Category: Bulls News

Nikola Vucevic travels to support Magic at playoff game vs. Cavaliers

Chicago Bulls big man Nikola Vucevic pulled up to support the Orlando Magic in their first home playoff game of 2024.

In 2021, the Chicago Bulls decided they were done with rebuilding. At the trade deadline, they made a move for big man Nikola Vucevic, and the following summer, they added DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball, and Alex Caruso in free agency. They went all in, trying to make a push for the playoffs.

Unfortunately, in the three seasons since then, they’ve only made the playoffs one time. And that was the first year. They lost in the first round, winning just one game in the process. For the past two years, the Bulls have finished the season with a below-.500 record and got eliminated by the Miami Heat in the Play-In Tournament.

However, despite just re-upping with the Bulls this past summer, Vucevic still has love for his former squad. The Orlando Magic are in the playoffs, taking on the Cleveland Cavaliers, and Vucevic pulled up to support them in their first home game.

They got a win, so the Magic and Bulls have officially won the same number of playoff games since the trade in 2021.

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Who deserves most blame for Chicago Bulls’ 2023-24 season?

Who deserves the most blame for the 2023-24 Chicago Bulls season?

The Chicago Bulls’ 2023-24 season was brutal. For the second season in a row, they finished the year with a below-.500 record, and just like in the 2022-23 season, they lost to the Miami Heat in the Play-In Tournament. Two seasons in a row, two years without a playoff appearance for the Bulls.

When the Bulls put together this roster in 2021, they had very high hopes. They ended Chicago’s rebuild and pivoted the team toward competing, yet since then, they’ve only made the playoffs once, and they only won one postseason game that year, getting bounced by the Milwaukee Bucks in Round 1.

The Chicago Bulls Central YouTube channel recently discussed who is most to blame for the Bulls’ failure of a 2023-24 season.

Arturas Karnisovas and the front office deserve some blame, the coaching staff deserves some blame, and the players deserve some blame, too. But it all starts from the top. The roster the front office put together simple isn’t good enough.

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KOT4Q rebuilds the Chicago Bulls in NBA 2K24

YouTuber KOT4Q rebuilt the Chicago Bulls on his channel following their Play-In Tournament loss.

For the second straight season, the Chicago Bulls’ season ended in a Play-In Tournament loss to the Miami Heat. They finished the regular season with a sub-.500 record and got bounced in the Play-In. Needless to say, that’s not exactly the standard the front office expected when they put together this new-look group in 2021.

Heading into the 2024 offseason, Chicago is set to take a huge look in the mirror. Arturas Karnisovas has already admitted that something isn’t working, and it seems likely that the Bulls shake things up ahead of next season. The NBA Draft, the trade market, and free agency will be crucial to this plan.

YouTuber and noted Bulls fan KOT4Q rebuilt the Bulls on his channel following their Play-In loss.

The core of Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic, and DeMar DeRozan clearly hasn’t worked, so as the Bulls look to reshape their roster, that trio may not be intact next season.

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A 2024 offseason guide for the Chicago Bulls from Bobby Marks

ESPN’s Bobby Marks recently put out his 2024 offseason guide for the Chicago Bulls.

For the past three years, the Chicago Bulls have accepted mediocrity. After a solid start to their first season with their current core, they simply were okay with being a middle-of-the-pack team in the Eastern Conference. But after a second-straight losing season that culminated in a Play-In defeat to the Miami Heat, Arturas Karnisovas finally admitted that this team isn’t working.

Now, heading into the offseason, the Bulls will have some big decisions to make. Should they re-sign DeMar DeRozan? What types of players should they target in free agency? What could a potential Zach LaVine trade look like this summer?

ESPN’s Bobby Marks, a former NBA GM, recently put out his full offseason guide for the Bulls this summer.

There have already been rumors that the Bulls plan to trade LaVine, so that’s a good place to start, but after that is said and done, there is still a lot for Chicago to do.

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Moving Zach LaVine reportedly the focal point of Chicago Bulls’ offseason

Recent rumbles suggest that moving on from Zach LaVine this coming offseason is a priority.

Fans of the Chicago Bulls have been calling for the team’s front office to make some substantial changes to the organization after three straight offseasons and trade deadlines without making major moves. And the Bulls’ execs have finally made some changes to the team, but not likely of the sort fans have been clamoring for.

Chicago’s front office has reportedly made the decision to make some changes to Bulls head coach Billy Donovan’s bench of assistant coaches, with Mo Cheeks and Chris Fleming reportedly out. But it is change in an organization that desperately needs it — perhaps it will soon be followed by more substantive moves?

Recent rumbles from NBC Sports Chicago’s KC Johnson suggest that moving on from Zach LaVine this coming offseason is a priority.

The hosts of the “Locked On Bulls” podcast, Haize and Pat the Designer, recently dialed in on what this news could mean for Chicago. Check it out above!

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Players voted Coby White as one of most underrated players in NBA

NBA players voted Chicago Bulls guard Coby White one of the most underrated players in the league.

The Athletic just conducted their yearly poll where they ask NBA players a variety of questions about things around the league. One of the questions they ask players is, “Who is the league’s most underrated player? Chicago Bulls point guard Coby White was among the players receiving votes for the question.

