To start the season, the Chicago Bulls had high hopes of being major competitors in the East. With their star, Derrick Rose, returning from injury, the Bulls appeared to be in a prime position to compete. Unfortunately, these hopes came crashing down when star point guard, Rose, went down with a meniscus tear.
He is expected to miss the remainder of the season and has now suffered two serious knee injuries in a period of two years. And just like, the Bulls were once again a team without a star. Rose recently stated that he doesn’t want to be a part of a rebuild, although he doesn’t have much room to make demands, considering he’s been injured for two straight seasons.
Just recently, the Bulls traded away one of their best players, Luol Deng, to the Cavaliers for Andrew Bynum and three draft picks. This move netted the Bulls three future draft picks, but more importantly freed up nearly $14 million in salary. This move was also smart because Deng had expressed interest in testing the free agent market, where he could fetch a price to high for the Bulls to match.
And so now the Bulls are left with a starting rotation of Kirk Hinrich, Jimmy Butler, Mike Dunleavy, Carlos Boozer, and Joakim Noah. In the NBA today it has been proven that you need multiple stars to win championships, and Bulls only have one and he is oft injured. So where do the Bulls go from here?
The Deng was actually more beneficial than it first appears. The Bulls received three draft picks, one of which is a lottery protected first rounder. It also saved the Bulls $14 million in salary. Most importantly, this move freed up more playing time for rookie Tony Snell and second year man Jimmy Butler.
When all hopes of competing are lost, it’s a good idea to get your young players experience. If these two players can continue to develop, the Bulls will have given two young starters valuable experience. The next step the Bulls will have to consider is the handling of Carlos Boozer’s contract. Boozer is making $15 million this year and is set to make $16 million next year. While Boozer is a very solid power forward, he is 32 years old and his salary is one of the major reasons the Bulls are so strapped financially.
They could decide to amnesty him this offseason, freeing them of his contract. If the Bulls really are set on a quick rebuild, this would be the best option. By trading Deng and amnestying Boozer, the Bulls will have saved nearly $30 million in cap room, which can be spent on signing free agents. The 2014 free agent class will have some big names and the Bulls would have a fair chance to sign multiple players.
The Bulls most important move, however; will be their draft. Even though the Bulls have won seven out of their last ten, they will not keep that pace up. The Bulls are currently sixth in the East, but they should slip down into the lottery and out of the playoffs. This would land them a late lottery selection. Normally a late lottery pick would be good but wouldn’t provide a potential star.
Fortunately, this year’s draft class is one of the most talented and deepest in nearly a decade. The Bulls will have a great opportunity to add a potential all-star in this year’s draft. The addition of younger players, and another all-star to pair with Rose, could be just what this team needs. Plus, with Rose’s recent injury history, having another all-star quality player would be a great safety net for the Bulls.
If the Bulls are aggressive in free agency and make smart draft picks, they could quickly find themselves right back in the playoffs. The 2014 free agency class is star studded, but the 2015 class has potential to have multiple big name stars. The Bulls should look to add one of the many stars available in the coming years.
If the Bulls can successful draft a player of high caliber, the Bulls could have a trio of stars and a great supporting cast. However, if the Bulls really do hope to tank and have a quick rebuild, it is essential that they commit entirely to it. The worse the Bulls finish this year, the better draft pick they will have. While Derrick Rose might not like the idea, the team in its current state couldn’t hope to compete in the East.
If the Bulls are able to rebuild correctly, they could have a very quick turnaround of a year or two. This would be essential because Derrick Rose would still be in his prime, and it will have given the younger players to enter theirs. The Bulls have a great coach in Tom Thibodeau, but they will need everyone on board if they hope to do this right. As of right now the Bulls season is lost, but in the near future they could be right back in the mix for the championship hunt.