The Chicago Bulls have made some bizarre decisions over the years and it is not hard to see why they have made the playoffs just once in the past seven seasons.
The Bulls decided to part ways with Zach LaVine before the trade deadline. While he was playing the best basketball of his career, in the long run, getting his massive contract off the books might serve the team well.
Saying goodbye to LaVine was not the issue with the Bulls. It was the lack of activity after that.
Given the Bulls’ continued decline in the Eastern Conference, a complete roster revamp might have been a wise option for the franchise at this point. But it doesn’t seem like Chicago is completely prepared to change its course completely.
Nikola Vucevic remains with the franchise. The Patrick Williams trade rumors did not lead anywhere of substance either. And it looks like the Bulls passed on a pretty lucrative trade offer for Lonzo Ball.
According to John Hollinger of The Athletic: “According to a league source, the Bulls had a firm offer to get a first-round pick and take on future money for Lonzo Ball and extended him instead.”
Instead of accepting the offer, the Bulls decided to keep Ball and signed him to a two-year, $20 million contract extension, with a team option for the second year.
Ball missed over two years due to injuries, eventually becoming the first NBA player to undergo a cartilage transplant treatment and return to play.
Ball is averaging 7.2 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.5 assists while shooting 36.2% from the field and 34% from beyond the arc in 30 games this season.
Chicago’s decision to pass on a first-round pick in favor of re-signing Ball was extremely bold, and one that many might not agree with.
However, we don’t know whether the first-round pick on offer was heavily protected or expected to land in the late-20s, or whether other players or assets would have been included in the deal.
For the most part of the past decade, the Bulls have struggled to build up any sort of momentum in the right direction as a franchise. Yet, they have never really committed to a full rebuild. Are we seeing a familiar story unfold in front of our eyes once again?
The front office traded LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Alex Caruso for no extra first-round picks. But they seem to have passed on what seems to have been a lucrative offer for Ball, considering his injury history.
In order to avoid this becoming a mistake, Ball must stay healthy and either become a valuable role player for the Bulls or an even more attractive trade prospect a year later.
