Category: Bulls News

Breaking down Ayo Dosunmu’s breakout 2023-24 Bulls season

Ayo Dosunmu had a great season for the Chicago Bulls in 2023-24.

Heading into the 2023-24 season, the Chicago Bulls had high hopes. They wanted to bounce back from their brutal 2022-23 season. Instead, they struggled again. Injuries marred their season, and they once again fell into the catacombs of mediocrity. They finished the year below .500 and missed the playoffs for the second straight season.

That said, there were some highlights to the season that kept fans engaged, and one of them was the progression of Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu. After signing a new contract with the team last summer, Dosunmu had a great 2023-24 season, seriously breaking out into a star throughout the second half of the year.

The CHGO Sports YouTube channel recently broke down Dosunmu’s season and spoke about how elite his shooting was during the year.

Alongside Coby White, Dosunmu looks like a guy the Bulls can partially build around moving forward. His blend of defense and improved three-point shooting make him a very valuable asset.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Will the Chicago Bulls waive Lonzo Ball to save money this offseason?

Will the Chicago Bulls decide to waive Lonzo Ball this offseason?

It’s been a tough three years for the Chicago Bulls. After a promising start to the 2021-22 season, they fell apart in the second half of the year, largely due to an injury to Lonzo Ball. In the two seasons since then, Ball has yet to make his return to the court, and Chicago has endured two straight losing seasons.

However, Ball will be back next season. He just recently picked up his player option, securing his spot on the team for the 2024-25 season. However, what if the Bulls wanted to finally cut ties with the guard? They could try to trade him, or if worst comes to worst, they could waive him.

The CHGO Sports YouTube channel recently discussed whether or not the Bulls will decide to waive Ball this summer in hopes of creating more cap space to work with.

It seems unlikely the Bulls will cut ties with Ball considering how long they’ve stuck by him, but only time will tell.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Bulls forward DeMar DeRozan listed among ‘stars on the wrong team’

Is Chicago Bulls star DeMar DeRozan just on the wrong team?

The Chicago Bulls changed the course of their organization three years ago. Now, they find themselves at a crossroads, with some very important decisions to make this offseason. One of them is whether or not to re-sign DeMar DeRozan, who Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report believes is “on the wrong team.”

“DeRozan isn’t a perfect fit in any system, however,” Swartz wrote. “He’s a ball-dominant wing who takes a ton of mid-range shots and isn’t a high-level defender. DeRozan would be an ideal sixth man at some point with his instant offense, although the six-time All-Star should still be seeking starting opportunities. A sign-and-trade might help DeRozan get more money than he could make signing outright as a free agent in most places and help get him to a contender. The Philadelphia 76ers will be on the search for wings this offseason, while the Los Angeles Lakers and Miami Heat ranked 15th or worse offensively this year and could use DeRozan’s scoring punch.

“However, teams over either salary-cap apron can’t acquire players via sign-and-trade, and both the Lakers and Heat are currently projected to be over the first apron next year, per Spotrac. They’d have some financial hurdles to overcome if they wanted to acquire DeRozan this summer.”

If the Bulls want to move forward with a fresh start, they shouldn’t being back DeRozan.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Anthony Edwards pushes back on Michael Jordan comparisons

Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards doesn’t like bring compared to Chicago Bulls legend Michael Jordan.

In the 1990s, the NBA was run by the Chicago Bulls. But more specifically, the NBA was run by Michael Jordan. He became a worldwide phenomenon, bringing six championships to the city of Chicago and turning the Bulls into a worldwide icon. Now, he’s widely regarded as the greatest basketball player of all-time.

As of late, Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards has been drawing a ton of comparisons to Jordan, as he’s been completely taking over the NBA Playoffs. The 22-year-old has a similar game to Jordan, but he’s not a fan of the comparisons being made to the Bulls star.

Edwards told Melissa Rohlin of FOX Sports that he doesn’t want to be compared to Jordan anymore.

“I want it to stop,” Edwards said. “He’s the greatest of all time. I can’t be compared to him.”

Obviously, until Edwards wins some titles, he’ll never be on the same level as Jordan, but in terms of their games, it’s hard to deny the comparisons.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Would a Lonzo Ball return be a good thing for the Chicago Bulls?

Would Lonzo Ball coming back be good for the Chicago Bulls?

It’s been over two calendar years since Lonzo Ball stepped onto the basketball court for the Chicago Bulls. He suffered a knee injury in the middle of the 2021-22 season and hasn’t been back. Since then, the Bulls have endured two straight losing seasons, including two straight Play-In Tournament exits at the hands of the Miami Heat.

Ball just recently accepted his player option for the 2024-25 season, as it was widely expected he would, and is set to rejoin the team for another year. There have been some rumblings of progress in regard to his recovery, but he’s still yet to sniff the hardwood.

The Locked On Bulls podcast recently discussed whether or not a Ball return would be a good thing for Chicago at this point.

Seeing Ball back on the court would be an amazing story, but for a Bulls team that should be planning for the future, would they be better off just moving on from the point guard?

