Tag: 2023-24 Chicago Bulls

Which NBA teams are realistic trade partners for the Bulls’ Zach LaVine?

By now, the biggest open secret in the league is that Chicago would like to move on from its LaVine era.

Which NBA teams are realistic trade partners for the Chicago Bulls’ veteran guard Zach LaVine? By now, the biggest open secret in the league is that Chicago would like to move on from its LaVine era, and the feeling is likely mutual at this point.

But it takes two to tango as the old saying goes, and for the Bulls, that means finding a ball club willing to take on the UCLA alum’s pricey contract and significant injury history for future seasons. Is his potential enough to bring back useful assets, or might this deal be more about wiping the slate clean?

To try to take stock of the situation of how the LaVine era will finally come to a close in Chicago, the hosts of the “CHGO Bulls” podcast sat down to come up with some realistic suitors for LaVine.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear what they had to say.

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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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Chicago Bulls’ playoff dreams shattered in embarrassing loss to Miami Heat

Chicago’s season ends in a 112-91 loss to the Heat.

The Chicago Bulls have been one of the best clutch teams in the NBA in the 2023-24 season. But when their final play-in game was drawing to a close, the Miami Heat had ballooned a lead with a massive run in the game’s third quarter that the Bulls never managed to respond to.

Chicago’s season would end in a 112-91 loss to the Heat, who managed the win even without star forward Jimmy Butler, who was sidelined with an MCL injury that will likely have him out for several weeks. The Bulls have had awful luck this season, and some of that luck has been made by the lack of moves made by the team’s front office.

Rather than load up with some help at the NBA’s 2024 trade deadline, the Bulls stood pat despite having two key backcourt players out injured.

The season ended as it went — poorly executed, and disappointing for the fans. The hosts of the “CHGO Bulls Postgame” podcast weighed in on the end of Chicago’s season. Check it out above.

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Chicago’s Coby White projected to win NBA’s 2024 Most Improved Player award

The folks voting for the NBA’s 2024 Most Improved Player award cut out for them.

With players like Philadelphia 76ers point guard Tyrese Maxey, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams, and wing Jalen Suggs of the Orlando Magic all having such good seasons, the folks voting for the NBA’s 2024 Most Improved Player award cut out for them.

But at least for the folks behind the panel at Bleacher Report’s end of season awards projections, when it comes to their pick, it is Chicago Bulls floor general Coby White. “The 24-year-old started 78 games, almost doubling his output of 19.1 points and 5.1 assists, with a jump from 23.4 to 36.5 minutes per game,” writes Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus.

“Injuries have Chicago in the play-in, but they wouldn’t be there without White—at what is now a discount price for two more seasons.”

“Maxey may be the favorite to win the award off a tremendous season, but he was already quite good last year,” he adds. ” White’s jump from ‘just a guy’ to starting guard, averaging almost 20 points per game, was more impressive.”

That may be the most concise argument we have seen in favor of a White nod for this award, and while it is close enough that we would not begrudge a Maxey victory, we tend to agree with Pincus on this one.

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Coby White’s career game helps keep Chicago Bulls’ season alive in play-in win vs. Hawks

White had one of his best all-around tilts at the NBA level to date,.

While it is certainly possible that the Chicago Bulls could have come out on top in their 131-116 win over the Atlanta Hawks at United Center this past Wednesday (April 17) without the career game from Bulls guard Coby White, it certainly would not have been as emphatic of a win.

White had one of his best all-around tilts at the NBA level to date, scoring a career-high 42 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 2 steals in 43 minutes of floor time. The North Carolina alum shot a sizzling 15-of-21 from the floor overall, 3-of-7 from deep, and a near-perfect 9-of-10 from the charity stripe with no fouls and just 3 turnovers.

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

The folks behind the “Bulls Central” YouTube channel took a moment to break down White’s big game in context for what he will need to do to help keep Chicago’s season alive in a recent video. Check it out above!

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Chicago Bulls keep their playoff hopes alive with play-in win vs. Atlanta Hawks

The Bulls advance another step towards the full playoffs.

Before the key tilt tipped off at United Center on this past Wednesday (April 17), it was not at all clear who might win the 9 – 10 play-in game for the Eastern Conference. But thanks to extraordinary play from Chicago Bulls point guard Coby White and some mediocre play from the Atlanta Hawks, the question surrounding the Bulls is now whether they can win once more to make the regular playoffs.