Boston Celtics guards Derrick White (10.3% of the votes) and Jrue Holiday (7.1%)  finished tied for first and third, respectively, while Oklahoma City Thunder guard Jalen Williams tied with Derrick for the lead. Meanwhile, Chicago’s very own guard was in the running, as White earned 3.2% of the votes, tying with Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner for seventh place.

Ayo Dosunmu was the only other Bulls player to receive multiple votes, as he sat at 1.6% alongside guys like Tyrese Maxey and Jalen Brunson.

White just wrapped up the best season of his career and is a finalist for the Most Improved Player award alongside Alperen Sengun and Maxey.

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DeMar DeRozan shares simple thought after Bulls’ Play-In loss to Heat

After the Chicago Bulls’ loss to the Miami Heat in the Play-In Tournament, DeMar DeRozan spoke about his team’s missed shots.

Ever since they reshaped their roster in 2021, the Chicago Bulls have been the poster children for mediocrity. After making the playoffs in the first season of having their new core intact, they’ve gone two straight years without a winning record. In both seasons, they found themselves in the Play-In Tournament. And in both seasons, they lost to the Miami Heat.

Chicago got blown to bits on Friday night, losing by a score of 112-91 to the Heat. Just two nights after scoring 131 points against the Atlanta Hawks in the nine-ten Play-In Tournament game, the Bulls’ offense crumbled, as they simply couldn’t find the bottom of the net.

After the game, Bulls star DeMar DeRozan shared a simple thought about Chicago’s offense and the outcome of the game. (H/t ESPN)

“It was tough,” DeRozan said. “We missed a lot of easy shots.”

The Bulls shot just 35-of-92 (38.0%) from the floor and 13-of-43 (30.2%) from beyond the three-point arc.

Billy Donovan points to Bulls shooting woes in Play-In loss to Heat

After the Chicago Bulls’ Play-In loss to the Miami Heat, Billy Donovan spoke about their first-half scoring woes.

For the second year in a row, the Chicago Bulls’ season fizzled out in the Play-In Tournament. And for the second year in a row, their final game of the season was a loss to the Miami Heat. After taking down the Atlanta Hawks in the first Play-In, the Bulls got absolutely steamrolled by the Heat on Friday night.

Chicago only managed to score 37 points in the first half, and DeMar DeRozan had 15 of those points. They shot just 12-of-44 (27.3%) from the field and 5-of-24 (20.8%) from behind the three-point line. Meanwhile, Miami got the job done with some nice spread-out scoring across the board.

After the game, head coach BillyDonovan spoke about the Bulls’ scoring woes in the first half. (H/t Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune)

“DeMar was the only one that was scoring in that first half,” Donovan said. “It was hard for us when we were not scoring and they were scoring. I think our guys were trying to compete. There were plays where our guys were trying to mix it up a little bit and trying to get to the glass and trying to create second-chance opportunities. Our guys tried to battle through a very, very difficult shooting game.”

Another season, another brutal ending for the Bulls.

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DeMar DeRozan recalls frustration after 2023 Play-In loss to Heat

Ahead of their rematch, DeMar DeRozan recalled the frustration after the Chicago Bulls’ 2023 loss to the Miami Heat in the Play-In.

The Chicago Bulls took down the Atlanta Hawks in the nine-ten game of the Play-In Tournament on Wednesday night, and now, they are staring a chance at redemption right in the face. For the second year in a row, they are set to face off against the Miami Heat in the second Play-In game with a chance at a playoff spot on the line.

Last year, the Bulls were in control for a lot of the game, only for the Heat to go on a run in the last five minutes, sending Chicago packing. Miami went on to make the NBA Finals, and the Bulls went home sad.

Ahead of their rematch, DeMar DeRozan recalled the bitter feelings that occurred after their loss one year ago. (H/t Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times)

“I remember that plane ride home vividly,” DeRozan said. “Everyone was frustrated. That feeling sucked. I know for me that was one thing on my mind when I realized we’re going back to Miami, not to have that feeling.”

With Jimmy Butler hobbled, the Bulls have a great shot this time around.

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Coby White shows love to fans after Bulls’ Play-In win over Hawks

After his monster game in the Play-In Tournament against the Atlanta Hawks, Coby White showed love to the Chicago Bulls fans in attendance.

With their season on the line, the Chicago Bulls welcomed the Atlanta Hawks to United Center for the nine-ten Play-In game. The winner would go on to play the Miami Heat for a chance to make the playoffs and take on the Boston Celtics, while the loser would see their season end in the blink of an eye.

Luckily for the Bulls, Coby White stepped up in a big way. After struggling mightily to end the season after coming back from an injury, White popped off in the Play-In Tournament game, dropping a career-high 42 points against the Hawks and leading the Bulls to a 131-116 victory.

After the game, White showed his appreciation to the fans at United Center for supporting him throughout his huge night. (H/t ESPN)

“It was a dope moment for that to happen,” White said. “I’m thankful for the fans. It felt like a playoff vibe. The place was rocking tonight.”

In addition to his 42 points, White also had nine rebounds, six assists, and two steals. He shot 15-of-21 from the field and 3-of-7 from behind the three-point line.

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