Hot Hot Hoops senior writer Matt Hanifan will provide his take on the offseasons of all 30 teams for the next 30 days! Today, we are looking back on the Chicago Bulls’ offseason!
Previous Offseason Outlooks:
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Additions: Josh Giddey (trade), Chris Duarte (trade), Kenny Loften Jr., Jalen Smith
Subtractions: DeMar DeRozan (sign-and-trade), Alex Caruso (trade), Andre Drummond, Javonte Green, Andrew Funk, Henri Drell
Re-signed: Patrick Williams, Adama Sanogo
Draft: Matas Buzelis (No. 11 overall)
Hanifan’s Take: Good news for Bulls fans: They finally picked a direction! Chicago had yet another mediocre 2023-24 season, finishing 39-43. It marked the sixth time over the last seven seasons that the team finished below. 500, sporting the NBA’s 8th-worst record over that span (268-361; .426). Chicago didn’t let star wing DeMar DeRozan walk for nothing, extracting Duarte plus two second-round picks from the Sacramento Kings in a three-team sign-and-trade. Though I’m more bearish on the return considering San Antonio got involved and netted yet another first-round pick swap–they have five between now and 2031. Sacramento’s 2031 swap will arrive when DeRozan, 35, will likely be retired with Domantas Sabonis and De’Aaron Fox in their mid-30s (assuming they’re on the team). A lot can happen between now and then, but that could potentially be a valuable asset–one that Chicago missed out on. Chicago also traded perhaps its best asset–Alex Caruso–for Josh Giddey, which I wasn’t high on from Chicago’s perspective. Perhaps Giddey, who’s still very young (he turns 22 in October), can expand his wings more in a less pressurized environment. Though the fourth-year guard was a depreciated asset in Oklahoma City, where he routinely compromised its spacing because of his lackluster shooting and unwillingness to shoot. Caruso, a career 38.0 percent 3-point shooter, where he took nearly half his attempts, is also an elite defender on- and off-ball. Giddey is neither a good shooter nor a sound defender. Both players were on expiring contracts, and the Bulls are essentially banking on increased growth from the younger player. Why didn’t they demand one of OKC’s 17,880,340 17 first-round picks again? Speaking of first-round picks, I’m in-between on Matas Buzelis in this current context; I think the Bulls got decent value, and I think he can be an impactful rookie, but I want to see more from his shot to fully buy-in. He’s an exceptional athlete and with capable on-ball chops–a solid baseline for the 19-year-old. Lastly, I’m also surprised Chicago raced to give Patrick Williams $90 million. That will look better over time, but who were they competing against for his services at that price? Jalen Smith, however, is a good floor-spacing big off the bench. All in all, I’m glad Chicago picked a direction. That needed to happen. But I’m still questioning the process behind a few of its moves. Maybe we’ll see them lean into a full rebuild by next February?
Grade: C-
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