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Two years ago, the Chicago Bulls decided they were done rebuilding, choosing instead to push their chips on the table and push for a playoff spot. Since then, they’ve won one playoff game. This past season, they were bounced in the play-in tournament, missing the postseason entirely.
The core of Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic is solid, but last season proved it’s not quite good enough to guarantee a playoff spot, despite their late-season success. Now, Arturas Karnisovas has stated his desire to run the team back, as he does not wish to rebuild the roster.
Unfortunately for Chicago and Bulls fans, the team could not have picked a worse time to go all in and avoid a rebuild.
The NBA has been as competitive as ever for the past three seasons, and with all the parity in the league, unless a team has a top-10 player, it could be fighting for a play-in spot. Even if a team does have an elite player, such as Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks, it isn’t guaranteed anything.
It’s as difficult as ever for the Bulls to be a perennial playoff team, especially with their current roster and lack of consistent 3-point shooting.
And even if they were to rebuild now, it’s the worst possible time for it.
Last summer, the Utah Jazz hit the reset button, and they received a haul. Rudy Gobert landed them a ridiculous package of picks and players, while Donovan Mitchell netted them Lauri Markkanen, Collin Sexton and draft picks.
Now, teams aren’t as willing to take on long-term money. With the new CBA coming into play, teams are hesitant to take on huge contracts. In some cases, teams are having to pay to get off long-term money.
Bradley Beal was traded for Chris Paul, second-rounders and pick swaps. John Collins was traded for Rudy Gay and a second-round pick. Jordan Poole was traded for Paul, and the Golden State Warriors had to attach picks to get off his long-term money.
If Chicago had waited a little bit longer, continued to develop its young talent, and looked to go all in now, they would be in a much better spot.
Instead, they are stuck with a roster that’s in desperate need of a rebuild and no easy path to do it. LaVine’s contract could scare teams away. Vucevic is a free agent, and DeRozan is on an expiring deal.
They should never have gone all in. Now, a rebuild wouldn’t net the same payday it once could have.
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