The Bulls will have some time to reflect on what has gone wrong so far this season during the next week, as they enter the All-Star break on a six-game losing streak that dropped their record on the season to 26-33.
Making the playoffs is still the goal for the team, according to Zach LaVine, who said after Thursday’s loss to Milwaukee that the Bulls “have to stop beating ourselves” and need to establish some consistency the rest of the way, writes K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago.
“Something isn’t working, obviously,” LaVine said. “Some games we’re really good. Some games we’re bad. Once again, it’s that consistency factor of figuring out what our identity is and what we’re going to be each game.
“Even if guys are in and out of the lineup, you see some teams that have consistency with what they do. They have an identity. That’s something we’re still trying to figure out in these last couple years. We changed our offense a little bit this year from last year. But it’s no excuse with the type of talent that we have on the team.”
Here’s more on the Bulls:
- LaVine hasn’t gone out of his way to recruit Russell Westbrook – like Clippers forward Paul George did – but when he was asked this week about Westbrook joining the Bulls, LaVine said he’d welcome the opportunity to team up with the former MVP, per Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic. “Russ is a future Hall of Famer, man,” LaVine said. “I think you can only respect what he’s done in this league. If he so happens to come on the team, we welcome him with open arms. If he’s not, you compete against him. He’s a fierce competitor. You can do nothing but respect that.”
- With five players, including star forward DeMar DeRozan, out due to injuries this week, rookie wing Dalen Terry logged 15 minutes on Wednesday and 27 minutes on Thursday — those were the first two times this season that he has played more than 10 minutes in a game. However, it’s unclear whether Terry will stick in Chicago’s rotation once DeRozan and others are back. “I’ve got to see what we look like health-wise,” Donovan said, according to K.C. Johnson. “With our roster, somebody is going to have to sit. I’m not saying that Dalen is the one who is going to be sitting. But somebody is going to have to.”
- Although team success is Alex Caruso‘s top priority, he admitted to Michael Scotto of HoopsHype that it would be “really cool” to earn an All-Defensive nod. “I was a big fan of Kevin Garnett, the Pistons teams with Rasheed Wallace and Ben Wallace, and guys like Tony Allen, and other guys that people don’t maybe remember as well like Bruce Bowen and Raja Bell,” Caruso said. “Watching a bunch of people play over the years, I could tell there was an impact to be had on that side of the ball and something that came naturally to me.”
Many gifted players don’t happen to understand you must be elite on both ends of the floor in order to win in this league. And most of them retire without a chip. Lavine clearly fits that bill.
Don’t see Westbrook going to Bulls. He can’t save them. Clippers is a good place for him.
DeRozan and Vucevic leave via FA. Then what happens to Bulls ??
Lakers can just sign DeRozan
No one can save bulls now.fact
except DeMar is signed through next season, so yeah, that would happen the following year if they don’t trade him for peanuts in the off-season.
The Bulls management blew it during this trade deadline and should have traded everyone that could have brought back picks and assets that would have started a rebuild correctly!
The thing Lavine is talking about missing is “culture.” It’s something Reinsdorf led franchises don’t have.
I’ve run out of Bulls jokes/comments. It’s just sad at this point.
The disrespect to not share links for Raja Bell and Bruce Bowen
Here is the problem with the Bulls and even if they make the playoffs by some miracle they are not going far!
They are built Poorly and their draft capital is gone and for what?
A quick exit?
You don’t build a team around LaVine and if the Knicks wanted him the Bulls should have traded him and rid themselves of that contract!
The Bulls waiting on Ball to come back is also ridiculous as can be seeing his knee issues will come back even if he is able to return!
The Bulls had a golden chance to move LaVine, DD and Vooch along with AC for picks!
They could have played Ayo, White, Williams and Andre while acquiring a true PF and build a better team.
I do believe Terry is a solid prospect that can contribute off the bench but how this team is built, well it is a big fail!
The could bring in Westbrook and maybe they can get a PF off the wire but it will not help them in the way they hope!
Westbrook is a ball hog and will not mesh with LaVine and DD, so it will blow up in the Bulls face.
So this team has no direction and make the Lakers look more sane than them!
Even AK and Eversley have to admit this isn’t working. They made a bad call not trading LaVine in 2021 at the deadline when he was only making 19 million a year like I suggested and got vilified for. Now he’s going to be a nightmare to trade because they have to match 37 million instead of 19. They either need draft picks or Cap space so if they can free up LaVine’s 37 million and let Vujevic walk they can have 60 million for next year. Maybe even find someone to take Ball’s 20 million. It would be an expiring deal so maybe someone would take a chance.
AK-EV made big mistakes by not getting backups for Ball and Williams and it’s cost them big time. If Ball was so important to the success of this team, They should of drafted or traded for a backup at least. I’m sure they thought he’d be back but how’d that work out. At least this version of this team was built on short term money except LaVine who I said wasn’t a MAX player, No big money owed after next year if they can deal LaVine and don’t have to take back a horrible contract to match. I don’t think they can afford to wait til after next year, Make the tough decisions this off season.
The Knicks have draft picks stockpiled. It would give them what they need. LaVine for Fournier and picks would rid the Knicks of a bad deal and maybe some others to match and at least give the Bulls someone who can score. Not sure if Williams has any value around the League but it’s looking like he’s not worthy of the #4 pick in the draft either. At least not at PF. Maybe try him at the 3 and see if he’s better there. Ayo at the point with a bulked up Terry at 2 and Williams at 3, Well it’s a start anyway.
Not a bad idea to have Ayo, Terry and Williams at PG, SG, and SF and I also said it was stupid to sign LaVine to that contract and they should have flipped him, but what is done is done.
Terry is actually a better passer than Ayo. Ultimately they should be starter and backup at PG, SGs are easy to find if you do not need them to be plus defenders, since Ayo and Terry are that type.
Fwiw Coby White could be a catch and shoot SG, not a shot creator like Lavine but at least ok on D and decent handles. They really need a PF badly though.
Either get rid of Donovan or get rid of Simonovic. It’s obvious Donovan won’t even play him in this waste of a season when they have absolutely no decent PF. At this point Donovan is just doing it to be an A**. It’s a waste of a roster spot.