The Bulls Are the NBA’s Most Depressing Team
Chicago has backed itself into an unenviable corner and possibly the worst situation in the entire league. Changes could be coming soon.
It’s fair to wonder whether any team currently finds itself in a more hopeless situation than the Chicago Bulls. Recent wins against the Celtics and Bucks aside, Chicago’s present day is uneven and regrettable, muddled by unfortunate injuries, a youth movement that’s more theoretical than effective, and two former All-Stars that are unlikely to ever earn that distinction again.
What’s even more discouraging is Chicago’s future, considering this team was constructed to win now. When executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas chose to accelerate whatever track the Bulls were already on by ceding future assets to surround Zach LaVine with veterans Nikola Vucevic and DeMar DeRozan, so much had to go right.
Instead, 20 months after they traded Wendell Carter Jr., Otto Porter Jr., and two first-round picks for Vooch, all they have to show is a depressing playoff appearance against Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Bucks. Now, through 19 games, Chicago is 8-11. Its offense is made up of antiquated machinery that doddles uphill when they can’t create a bunch of turnovers on the other end. Earlier this month, Bulls head coach Billy Donovan called out his three highest-paid players before an embarrassing loss against the Magic. Then he benched LaVine in crunch time. One night doesn’t mean much in the grand scheme of an 82-game season, but myriad structural issues do.
Let’s not mince words: The window that cracked open after DeRozan was acquired is closed. If any team in the entire league should tank, it’s this one. The first-round pick they owe to the Magic in next year’s draft is top-four protected. Finishing with one of the three worst records in the league would guarantee a 52.1 percent chance to keep that pick in a draft that may transform the sport.
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