NEWSLETTER
While the cries for change have grown ever louder in recent weeks, the Bulls’ offices might as well be soundproof.
Most rumors this season have centered around minor tweaks, if anything, for the Bulls’ underachieving roster. We’ve heard practically nothing about the organization seriously considering mixing up their core three of Nikola Vucevic, DeMar DeRozan, and Zach LaVine. And, according to both Brian Windhorst and Jamal Collier of ESPN, things will likely stay that way as Feb. 9 (the 2023 NBA Trade Deadline) inches closer.
“The vibe I’ve gotten recently is that’s not the direction the Bulls are going – that they are going to continue to try to go forward and try to capture some sort of run in the second half,” Windhorst said on the latest episode of The Hoops Collective Podcast.
Collier echoed Windhorst’s statement about the Bulls’ deadline plans, adding a bit more intel about the front office’s desire to see this roster through.
“I think they want to give it time,” Collier said. “They look at a team – at least around those guys – that still wasn’t built that long ago. And they’re still looking at a major piece that may not be a factor this year but may be a factor at some point. And they want to give this team every chance it can take … As far as right now, a major change to this roster to shake things up, I don’t see that necessarily being in the cards.”
A small part of me can come to terms with doing very little at the deadline. The only reason for this would be due to proper deals not materializing and the offseason providing more opportunities to do good business. The reason I can not get behind under any circumstance, however, is that this roster needs more time.
If the front office is truly still holding out hope that this existing group can go on a meaningful second-half surge, they are simply blinded by ego. And, to be sure, I used the word “meaningful” because there is a real chance this group can make it through the Play-In Tournament and into the postseason. Even if they pulled that off, though, change will remain extremely necessary.
Whether it be shooting, rim protection, or facilitating, there are glaring holes on this roster that can not be denied. The Bulls are mistaken if they believe that more time playing together will fill those holes, and all they need to do is look at their 23-27 record to see just that. We talked more about that in today’s bullets.
Timing is everything in the NBA. The longer the Bulls wait to take action, the more opportunities they might miss. Again, I can understand if certain things don’t work out at this deadline (particularly as it pertains to trading members of the “Big 3”), but that isn’t an excuse to do nothing. Whether it be Coby White, Andre Drummond, or even Alex Caruso, other trade talks could and should be had.
Indeed, an 11th-place standing more than halfway through the season is all the proof Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley should need to take at least some sort of action.