Pending their looming tilt vs. the Miami Heat on this coming Friday (April 20), Chicago gets the dubious honor of facing either the East juggernaut that is the Boston Celtics should they win, or a jump start on their offseason if they lose.

The hosts of the “Locked On Bulls” podcast, Haize and Pat the Designer, took a closer look at the win for Chicago on a recent episode.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear what hey had to say about the Bulls’ playoff hopes.

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Another season of questions and few answers for the Chicago Bulls

What can the Bulls’ 2023-24 NBA season tell us about their future?

What can the Chicago Bulls‘ 2023-24 NBA season tell us about their future? At the moment, not very much, it seems. Will the front office try to run it back yet again, with the hopes that health will finally look kindly on a Bulls roster that fell to pieces in terms of health this season?

Are older players like DeMar DeRozan and Andre Drummond to be brought back in such an effort, or will the Bulls lean into their youth movement after the emergence of Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Adama Sanogo, and others? Trying to guess what sort of plans the front office has for this team is no easy task for NBA analysts and fans alike.

The hosts of the “Locked On Bulls” podcast, Haize and Pat the Designer, did their best to try to glean what they could from the evidence we have.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear what they had to say.

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Breaking down the Chicago Bulls’ play-in matchup with the Atlanta Hawks

The Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, or Indiana Pacers could also be waiting for them should they advance.

The Chicago Bulls had big hopes at the start of the NBA’s 2023-24 season, but injuries to Lonzo Ball, Zach LaVine, and Patrick Williams had something else to say about that hoped-for outcome. Now, instead of a bounce-back season for the Bulls after a few disappointing ones, Chicago is staring down a tilt (or more) in the league’s play-in tournament.

But the Bulls at least have a long runway to study up on how they will play the Atlanta Hawks, the opponent they are locked into for that first contest of the tourney. The Philadelphia 76ers, Miami Heat, or Indiana Pacers could also be waiting for them should they advance, but one game at a time for now.

On a recent episode of the “Bulls Talk” podcast, hosts K.C. Johnson and Kevin Anderson took a closer look at Chicago’s play-in outlook.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear what they had to say.

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Bulls to take intriguing French forward in new mock draft

While he may not have the physical gifts or talents of Wemby, he is still an intriguing prospect.

The 2024 NBA draft is a distant event to most fans of the Chicago Bulls. But for folks who earn a living projecting the NBA draft, it is actually pretty late in the game of assessing each year’s crop of draft prospects. And the folks over at the Ringer have a target in mind for the Bulls’ first round pick of the 2024 draft, a 6-foot-8 French forward currently playing in Europe for JL Bourg in the LNB Pro A league that produced Victor Wembanyama.

That player would be 19-year-old Zaccharie Risacher, and while he may not have the physical gifts or talents of Wemby, he is still an intriguing prospect for Chicago to consider. Compared to Michael Porter, Jr. by the Ringer, Risacher can play up or down from his natural 3 position, and is a dangerous catch-and-shoot marksman.

He does struggle to finish at the rim at a level that concerns, and his long-distance shot needs more volume to feel confident that it is as good as we hope it is.

But even before his breakthrough this season as a jump shooter, he was serviceable enough. And with his solid defensive chops and his slashing attacks, the ceiling on Risacher is high, and the floor not terribly low.

While there are a few wings with higher floors likely to be had later in the draft, if Risacher is still on the board, the Bulls should pull the trigger and draft him.

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Could the Chicago Bulls really lose Billy Donovan to Kentucky?

If you believe the whispers coming from fans of the University of Kentucky Men’s Basketball program, they might.

Could the Chicago Bulls end up needing to do a head coaching search this coming offseason? If you believe the whispers coming from fans of the University of Kentucky Men’s Basketball program, they might.

The folks over at CBS Sports are suggesting that Chicago head coach Billy Donovan might defect back to the college ranks to helm UK after the departure of longtime Kentucky head coach John Calipari. That is the sort of plum gig that could conceivably pry the former two-time, back-to-back NCAA titlist from what has been a losing situation in Chicago for some time now.

Could the Bulls really lose Donovan to the Wildcats?

The folks behind the “Bulls Central” YouTube channel took a closer look at the context of this situation on a recent clip they put together after news broke that Kentucky might have eyes for Donovan’s services after parting with Calipari.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear their take.

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