances even surpassed the total number of games he played in 2019-20 for Chicago. Ugh.
Well, as one wild season ends a normally more wild offseason begins. We have only six days until the NBA Draft and only 13 days until the start of free agency. While most eyes will be on LaVine’s decision at the start of July, the bigger story could end up being whatever happens on June 23rd. We all know draft night is one of the most unpredictable days of the year, and we also know Arturas Karnisovas is always willing to pick up the phone. Rumor already has it that he could look to move his No. 18 pick.
I’m not going to be surprised at all if Artūras Karnišovas does blindside us mid-draft. But I also think the best decision would be to take a swing at whatever player he finds to be the best available. As much as this team needs veteran assistance, they also need more high-upside youngsters to extend their competitive window. I’m also just not sure how strong of a player No. 18 + Coby White could net this team. The goal would be a two-way starting-caliber wing or power forward, but can they get that?
ESPN went ahead and released a way-too-early power ranking for the 2022-23 season, and I pretty much have to agree with where the Bulls currently sit. Analysts kept them inside the East’s top-6 and placed them No. 13 overall. Considering the future of Zach LaVine is still *technically* in question, that feels about right. We also witnessed how desperately they needed shooting and size during the postseason, so perhaps after they (hopefully) re-sign LaVine and rework their bench, we can see them slide further up the totem pole. But, regardless, seeing the Bulls comfortably viewed as a top-15 team heading into the season is a nice change of scenery.
Will the Chicago Bulls draft pick be in the green room next week?
ICYMI: We talked about three more prospects that might be on the Bulls’ radar heading into the big night.
You need to see how good this looks:
Some important updates from camp:
Good things?
NEWSLETTER
