Chicago Bulls: Upcoming Resolutions For 2016

The Chicago Bulls need to put together some New Year’s resolutions in order to ensure a successful 2016.

As Jan. 1, 2016, is slowing creeping up on us, it is once again time for resolutions to be made. And while many of us may share the generic wishes of getting back into shape or saving more money, I am sure fans agree that the Chicago Bulls need to be focusing on some goals of their own.

2015 has been a busy year for the men in red.

In January, Derrick Rose scored a season-high 32 points against the Washington Wizards, but unfortunately sustained yet another knee injury in February. He had another round of surgery on his right knee, as a MRI confirmed a medial meniscus tear (the same injury from 2013), and was ruled out indefinitely.

In reality however, he came back in April, playing in his first playoff game since Game 1 in 2012, when he tore his left ACL.

The Bulls (after finishing third in the Eastern Conference, with a 50-32 record) took on the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, coming out victorious 4-2. But they then faced their rivals, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and lost 4-2 to a LeBron James buzzer-beater.

After that, the organization returned more or less the entire team by having Kirk Hinrich exercise his player option, re-signing Jimmy Butler to a five-year contract, re-signing Mike Dunleavy and Aaron Brooks and exercising fourth- and third-year options, respectively, on Tony Snell and Doug McDermott.

However, the front office decided to let go of head coach Tom Thibodeau, bringing former Iowa State University head coach Fred Hoiberg on board.

Since then, Bobby Portis has been drafted, Rose has spoken somewhat out of turn and been the victim of another injury, Joakim Noah has been benched, and Butler has publicly called out Hoiberg for not going hard enough on the team.

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Chicago stands sixth in the Eastern Conference with a 17-12 record.

So what goals should this franchise be working towards in the upcoming year?

Well for starters, a trade should be put in place.

We all know that the Bulls and trading do not necessarily go hand-in-hand. For whatever reason, John Paxson and Gar Forman seem allergic to the idea, and their track record does not exactly suggest that will ever change. However, it is easy to see that the current group of guys are not playing successful basketball. And in order for that to change, some moves need to be made.

There are many possibilities moving forward, but a good start would be seeing what can be done with Noah. A few years back, such a notion would seem utterly ridiculous, but unfortunately the big man does not seem to fit into the current system at hand. Therefore, for not only the good of the team but his career as well, it is time for him to find a home elsewhere.

Some may also argue for Pau Gasol to be traded, however given his age and state of being, it seems less likely that Chicago could walk away with as good of a deal with him on the table.

Another great resolution would be for Hoiberg in specific, to work on better rotations. Although the available talent may need to be tweaked, a huge part of the problem is the way players are being utilized; guys are playing the wrong positions, and alongside the wrong teammates.

For example, Nikola Mirotic is not a small forward. But right now, he is being forced to play one. Yes, Snell has not developed quite as expected, and McDermott is not as strong defensively, but playing Mirotic in such a way stifles his abilities.

Likewise, having Noah come off the bench also messes with the team’s identity, as he is being forced to become a type of player he has never been before.