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Will latest Lonzo Ball move stop Bulls from being active this summer?

Will the Chicago Bulls avoid being active this summer now that Lonzo Ball has opted into his player option?

Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball has accepted his player option and will be a part of the roster for the 2024-25 season. Ball hasn’t played in a game for the Bulls in over two calendar years after hurting his knee in the 2021-22 season. Chicago has been dealing with his absence ever since.

The question is, when do the Bulls finally cut ties and move on without him? Ball opting into his player option means Chicago has the opportunity to either trade him or keep him around and hope he gets back onto the court. But will it prevent them from being active?

The Chicago Bulls Central YouTube channel recently discussed whether or not Ball opting into his contract will stop the Bulls from making serious moves this summer.

Will the Bulls now sit idly by in hopes of Ball returning to the court, or will they actually push forward and make significant changes to the roster?

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Oft-injured Chicago Bulls guard Lonzo Ball picks up $21.4 million player option, as expected

It will be interesting to see whether the Bulls’ front office sees him as part of Chicago’s future.

To the surprise of pretty much no one, veteran Chicago Bulls point guard Lonzo Ball has picked up his player option on the final year of his current contract with the Bulls, worth about $21.4 million, according to recent reporting from senior ESPN news breaker Adrian Wojnarowski.

Ball, who has spent the bulk of the last three seasons sidelined with a serious knee injury that has resisted rehabilitation, has shown signs of progress in recent months, and may be back on the court next season. With most of his four-season, $80 million deal now behind him, it will be interesting to see whether the Bulls’ front office sees him as part of Chicago’s future.

With the emergence of reserve guards Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu, the age curve of the team may be about to undergo a radical transformation. After reports that Zach LaVine and perhaps also Nikola Vucevic may be on the move, the direction of this team may be towards flux.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Is Chicago Bulls veteran center Nikola Vucevic a trade candidate?

We are hearing rumbles that the Bulls big man is going to be shopped this coming 2024 NBA offseason.

Is Chicago Bulls veteran center Nikola Vucevic a trade candidate? We are hearing rumbles that the Bulls big man is going to be shopped this coming 2024 NBA offseason from the Chicago Sun-Times’ Joe Cowley, who reports that the Bulls will look to overhaul the roster significantly this summer.

“While … moving LaVine this offseason remains priority one, a source also said that Vucevic would be shopped as well,” reports Cowley. “The reality of the situation, however, is that both players could be tough to move.” Bulls fans need no reminder of the considerable cost and length of the oft-injured Chicago guard’s contract, but Vooch’s isn’t exactly a bargain given his situation either.

Currently owed $20 million for the 2024-25 season and another $21 million for the season beyond it, the 33-year-old big man is losing a step while shooting about as bad from beyond the arc (29.4%) as he ever has.

Still, there may be contenders in need of Vucevic’s services, even if they are overpriced and declining. And we expect a fair amount of ball clubs across the league to start working on their buyer’s remorse that could also come into play.

So while we do not think it likely both LaVine and Vooch are with new teams come October, it is also more probable than some fans will let themselves admit based on recent history. If, that is, the front office is serious about retooling the roster (and that’s a big if).

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Bulls guard Alex Caruso wins 2023-24 NBA Hustle Award

Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso has won the 2023-24 NBA Hustle Award.

According to an announcement from the NBA’s official communications account, Chicago Bulls guard Alex Caruso has won the Hustle Award. The honor is given to a player who makes a significant impact on games through stats that don’t always show up in the box score. Marcus Smart had won the award for two straight years prior to this one, and in 2021, Bulls big man Thaddeus Young won it.

Scottie Barnes, Brandin Podziemski, Lu Dort, and Grant Williams were all also up for the award this year, but Caruso managed to beat them out. The Bulls guard will also be hoping to land on his second-straight All-Defensive Team this season.

In 71 appearances for the Bulls this season (including 57 starts), Caruso averaged 10.1 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists while shooting 46.8% from the field and 40.8% from behind the three-point line.

His impact on the game was noticeable every night for the Bulls, as he constantly made an impact with his hustle on both ends of the court.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Could a Zach LaVine return hurt Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu?

Would Zach LaVine returning to the Chicago Bulls hurt the growth of Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu?

When Zach LaVine went down with a season-ending injury this season, it looked like the end of the road for the Chicago Bulls. Instead, Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu stepped into much larger roles, picked up the slack, and helped Chicago make the Play-In Tournament. Now, Sam Smith of NBA.com is pondering an important question: Could a LaVine return hurt White and Dosunmu’s development?

“In some respects, the Bulls look like they moved on with the development of Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu in LaVine’s absence,” Smith wrote. “Still, they finished the regular season with a poorer record than last season with LaVine missing half this season, and again failed to make the playoffs.

“Perhaps puncturing the notion the team is better off without LaVine. A salient question has been if LaVine returns whether it would set back the development of White and Dosunmu.”

It seems as though the Bulls are focused on finding a trade for LaVine, meaning White and Dosunmu would have plenty of room to continue growing.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]