The Bulls haven’t cracked 40 wins in three years, and while the Zach LaVine era is officially in the rearview, the arrow may finally be pointing up.
Chicago went 17-10 after the All-Star break and quietly posted the NBA’s fifth-best record after March 6 (15-5). The difference? A more balanced roster, a breakout from Coby White, and the emergence of Josh Giddey as a legitimate lead guard.
Giddey, who will be a restricted free agent, averaged 22.6 points, 10.3 rebounds, and 9.1 assists post-February. Only he and Michael Jordan have averaged 10-7-7 in a Bulls season. His six triple-doubles are tied for fourth-most in franchise history. Safe to say, priority No. 1 this summer is locking him up — and Chicago has a big edge in doing so, thanks to RFA rules.
White, meanwhile, followed up a runner-up finish in Most Improved Player voting by winning Eastern Conference Player of the Month in March and is eligible for a four-year, $89 million extension starting July 10. Whether it gets done this summer remains to be seen.
The Bulls own the 12th or 13th pick in June, plus No. 45 via Sacramento. They’ve got flexibility, too: $46 million under the tax line, the full $14.1M non-taxpayer midlevel, biannual and trade exceptions ($17.2M and $2.9M), and a reset cap sheet.
They’re still thin defensively — ranked 23rd in efficiency, dead last in paint points allowed — and eight of their 12 players are on expiring deals. But with nine guys aged 25 or younger, their own picks back, and financial control… this feels like a new era.
President of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas isn’t calling it a final product. But for the first time in a while, the Bulls actually look like a team becoming something.
