Post-Mortem: 2021-22 Chicago Bulls

[LewisnotMiller]

Anthony Davis said playing in Chicago would be a dream come true and that Chicago is the Mecca of basketball.

Kevin Durant has praised Derozan, Lavine, Vuc, and Coby White.

AD is surrounded by senior citizens and KD is surrounded by headcases. Add either one to the Bulls and we’re a contender.

That would depend on how much you have to give up to get them, surely?

[LewisnotMiller]

GM: Change or keep?
Keep. They've made enough good calls to offset the more dubious ones, and I suspect they were asked to make the team competitive, which they've done.

Coach: Change or keep?
I haven't seen enough of them in detail to have a strong opinion, but when healthy he had a defensively challenged group playing D. Keep.

Relative to expectations, how did they fare this year?
Ultimately, pretty much in line. I saw them as a .500 team, first round exit. They were playing above that for some time.

Rising, falling, or treadmill?
Tough. I'm hoping rise for their sake it's rising, but I think health will be key. Patrick Williams and Ayo, as well as Ball and Caruso give them some defensive versatility, at least on the perimeter. Lavines knee is a massive swinger for the offence.

If you were in charge, what would you do this offseason?
Its a tough spot, honestly. I don't think they have the juice for a major move, but I'd be willing to burn the first rounder plus Coby White and see if I could get a 4/5 with some versatility and defensive chops. Someone that can play with Vuc, or at the 5 in a small lineup.

I'd also put as much resource as I could into the medical staff. Maintaining an upward trajectory relies on the general health of the rotation, and the Bulls are treading a little bit more of a fine line in that respect than some other playoff teams, I believe.

[Michael Jackson]

Anthony Davis said playing in Chicago would be a dream come true and that Chicago is the Mecca of basketball.

Kevin Durant has praised Derozan, Lavine, Vuc, and Coby White.

AD is surrounded by senior citizens and KD is surrounded by headcases. Add either one to the Bulls and we’re a contender.

That would depend on how much you have to give up to get them, surely?

Yes it would. I mean keep the Bulls intact and just add AD or KD? Yeah makes the team pretty darn good, but that can be said about any team in the league

[LewisnotMiller]

Anthony Davis said playing in Chicago would be a dream come true and that Chicago is the Mecca of basketball.

Kevin Durant has praised Derozan, Lavine, Vuc, and Coby White.

AD is surrounded by senior citizens and KD is surrounded by headcases. Add either one to the Bulls and we’re a contender.

That would depend on how much you have to give up to get them, surely?

Yes it would. I mean keep the Bulls intact and just add AD or KD? Yeah makes the team pretty darn good, but that can be said about any team in the league

Please don't trade Caruso back to LA...lol

[Michael Jackson]

That would depend on how much you have to give up to get them, surely?

Yes it would. I mean keep the Bulls intact and just add AD or KD? Yeah makes the team pretty darn good, but that can be said about any team in the league

Please don't trade Caruso back to LA...lol

Well if it was a straight trade for AC for AD that could happen (but it can't salary wise) so pretty sure it won't be. I was always an AC fan before the Bulls signed him and knew the fanbase would love him. Most "fans" were meh on the signing but now... everyone in Chicago might riot if AC was traded if not in some crazy package. The Bulls lose enough we love players like AC more than anything. Lunchpail kinda town he is the working class hero.

[LewisnotMiller]

Yes it would. I mean keep the Bulls intact and just add AD or KD? Yeah makes the team pretty darn good, but that can be said about any team in the league

Please don't trade Caruso back to LA...lol

Well if it was a straight trade for AC for AD that could happen (but it can't salary wise) so pretty sure it won't be. I was always an AC fan before the Bulls signed him and knew the fanbase would love him. Most "fans" were meh on the signing but now... everyone in Chicago might riot if AC was traded if not in some crazy package. The Bulls lose enough we love players like AC more than anything. Lunchpail kinda town he is the working class hero.

Totally get it. He's a rotation guy on a really good team, imho, and totally a culture carrier. I hope he is fully healthy from here on out.
Players like him are good for basketball (in terms of team play over selfish stars, hard work, perseverance, etc).

[God Squad]

They need to move on from Vucevic. Can't have a core of DD/Lavine and Vuc playing defense.

[TravisScott55]

Lonzo unfortunately can just never stay healthy

[KnicksGadfly]

They need to move on from Vucevic. Can't have a core of DD/Lavine and Vuc playing defense.

Oh what?! No!!! These guys were supposed to be contenders!!!!

[Kampuchea]

The signings they made last year really made the team better, but I debate if they were the right moves to make. They are pretty well locked into this roster which doesn't seem like it could pass the 2nd round of the playoffs. I believe they were looking at two scenarios - 1)Make the team better but remove flexibility needed to add a star that turns them into a contender or 2) keep roster flexibility by only signing some/one (DDR?) of those guys but run the risk of losing an unhappy Lavine.

They could really use a change at Center - maybe they can use the last season of the Vuc deal to trade him, take on a bad contract with an asset attached? They could use a defense-oriented guy there, perhaps a sign and trade for Mitch Robinson.

It's tough to use the injury excuse for their key players though, especially Ball and Lavine. Ball averages 50 games a year, at this point you need to expect that he will be injured every season for a significant number of games and just hope it is not the playoffs. Lavine averages 59 and if you look at the last 4 seasons (67,58,60,63) it seems that 60 is a fair estimate and this year he played more than that (67). That said, even if assuming full health I don't see a healthy Bulls beating a fully healthy Bucks team or any of the other top teams in the East.

[Curmudgeon]

I think they just need to get healthy to be in the mix.

[John Murdoch]

They need a rim protector , Vuce is an odd fit. But tbh we have seen the same movie over and over with DeRozan as ur best player, def treadmill team

[tamaraw08]

How many fans AND GM's were actually shocked that Lonzo Ball would get injured and would miss a chunk of games esp the playoffs?
Monk or Patty Mills would have helped this team IMO.

[Ballerhogger]

Read on Twitter

?s=20&t=L2LsoQ-tKdgkd_nmb_6-_Q

[xb3at band1tx]

I don't trust Derozan and Vuc as a championship core.

This feels more like a transition era where they try to feel out Zach Levine's development as he enters his prime and to get butts in the seats. If he leaves this summer, it's all for naught of course.

[KingFox]

Anthony Davis said playing in Chicago would be a dream come true and that Chicago is the Mecca of basketball.

Kevin Durant has praised Derozan, Lavine, Vuc, and Coby White.

AD is surrounded by senior citizens and KD is surrounded by headcases. Add either one to the Bulls and we’re a contender.

I’d agree if we were talking about AD from 2017 or something. I like the Bulls team with Lonzo coming back, more depth and simply trading Vuc

[tamaraw08]

Anthony Davis said playing in Chicago would be a dream come true and that Chicago is the Mecca of basketball.

Kevin Durant has praised Derozan, Lavine, Vuc, and Coby White.

AD is surrounded by senior citizens and KD is surrounded by headcases. Add either one to the Bulls and we’re a contender.

I’d agree if we were talking about AD from 2017 or something. I like the Bulls team with Lonzo coming back, more depth and simply trading Vuc

Lonzo coming back to play...30 games then get injured again? That last time he played 82 games was.....?