Ringing in the new year, the Chicago Bulls need to embody the 'new year, new me' mentality. Sitting in the 10th spot in the Eastern Conference was not what anyone associated with the Bulls had in mind, and maybe turning the calendar can provide a fresh slate to a team that badly needs one. Amid trade rumors, speculation on whether or not everyone wants to be there, and historically bad performances scattered over the past few months, Chicago's laundry list of problems continues to grow. Headed into 2023, here are the three most important resolutions in the Windy City.
1. Get (And Stay) Healthy
The injury to Lonzo Ball last year started the eventual downfall of the one-seeded Chicago Bulls, and they have not looked the same ever since. Probably not returning this season; the Bulls need to find a replacement if they're going to do anything for the remainder of the season. Some of their most significant issues have stemmed from missing Ball, his playmaking skillset, and defensive consistency.
The recent return of Alex Caruso helped reinforce that side of the ball, but finding a solid rotation with the excessive backcourt pieces that head coach Billy Donovan has to use is still in question. Zach Lavine is still slowly finding his bounce and jump shot after his off-season knee surgery, and the new max contract he signed this off-season is only making fans more impatient with the inconsistent start of the season. In his last ten, he has averaged 24, 5, and 4, on over 50% from the field and over 45% from deep; it would seem his health is near 100%, if not already. Chicago will sorely need that form of Lavine if this team is going to build a formidable 2023 playoff roster.
Defensive slashing wing Javonte Green has been sidelined for a week with a lingering knee issue, an injury he missed 12 days for just a few weeks back. Green brings energy, defensive prowess, and consistency in slashing the rim to a team that misses wing-depth when he's not on the floor. He'll be an underrated piece down the stretch if this team wants to bring the flare and spark night in and night out.
2. Calm Down Superstars
If Chicago wants a prosperous new year, they need to figure out the in-house issues first. A few weeks ago, reports were released saying Zach Lavine was not 'seeing eye-to-eye' with the franchise. Another leaked rumor suggests DeMar DeRozan may look to flee the Windy City this offseason if things don't turn around during the second half of this season.
Lavine's underwhelming play has brought boatloads of justified criticism from fans and the media alike, and he's not handling it how a top-20 paid athlete in the sport should be. 'Finger-pointing' and 'not playing for one another' were common themes buzzing Lavine following a few horrendous defensive performances, and although losing often brings controversy, this has felt more significant. The Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Los Angeles, Lakers, have all been considered interested in the disgruntled guard should he depart when eligible on January 15th.
DeRozan instantly shot down the report of possibly wanting out of Chicago with a savvy Instagram post that day, but could anyone blame him if he wanted out? Why would a 33-year-old playing MVP-level basketball want to waste away his career on a bubble playoff-caliber team? Buried in the Lavine news, also noted was that both he and DeRozan had one-on-one meetings with the organization, citing that the two stars were unhappy with the current happenings on the court.
Donovan and others in the front office will need to do whatever it takes to make and keep these two happy or ship them elsewhere if it's not going to work. Having disgruntled stars has shown inferiority to less talented players who have 'bought in' and are willing to sacrifice for their team.
3. Make Deadline Splash
It's pretty clear at this point that the Chicago Bulls, as currently constructed, are not going to contend for anything and may not even make the playoffs. Much like the spring of 2021, when Nikola Vucevic was brought in fresh from his second all-star appearance to help Lavine in a playoff push, Chicago will need to make a similar effort at this year's deadline if they're going to see change. This could mean an all-star caliber player in a splash deal or just bringing in a few plug-and-play pieces to fix the main issues of rebounding, three-point shooting, and defense.
Zach Lavine's disgruntled state and seemingly overpaid salary have made him the main trade prospect for Chicago. Now that DeRozan has risen as the clear first option and could use a true point guard and slashing wing-man alongside him, Lavine has become expendable and should be dealt for more tailored pieces around DeRozan.
Nikola Vucevic would also be a viable option to deal at the deadline. With his contract up after this season and his numbers slowly declining each year he's been a Bull, there's not much to be desired when it comes to an extension. With rebounding being a significant issue, Vucevic's perimeter-dwelling habits have frustrated fans watching teams dominate on the glass. With his resume and versatility, Vucevic would be a sought-after target for any borderline or contending team and an easy guy to cut ties with for Chicago.
If Chicago can achieve most of these things over the coming months, they should find themselves where everyone anticipated them being pre-season, contending for an Eastern Conference title. Carrying a record of 7-1 against the Celtics, Heat, Bucks, and Nets this season, the capability of competing has been proven; the sustainability is in question now.
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