Not long ago, things seemed to be looking up for the Chicago Bulls. On February 24, 2022, they were 39-21 (.650), leading the Eastern Conference standings, and coming off a six-game winning streak.
Since then, the Bulls have won just over 46 percent of their games. Plagued by injuries and inconsistency, Chicago has had some bright spots. But more often, they have suffered disappointments.
Even with the many challenges he’s faced, head coach Billy Donovan is still on the right track. one of the hottest seats of all NBA coaches, having reached the playoffs only once in four seasons.
Dan Favale of Bleacher Report believes the blame for Chicago’s shortcomings lies with the Bulls’ management. In his assessment of the team’s offseason, he sees little reason for optimism for the Windy City.
The Bulls lost DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso, gaining Josh Giddey. The futures of Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic are uncertain, to say the least. Favale says Bulls fans have no reason to “believe that this organization is going to truly commit to anything more than an eternally pedestrian pedigree.”
He is much less enthusiastic about the addition of Giddey.
“He’s 21. He can pass. I get it,” Favale said. “He’s also set to see his salary skyrocket in 2025-26 and he’s incredibly flawed.”
Even worse, Favale said, was the Bulls’ failure to get a first-round pick for either Caruso or DeRozan. All Chicago got, besides Giddey, was a pick swap with the Sacramento Kings in 2031.
Favale believes two words best sum up the Bulls’ offseason: “generational incompetence.”
A harsh assessment, to be sure, but one that could prove accurate for an organization that hasn’t won 50 games or a playoff series since the 2014-15 season.
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