After being one of the most exciting stories last season, the Chicago Bulls enter the NBA All-Star break as the 11th seed in the Eastern Conference. It’s hard to say this is where they wanted to see themselves at this point in the season. It’s getting to the point where most NBA fans are unsure what the direction of this team will be in the next few months after staying still at the trade deadline this season.
However, a recent report suggests that the Bulls might be leaning toward waiving Goran Dragic. The news comes with several rumors circulating how Chicago is looking at the buyout market for a potential upgrade at the point guard position.
"“If the Bulls don’t add Westbrook, John Wall and Patrick Beverley are names to keep in mind,” wrote Bulls insider K.C. Johnson. “The Bulls will need to waive a player to create a roster spot, and their current focus calls into question the future of Goran Dragic.”"
What comes next for the Bulls?
With the Bulls turning their heads toward the buyout market, it seems that they have yet to throw in the towel for the remainder of this season. Getting rid of Goran Dragic ensures that one of the names that Bulls Insider K.C. Johnson suggests (Russell Westbrook, John Wall, Patrick Beverley) will be a point of emphasis in adding to the squad to finish the season.
Both Westbrook and Wall are capable of playing well in the transition game, something that the Bulls succeeded with last season when Lonzo Ball was healthy. While Beverley may not be the true point guard that those players are, he can provide this team with the energy and leadership that they have desperately been lacking all season.
The reality of the situation is that there is no turning back at this point. If the Chicago Bulls’ draft pick this year does not land in the top four, it will transfer to the Orlando Magic.
- 24. Chicago Bulls = 26-33
- 25. Indiana Pacers = 26-34
- 26. Orlando Magic = 24-35
- 27. Charlotte Hornets = 17-43
- 28. Detroit Pistons = 15-44
- 29. San Antonio Spurs = 14-45
- 30. Houston Rockets = 13-45
The difference between the fourth (Charlotte) and fifth (Orlando) worst records in the association is more than seven games. If the Chicago Bulls lost every game for the remainder of the season, their win percentage would still not put them in the top four highest odds for the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery.
Theoretically, the best they can do is the fifth-worst record, which is still within reach. Orlando is sitting just two games back of the Bulls for a chance to give them the fifth-highest odds in the lottery. However, it would still take a Windy City miracle to keep their pick alive.
This realization is another reason why they are still looking to upgrade the point guard position. They could have jumped on the opportunity to trade DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine earlier in the season to put themselves in a better position to secure their draft pick and have a real hand in the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes.
The one glimmer of hope for Bulls fans is that they only sit three games behind the eighth seed. The Bulls also currently hold the tiebreakers over Miami, Atlanta, and Toronto among teams in play-in position.