The Chicago Bulls seem to want to make some changes, but attracting new talent may be harder than they think.
For once, just about everyone seems to agree: the Chicago Bulls need to rebuild.
From the front office who recently spoke about potential trades, to the media who have been preaching making moves, to the fans who have been begging for a roster change, it is clear what the team needs to focus on this offseason.
But, this is much easier said than done.
Sure, there are appealing free agents out there just waiting to be lured and signed. And yes, there are certainly guys that would welcome a change of scenery via a deal. But Chicago has a few things working against them.
First and foremost, it seems as though the organization is not the best at selling itself.
Take free agency, for example.
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In 2000, they failed to sway Tracy McGrady.
Missing out of LeBron James in 2010 may not have been their fault per se, as James had probably concocted the notion of a Big Three long before it was even publicly on the table as an option. However, they then chose to settle for Carlos Boozer, a move many were upset with.
Then there was Carmelo Anthony in 2014, who chose to meet with Chicago before any other team. And while the organization said it was confident that they would be able to sway Anthony away from the New York Knicks, that was not quite the case. At the very least though, they ended up with Pau Gasol.
Perhaps the Bulls have failed to close out on talent because they have not necessarily had the help of their star players. Or maybe certain members of the front office are just terrible at pitching their vision. Regardless, if history repeats itself, Chicago will once again be in trouble.
Then of course, there is the problem of who exactly the organization could move.
Pippen Ain't Easy
It could be argued that Jimmy Butler is the team’s hottest commodity. And with love being lost between him and the Bulls, he is definitely on the trade chopping block. But with his talent only being on the rise, Chicago would have to get one heck of a player in return.
Taj Gibson has been a rock for the team since he was drafted in 2009. Besides averaging 9.2 points and 6.3 rebounds a game over his career, he has also stayed out of the headlines in regards to drama within the organization. This is something the front office definitely appreciates, which makes it less likely for him to be dealt.
As for Derrick Rose, although he has actually not had too bad of a year considering he was still dealing with injuries, he is not the same guy he used to be and is slated to make about $21 million next season — not exactly a contract that is easily disposed of.
However, it does seem pretty clear that Pau Gasol will opt out of the final year of his contract, and because Joakim Noah‘s contract is up, his return is also up in the air. So even if the Bulls would want to keep their roster intact, they may be forced to do otherwise.
Which leaves the fact that due to a new coach, Chicago basketball is no longer what it was once known to be.
Instead of a strong defensive powerhouse, the organization has to promote an offensively driven team based on fast play and even quicker shots. They have to acknowledge that under head coach Fred Hoiberg, the Bulls went 42-40, and did not make the postseason for the first time since 2008. So if they thought selling Tom Thibodeau and a top seeded Eastern Conference squad was hard, this will be a rude awakening.
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Chicago itself is a great city. The franchise holds onto quite an impactful piece of basketball history. The roster still has plenty of talent to work with. And yet, revamping may prove to be a challenge.