In order to ensure success moving forward, the Chicago Bulls will have to make some moves.
For anyone living under a rock, the Chicago Bulls‘ 2015-16 season was a total fail.
This fact may not be reflected in their 42-40 record or realized when taking a look at their roster which includes the likes of Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler, Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol.
Head coach Fred Hoiberg was greatly loved at Iowa State. And the fan base seems larger than ever.
Yet the team finished ninth in the Eastern Conference, two games behind the Detroit Pistons, 15 games behind the top-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers. There was obvious tension between not only the players, but also the guys and the coaching staff. And many are rallying together to voice their desire to get rid of both Gar Forman and John Paxson.
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But as the 2016 NBA Playoffs began on April 16, this Bulls’ season is officially a thing of the past. And now, it is time to look forward.
So what does the future hold for Chicago?
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Well, that is a good question.
In the simplest of terms, there are two ways that management can look at things. The organization can either deem last season a bust due to the adjustment to a new coach, injuries and so on, hoping to be championship contenders once time straightens things out. Or they can essentially start from scratch and revamp the roster.
Right now, the latter seems to make the most sense. Although it was a transition year, the problems that arose were not only caused by the coaching change. And it seems pretty clear that some pieces will never comfortably fit in this puzzle.
While Hoiberg may not have been the best choice to replace Tom Thibodeau, it is quite apparent that he is not going anywhere any time soon. Likewise, both fans and the media should get used to Gar/Pax sticking around.
But what about the team itself?
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Towards the end of the season, it became clear that Gasol had had enough of Chicago. And with him being an unrestricted free agent, it would be surprising if he re-signed with the Bulls. So, it is definitely time to think about who to replace him with.
Noah is also an unrestricted free agent, but his future is certainly still up in the air. Rumor has it that the organization has recognized how detrimental to the team’s success his absence was, but that does not mean he will want to return. Hoiberg benched him as soon as the year began, and despite his shoulder injury, the big man should attract a lot of attention this offseason.
Therefore, it may be a good idea to prepare for his departure, too.
Likewise, Rose may have his fair share of suiters, but has one year left on his contract. And what to do with the point guard has supporters split down the middle. While some say it is time to trade him, others think that in the end, Rose can in fact fit well within Hoiberg’s system. However, what Rose wants at this point, is anyone’s guess.
Although he was already looking forward to 2017 free agency before this season started, he has also made some statements about remaining with the team for the entirety of his career. On the one hand, getting rid of someone who was once a hometown hero seems ridiculous, but Rose and this team may have indeed outgrown one another.
Then of course there is Butler, who has outwardly expressed frustration with Hoiberg, but still had a great season. With Rose falling victim to a plethora of injuries and overall not having the same mentality as years past, Butler has obviously emerged as the next face of the franchise.
The problem, however, is that despite being an exceptional player, his insistence on being “the leader” is not sitting well with the front office. So while it may make sense to build the roster around such talent, the organization may instead want to do away with anyone who does not “fit the mold” that management is looking for. Only time will tell, on this one.
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Chicago is not known for making moves left and right, but it seems as though this offseason, there may not be another choice. The question becomes by what criteria the front office wants to assess who stays and who goes, and of course, who they will seek out thereafter.