Category: Bulls News

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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Bulls’ Coby White shares thoughts on pressure of Play-In Tournament

Chicago Bulls guard Coby White spoke about the pressure of playing in the Play-In Tournament.

The Chicago Bulls began the season in quite a predicament. They started the year 5-14, and it looked as though they could earn themselves a one-way ticket to the NBA Draft Lottery. However, they turned their season around. In spite of injuries to Zach LaVine and Patrick Williams, the Bulls pushed their way back up the East standings.

They weren’t able to get all the way back into the playoffs, but they are in the Play-In Tournament. They’ll need to win two games if they want to make the playoffs, but it all starts with the nine-ten game against the Atlanta Hawks.

Coby White recently discussed the pressure that comes with playing in a win-or-go-home game, noting that he just wants to treat it like any other game. (H/t Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune)

“I don’t want it to feel different,” he said. “For me, every game this year was important. This is no different.”

The Bulls’ entire season hinges on one game.

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Chicago Bulls receive middling grade for average season

The Chicago Bulls’ received a painfully average grade for their 2023-24 season.

For the second year in a row, the Chicago Bulls finished the season with a below-.500 record. Considering they went all in on their new-look core in 2021, headlined by DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic, and Zach LaVine, that level of mediocrity should be considered a disappointment. And according to Andy Bailey of Bleacher Report, who recently graded every team’s season, it was.

“No team screamed “average” quite like the Chicago Bulls this season,” Bailey wrote. “At times, it felt like they might threaten a .500 record or make a push to escape the play-in, but those moments always seemed to be followed by a two- or three-game losing streak. And even if the Bulls manage to win back-to-back play-in games and make the playoffs, it’s hard to imagine anything other than a squash job in the first round at the hands of the Celtics.”

Chicago can’t continue on this same path if they hope to be a relevant team in the NBA.

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Season of questions for Chicago Bulls didn’t provide many answers

This season spawned far more questions than answers for the Chicago Bulls.

The Chicago Bulls have had to battle all season. From their 5-14 start to the season to the multitude of injuries they’ve had to deal with, nothing has come easy for Chicago. On the one hand, they still managed to make the Play-In Tournament, but on the other, they finished with a below-.500 record for the second straight season.

For a Bulls team that went all-in in 2021. They traded for Nikola Vucevic and signed DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball, and Alex Caruso in free agency. Since they made those moves, the Bulls have only won a single playoff game. Not good enough, considering how much they sacrificed their future.

The Locked On Bulls YouTube channel recently discussed how this Bulls season provided more questions than answers.

Heading into the offseason, the Bulls will have some very tough decisions to make, especially considering how mediocre they have been for the entirety of this core’s existence.

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How will Chicago Bulls fare against Atlanta Hawks in Play-In

A preview and prediction for the Chicago Bulls’ Play-In game against the Atlanta Hawks.

The Chicago Bulls have had a very weird season. They began the year at 5-14 but quickly turned things around. However, they also dealt with a ton of injuries throughout the year, with both Zach LaVine and Patrick Williams missing significant time. Now, they find themselves in the Play-In Tournament.

They will be squaring off against the Atlanta Hawks, hosting them at the United Center in the nine-ten game. DeMar DeRozan vs. Trae Young. Coby White vs. Dejounte Murray. Nikola Vuecvic vs. Jalen Johnson. Both teams will be fighting to keep their seasons alive, but only one squad will be able to walk away victorious.

The Bulls Central YouTube channel recently gave out a prediction for the game, previewing the matchup in the process.

Chicago has been great in clutch situations all season, and there isn’t a more clutch situation than a win-or-go-home game. Nothing is certain, but if the Bulls want to keep playing meaningful basketball, they need a win.

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