The Chicago Bulls appear ready to dismantle their roster and focus on a full rebuild around their remaining young talent. After years without significant roster changes, the Bulls shook things up this summer with a trade DeMar DeRozantheir top offensive weapon, too Alex Carusotheir anchor of defense. Although they missed the right window to get the maximum value for both players, their trade has put the team in the position of a youth movement.
The future is now focused on security Josh Giddeya rookie forward Matas Buzelis, Coby Whiteagain Patrick Williams. Buzelis, the 11th overall pick in this year’s draft, had a great Summer League showing and is expected to play a big role this season. Standing at 6-foot-8 with unusual ball-handling skills for his size, Buzelis brings much-needed versatility to the Bulls, though his shooting remains a work in progress.
Despite persistent trade rumors, Zach LaVine he remains on the roster, which leaves questions about whether the Bulls will trade him before the season or if he still figures into their plans for the future. Nikola Vucevic again failed to live up to expectations in Chicago, leaving the Bulls with a depleted frontcourt. The only strengthening heading into the season is the addition of Jalen Smith with a contract of agreement.
The team has a total salary of $174,994,656 for the 2024-25 season, ranking them 18th in the NBA.
Photos by Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn
Returns: Zach LaVine, Lonzo Ball, Nikola Vucevic, Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Jevon Carter, Dalen Terry, Julian Phillips, Patrick Williams, Torrey Craig, Adama Sanogo, Onuralp Bitim
Additions: Josh Giddey (Oklahoma City), Jalen Smith (Indiana), Chris Duarte (Sacramento), Matas Buzelis (G League Ignite), Talen Horton-Tucker (Utah), EJ Liddell (Phoenix), Kenneth Lofton Jr (Utah)
Departures: DeMar DeRozan (Sacramento), Alex Caruso (Oklahoma City), Andre Drummond (Philadelphia), Javonte Green (New Orleans)
Photos by Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn
The young bulls of Giddey, Buzelis, White, and Williams bring versatility and power, creating a solid foundation for the team’s future. Coach Billy Donovan I like to have more ball handlers on the floor, especially ones with size, for this team to match the 2019-20 Oklahoma City Thunder. While both Buzelis and Giddey need to improve their shooting, their overall potential is promising. If Zach LaVine and veterans like Vucevic and Ball have back-to-back seasons, the Bulls could do better than expected.
The Bulls face a depleted backcourt without adding Smith, and their lack of proven presence inside leaves them vulnerable to big players. The shooting conflict is another major concern, as the team may struggle to score consistently, especially from around the perimeter. LaVine’s uncertainty remains a problem; his discontent off the court has affected the team, and his future with the Bulls is unclear, potentially stalling their rebuild. Defensively, the loss of Alex Caruso creates a significant void. Without their defensive anchor, guarding the elite perimeter players will be a challenge.
Michael Reaves/Getty Images
HoopsHype: 4th place in the Central Division, 10th in the Eastern Conference
ESPN: 4th place in the Central Division, 12th in the Eastern Conference
Sports books: 27.5 expected wins
HoopsHype compiled consensus winning averages by collecting winning predictions from eight sportsbooks, including FanDuel, Fanatics, BetMGM, DraftKings, ESPN BET, BetRivers, Caesars, and bet365.
Source link
