The Bulls Aren’t Always the Worst
It seems as though any move made in the NBA results in backlash to the Bulls from their fans. However, the Bulls aren’t really a problem.
As we near closer to the trade deadline, Bulls fans seem to be getting more an more impatient. Whenever another move happens across the league, fans are clamoring for the Bulls to make said move, and when the team doesn’t, complains run wild.
Anthony Davis has recently become available via trade from the New Orleans Pelicans. Some fans strongly believe the Bulls should go all in on Davis–see Russ’s work on that here–while others believe the team should maintain their current direction by building through the draft and free agency. You would not believe the reactions from some Bulls fans when they disagree, or maybe you would.
There is no middle ground seemingly. Those who believe the Bulls should maintain the core are accused of having Stockholm’s Syndrome, yes really. “Rawr rawr GarPax need to be fired rawr rawr.” Everything goes back on the Bulls. While I don’t disagree that the franchise may be better off without the current front office, they don’t need to be fired solely because they aren’t making calls on AD.
It’s a huge risk to trade for AD and bet on his resigning. GarPax likely recognize this and them not going all in could be the smart move. Or you know, listen to mob of irrational Bulls fans and fire them for EVERY SINGLE MOVE.
Oh boy. Everything is the Bulls’ fault. AD doesn’t want to play here. FIRE GARPAX. The team is 4-3 without LaVine this season? “He is useless, TRADE HIM!” The Knicks open up cap space by trading Porzingis and others? “The Knicks have a brighter future than the Bulls.”
The LaVine argument is flaming hot garbage. Out of those 4 wins this year without him in the lineup, the Bulls have beaten the Hornets, Cavs, Heat, and the other was a comeback win over the Spurs–in which Lauri Markkanen and Kris Dunn combined for 47 points. Takes require context. Zach is here for the foreseeable future. He doesn’t need to be traded because we won a few games without him. In fact he shouldn’t be traded point blank period. You’ve gotta be crazy to sit and think that the team would be better off without their leading scorer and near-All Star-caliber guard. It’s ludicrous.
Here comes the fun part of the day. Kristaps Porzingis and the New York Knicks. On Thursday, Kristaps Porzingis was traded to the Dallas Mavericks for Dennis Smith Jr. and two expiring deals in DeAndre Jordan and Wesley Matthews. This trade likely frees up two max-contract slots for the Knicks this off-season. With this trade, all the sudden the Knicks have a brighter future than the Bulls. They don’t.
According to some, the Knicks can acquire THREE superstars this season, putting them in better position than the Bulls. The problems with this argument: Kyrie Irving, in my mind, does not leave Boston. If they make a deep run in the playoffs, that would all but lock him in to extend with the Celtics. Kevin Durant could possibly leave the Warriors for the Knicks to help his legacy. However, if the Warriors can offer him max money, why would he want to go play for a clown-show like the Knicks. Cool he gets to play with Frank Ntilikina, Kevin Knox, and Dennis Smith Jr.(whom the Knicks gave up Kristaps to acquire when they could have just drafted him the prior year.) The last main problem with that specific argument is the 3rd superstar being mentioned is supposed to be Zion through the draft.
A. It takes years sometimes to become a star in this league, let alone a SUPERstar.
B. While Zion does look like the real deal, there are no guarantees in this league.
The Knicks gave up Kristaps Porzingis, their one valuable asset, to aquire a player whom they could have just drafted the prior year, and to clear cap-space for the CHANCE at signing two superstars in free agency. Last time they went out to aquire a superstar, they got Amare Stoudemire. Look how that turned out. Now why are the Bulls in a better position you may ask, as we also have quite the dysfunction in the Front Office?
The Chicago Bulls have talent already. The wins don’t reflect that, but the core of Lauri Markkanen, Zach LaVine, Wendell Carter Jr., and potentially Kris Dunn is one of the strongest young cores in the league. With a likely coaching change coming this offseason, a free agent could sign to play in Chicago with all of this young talent plus this years 1st round pick. That pick has the same chance as the Knicks at being Zion Williamson. The Bulls also have ONE max-salary slot available this off-season to potentially sign a higher-tier Free Agent. Yeah the Bulls have GarPax and nearly everybody wants him fired, but would it really be better to play for the Knicks.
What the Knicks have to offer:
- David Fizdale
- Big Market of New York City
- Possibility to play with another max-free agent
What the Bulls have to offer:
- The chance to be the center piece of a core comprised of Lauri Markkanen, Zach LaVine, and Wendell Carter Jr.
- Slightly smaller, but still Top 3 Market in Chicago.
- Likely new coach to better fit the team as a whole.
Both teams share the negative of the front office. The Knicks couldn’t keep a Top 10 player at his position happy and traded him for a bag of chips and Dennis Smith Jr. The Bulls are just generally criticized for some poor past decisions and an inability to have a solid coach in place. Neither is great. But I believe the Bulls pros outweigh those of the Knicks. There is no guarantee that a top free agent comes to either team, but if none go to the Knicks, then they just gave away Kristaps for nothing. They gave away a potential superstar to clear salary. If nobody goes to the Bulls, then they still have their core in tact. Lauri Markkanen and LaVine both have All-Star potential, whereas that can’t be said for anybody currently on the Knicks roster.
The Bulls don’t deserve to be criticized for every single move they make. There really hasn’t been a bad move since then. They bought out Wade and Rondo. Traded Butler to escape basketball mediocrity and gained Lauri, Lavine, and Dunn. They gave the team new direction. Coaching hasn’t gone well, but that can be fixed this off-season. They drafted Wendell Carter Jr. And in recent weeks, the Bulls have made quite a few trades to acquire essentially free cash. I don’t see how the team can be criticized for getting free cash. There isn’t a bad thing about it.
It’s OK to have your opinion on the front office. I’m not saying you have to like them or even approve of their moves. However, it is unfair to call for their heads every time they make a move, especially when most of their moves have been beneficial as of late.
Try and be objective when talking about the front office. It takes away a lot of the anger and pain of being a Bulls fan.
Featured Image: Getty Images
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