Chicago Bulls basketball is finally back! Last year the Bulls were in their first season of a rebuild, finishing third to last in the Eastern Conference with a 27-55 record. This year is their second year of the rebuild, and they could have a shot at making things interesting in the NBA.
The Bulls made moves to progress with their rebuilding process and it started with the 2018 NBA draft. With the seventh pick, the Bulls selected center Wendell Carter Jr. out of Duke. The freshman started all 37 games for the Blue Devils and garnered attention from NBA scouts. Carter Jr. went on to average 13.5 points, 9.1 rebounds, 2 assists, 0.8 steals and 2.1 blocks while shooting 56.1 percent from the field and 41.3 percent from beyond the arch. The only issue Carter Jr. has is at the free throw line, as he shot 73.8 percent. Carter Jr. could see the starting lineup over Robin Lopez soon.
The Bulls also had another selection in the NBA draft as they acquired the New Orleans Pelicans pick in the Nikola Mirotic trade at the deadline. The Bulls took on the senior shooting guard from Boise State, Chandler Hutchinson, with the 22nd pick in the draft. Hutchinson had an amazing senior year averaging 20 points, 7.7 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.5 steals. Hutchinson is a scorer and could be a reliable option coming off the bench.
The Bulls offseason didn’t just come from the draft. They spent a total of $118 million in free agency. Most of the money went to shooting guard Zach LaVine. The 23-year-old only played 24 games last year, coming off a torn ACL he suffered in 2017 with the Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Bulls and LaVine were trying to get settled on a deal in the summer, but LaVine would only sign something close to $80 million, so the negotiations halted. The Sacramento Kings made an offer for LaVine of 4 years, worth $78 million. The Bulls had two days to match the offer or they lose the main piece in the Butler trade. They decided to match the offer, making LaVine one of the main focuses for the future. The Bulls are expecting LaVine to produce a ton, especially since he’s going to play a full season.
After signing LaVine, the Bulls went after the Chicago native Jabari Parker. The Bulls signed the 23-year-old to a two-year deal worth $40 million. Parker previously played for the Milwaukee Bucks, but he suffered a torn ACL in 2016. Parker averaged 20.1 points before suffering the injury, but last season when Parker came back to play, he only averaged 12.6 points per game. The Bulls signing Parker is a win-win situation for the Bulls. They get a solid player for two years, and Parker gets to play for his hometown team and prove that the torn ACL isn’t going to slow him down.
Since LeBron James took off to join the Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference, the Eastern Conference is wide open for the taking. The Bulls might not be a top team this year, but they have a chance to fight for the eighth seed. There are also a few teams likely to finish behind the Bulls such as the Hawks, Magic, Nets and the Knicks, especially if Kristaps Porzingis isn’t healthy enough to play after a torn ACL. With the process of elimination, the fight for the eighth spot could be between the Pistons, Hornets and the Bulls.
Chicago isn’t unfamiliar with having surprise teams. This year, Chicago has the Bears, in 2015 the Cubs made it all the way to the NLCS and the next year won the World Series. In 2010 the Blackhawks started an unexpected dynasty and in 2005 the White Sox won the World Series. People couldn’t understand how they did it. The Bulls have young and talented players, but if they can stay healthy and make a few moves near the trade deadline, the Bulls could add another Chicago sports surprise to the city’s resume.
