Bulls Preview

October 23, 2019

The Bulls open up their season tonight against the Charlotte Hornets. The loyalty the ownership has to management rubs me the wrong way. John Paxon was hired in 2003. He hired Gar Forman to be his General Manager, while his new title is President of Basketball Operations. In 16 years they haven’t won a damn thing. Aside from a couple of good years with a healthy Derrick Rose, they have been awful.

The only good coach they hired was Tom Thibodeau who was unceremoniously dumped over physiological differences.  His replacement, Fred Hoiberg didn’t tank well enough and was let go in mid- season last year. They hired pre-historic assistant Jim Boylen over Fred Flintstone. Instead of making him an interim coach they gave him a two-year contract. No proper search for a new coach was even considered.  Boylen proceeded to guide them to a 17-41 record. He is old school with his game planning. He says he wants his players to take the ball to the rim and get free throws. This is the antitheses of modern day basketball.  The trend is spreading the floor for open 3-pointers and playing good defense. In a recent interview he said “I don’t evaluate whether we won or lost. I evaluate how they play.” If you play well you win if not you lose, it’s that simple.

All is not doom and gloom. The Bulls have some talent and may compete despite their coach. Lauri Markkanen and Zach LaVine could be all-stars. Otto Porter is an upgrade at small forward. Wendall Carter Jr. needs to stay out of foul trouble and should be more productive. The new point guard is free-agent Tomas Satoransky, who I haven’t seen enough of to make any assessment.

I thought the Bulls were done with Kris Dunn. However, it looks like he’s in charge of what looks to be terrible bench. The most notable free-agent in that unit is middle of the road, Thaddeus Young whose name is a big contradiction to his age. Eventually, first round pick guard Coby White should move up to be a starter. What I’ve seen of him looks pretty good although, it’s only pre-season. When you have the seventh pick in the draft you don’t get game changers. Like Carter last year, the Bulls top pick is not in the opening night starting line-up.

 What the Bulls truly need is a player who makes everyone else better, someone who is a level above their best players. I’m wondering if the Bulls could have pulled off Khalil Mack type trade for second pick Ja Morant, by offering the first round pick this and next year. If that’s not good enough, sweeten the pot any way you can. Offer any player or two except Markkanen and LaVine.

I do expect the Bulls to be better. They should win 28-38 games, miss the playoffs and get a lousy draft pick. I hope I’m wrong but my gut tells me I’m not.