These are dangerous times for the Bulls organization.
Even after a loss to Indiana at the United Center on Friday night, Billy Donovan’s crew will enter the Sunday afternoon tilt with Philadelphia on pace to win 34 games this season, and that doesn’t even take into account that they also have the easiest remaining schedule in the NBA.
As far as the standings, the Bulls are currently in play-in territory. A very familiar place for the organization.
However, all it will take is one upper management suit who has made a few good trades playing NBA2K to get the bright idea – yes, that’s sarcasm – of, ‘Hey, we’re just as good as the other play-in teams this season, why not go for it? Why not get a few extra games in April, get some more butts in the seats and make some money?” to completely derail reality.
Not only would that set the Bulls back yet another year of attempting to get out of mediocrity, but considering the talent in the 2025 draft class, it would fall under the category of organizational malpractice.
But these are the Bulls. Bad ideas have been synonymous with this franchise since they fired coach Tom Thibodeau and then a few seasons later traded Jimmy Butler.
Little has gone right since.
Well, until now.
Through the first 24 games of the 2024-25 campaign, executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas has to be beyond thrilled with what’s taken place.
First, he’s always felt that Donovan was the right coach for this franchise, and that’s been reaffirmed with how well Donovan has completely flipped the philosophy to fit the roster and has proven success.
Coaches often talk about changing shot profiles and pacing from year-to-year, but to actually flip it this quickly and at this extreme has been a master class by Donovan and the staff.
Secondly, the hope at the start of the season was to get a healthy Lonzo Ball back and into a rotation spot off the bench. The point guard did have a setback with his wrist, but has returned to a key reserve role and is producing at a high level despite minutes restrictions.
Ball is a free agent at the end of the season, and his expiring contract could be used in a trade package or by itself at least get the Bulls second-round draft assets. Ball would be the perfect piece coming off the bench for at least 10 playoff teams, and as long as he stays healthy is a nice chip to play as the Feb. 6 trade deadline approaches.
Third, Karnisovas couldn’t have asked for better bounce-back seasons from former All-Stars Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic.
LaVine is back to being one of the more efficient and elite scoring guards, shooting 50.8% from the field as well as 43.2% from three-point range, while also actually attempting to make a commitment on the defensive end at a high level.
Vucevic appears to have turned back the hands of time to his Orlando days, averaging 21.3 points per game, but shooting a career-high from three-point range (47.4%), while play-making at a high level.
Vucevic has this season and next on his contract, but at only $21 million in the final year of his deal can suddenly swing the power seedings at the top for a team that adds him.
It’s still a bit tricky with LaVine, especially because he’s still guaranteed $138 million through the 2026-27 season, but he’s played at a high enough level to at least make a desperate team talk itself into going after him.
Finally, and maybe what’s fallen most in Karnisovas’ favor, is at the quarter mark of the season there are already some underachieving franchises that are experiencing rumblings.
Keep an eye on the Lakers and the $18.7 million expiring contract of guard D’Angelo Russell. Los Angeles could trade for Vucevic straight up or package Russell in a deal for LaVine.
Either way the Bulls are in a good spot. At least that is unless one bad idea changes all of that. That’s all it will take.