The Chicago Bulls appear to be heading in the right direction
After missing the playoffs last season, the Chicago Bulls are trying to turn the corner on the rebuild. After a strong draft and opening to the 2018 NBA Summer League season, things are looking up for the future of the Bulls.
Last season, Chicago Bulls fans wanted the team to lose. The front office wanted the Bulls to lose, and ultimately, the Bulls did lose. A lot.
Some fans might say they didn’t lose enough games. Others may suggest the Bulls even failed at tanking. Most fans didn’t go into the season thinking they’d be happy with the results of the seventh overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft.
Yet, here we are. The Bulls are in year two of the rebuild and maybe, just maybe, it won’t be as long as we thought. Lauri Markkanen looks like a franchise cornerstone. It’s only NBA Summer League, but Wendell Carter Jr., the seventh pick this year, is looking really good. Even the “Promised One,” Chandler Hutchison, looks like he can be a playmaker.
Before we get carried away, yes the Bulls front office has made plenty of mistakes. We can’t forget about Doug McDermott and Marquis Teague and Jordan Bell and, well, there are plenty others.
The Bulls have gone big-name free agent hunting over the years and have failed every time. No one could forget that either. Carlos Boozer was not a great consolation prize for LeBron James in 2010.
But alas, here we are. There is hope for the Chicago Bulls. Rebuilding is never fun, but neither is treading water season after season. While we may not know what the team has in Zach LaVine yet, it looks the Bulls are solid with Markkanen and Carter.
Giving some credit where it’s due
The disdain for the John Paxson-Gar Forman combo is strong in Chicago, but we have to give them credit for setting the course.
Jettisoning Jimmy Butler to the Minnesota Timberwolves was a tough call, but they made it. Trading Derrick Rose and letting the New York Knicks be saddled with Joakim Noah‘s contract was another solid decision.
I can admit, I wasn’t sold on Markkanen before last year’s draft. I’m glad GarPax was willing to take the leap for the Finnish sensation. The kid is a baller and his ceiling is sky-high. In the East, he should be an All-Star soon.
Now, though we all were hoping for Luka Doncic miracles, the Bulls selected Carter and he looks like a defensive beast on the court already. Yes, it’s Summer League, but it’s not nothing. I won’t get too carried away because, as I recall, Doug McDermott dominated Las Vegas a few years back. That obviously didn’t end well for the Bulls.
So yes, not everything is roses for GarPax these days, and this isn’t an argument on their behalf. However, the future looks bright and Bulls fans should be excited.
The team is young, athletic and could be pretty exciting next season. There will be plenty of buzz surrounding this squad at the United Center this winter. LaVine, assuming his knee is sound, is a human highlight film (let’s hope he learns to play some defense too).
It will be fascinating to see how the frontcourt combination of Markkanen and Carter develops. We’ll learn this season how committed the Bulls are to Kris Dunn‘s development, and in turn, how committed he is as well. We’ll see whether Hutchison was worth his draft promise from GarPax and if he can contribute as a rookie.
Next: 2018 NBA free agency tracker: Grades for every deal so far
Chicago fans have experienced their fair share of frustrations over the years. However, these Bulls could be the start of something fresh and exciting in the Windy City. Maybe, this time, the franchise is on the right track.