The Bulls and their supporters are beginning to mentally move on from Zach Lavine in light of all the commotion surrounding him.
With Lavine sidelined, the team witnessed an unexpected win over the Bucks in the absence of the injured star. Nevertheless, they continue to lie at 6-14 after a very disappointing season.
But what if they didn’t have to fire Lavine? The squad would have looked very different and might have even been a title contender if the front office had made some other decisions in the previous few years. Let’s examine what the Bulls may look like if all of their decisions were made correctly.
2020 Draft It’s no secret that the selection of Patrick Williams by the Bulls in the 2020 Draft was a mistake, particularly after the player’s struggles this season. While Williams has shown improvement this year, the team’s struggles have affected him as well. Despite this, the Bulls had an opportunity to select a much better player; aside from Lamelo Ball and Anthony Edwards, only one other player was selected who has played in an All-Star game. Additionally, because Ball and Edwards were selected before Chicago’s pick, the Bulls were unable to select either of them, but Tyrese Haliburton was waiting to be selected.
Many were startled by his decline before the draft, but it has been clear in the last several seasons that he should have been selected higher and unquestionably ahead of Patrick Williams.
Unwise Trade Selections
The Orlando Magic started their rebuilding in 2021, sending Aaron Gordon to Denver and Nikola Vucevic to Chicago. They received many first-round selections in exchange, including two from Chicago. Although Vucevic has been beneficial to Chicago, he is currently 33 years old, and the Bulls traded Wendell Carter Jr. to Miami in addition to first round picks.
Though not as prolific in terms of scoring as Vucevic, Carter Jr. is a good center when he has the right offense surrounding him. The more devastating aspect of the deal, though, was the picks—the Magic were able to choose Jett Howard and Franz Wagner.
With an average of 20.2 points per game this season and almost a steal per game as a defensive force, Wagner has established himself as a vital member of Orlando’s offense. Although he has averaged 19.7 points per game in his last five G-League outings, Jett Howard is still a raw rookie.
Chicago also suffered greatly from the impatience around Lauri Markkanen. Lauri has been able to entirely transform his career from being a role player to the star of a middling Jazz team. He is currently an All-Star in Utah. In a three-team deal with the Blazers, he was acquired by the Cavaliers in exchange for a protected first-round pick from Portland and a protected second-round pick from Denver.
Unfortunately, it will never truly benefit Chicago because of the first-round selection protection. The choice is lottery-protected through 2028, and Portland’s mentality is clear in the wake of the Damian Lillard trade. For the following five years, let’s say Portland is a lottery club. If that is the case, Chicago will have received two very bad second round picks in exchange for a potential All-Star.
Not to mention that the Bulls’ loss of a second-round pick this season stemmed from insider trading during the Lonzo Ball trade.
How Would the Lineup Look, Then?
Bulls fans, turn away now. This one will sting.
Tyrese Haliburton, Zach Lavine, Franz Waagner, Lauri Markkanen, and Wendell Carter Jr. would be the starting five for the Chicago Bulls. Derozan’s acquisition and the acquisition of Lonzo Ball remain viable options. Not to mention competing in the playoffs, that seven-man rotation is plenty for a winning record.
Rather, the Bulls are fortunate to have this dismal figure.
Chicago is disappointing, especially considering how amazing they may be despite their present makeup. Nonetheless, the idea of a lineup without Zach Lavine and Demar Derozan is intriguing after the team defeated Milwaukee. In order to ensure Chicago’s future is bright, if trading Lavine is the idea, they need to obtain the appropriate components in return.
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