The “Big Three” that the Bulls formed when they traded for Nikola Vucevic and signed DeMar DeRozan to team with Zach LaVine should be considered a “failed experiment,” writes Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic. Chicago’s inconsistent play continued Monday night with a home loss to the Rockets, who entered the game with just three road wins.
The Bulls fell to 3-8 against sub-.500 opponents and have lost to a collection of teams at the very bottom of the NBA standings. It was a disappointing performance after three straight road victories, but the players recognize it as a consequence of not being ready to compete from the start, as Houston built an early 23-5 lead.
“At this point, I don’t think it’s surprising,” Patrick Williams said. “I think we’ve shown ourselves when we play the way that we played tonight, this is what happens. So I don’t think it’s surprising. I just think it’s more so a wake-up call. Just because you win three in a row doesn’t mean a team is going to lay down.”
Bulls management hasn’t shown any signs of wanting to break up its Big Three, but the team is facing a limited timetable if it decides to move in that direction. The trade deadline is only about six weeks away, and a decision will have to be made soon on whether to keep Vucevic, who will be a free agent after this season.
There’s more from Chicago:
- DeRozan called the Rockets’ hot start “unacceptable” and said the Bulls have to be more focused regardless of their opponent, per K.C. Johnson of NBC Sports Chicago. “We can’t feel out games,” DeRozan said. “We gotta go out the gate and treat it like it’s the fourth quarter. That’s just how we have to play. We have to be more aware of that.”
- Javonte Green warmed up with his teammates Monday night, but he was held out so the medical staff could see how his right knee responded to the pregame routine, according to Annie Costabile of The Chicago Sun-Times. Coach Billy Donovan said Green no longer has the swelling and soreness in the knee that has forced him to miss eight games this month.
- Alex Caruso remains in concussion protocol, but his sprained right shoulder is the main issue preventing him from playing, Costabile adds. “He’s gone through a series of concussion-protocol stuff, which he has passed,” Donovan said. “The next part of him passing the concussion protocol is him doing some form of contact.”
If any team should blow it up, it’s Chicago. They could get a haul for Derozan, and they might as well get something for vooch before free agency. Caruso and Green would have some appeal to a lot of teams.
Start over.
LaVine, DD and Vooch all should be traded and Lee AC and play Ayo at SG while shifting Williams to SF.
Team is despicable and has for years used it’s fans as a piggy bank instead of caring, until the reinsdorfs are forced to leave this will be forever GarPax and we will never be good, I hope they sell the franchise to Siberia and ban it from all competition ever, pathetic losers who think they can feel out games when they are garbage, F*** this team and every executive piece of trash in it
youre cryinginamerican forreal lmao. garpax is gone, but i do agree that this version of the team has reached its peak. going back to last year after we lost lonzo, we have not been a good team at all. idk the record but im sure its well under .500
Just a quick wrap off the top over the past month on Chicago.
Apparently there was an offer of DD and Vuce for Russ and 2 firsts as they consider a rebuild. Then reports come out that DD and LaVine have had issues, the entire locker room know all about it and they have had meetings trying to fix it. Lonzo and his doctor say he’s not returning this year. The teams FO then questions LaVines commitment to the team and if he’s a long term fit putting further doubt into a DD and Vuce trade. Meanwhile on the court they continue to suck.
Now you’ve got young guys like Patrick Williams facing the media saying “At this point I don’t think it’s surprising” when talking about trailing 23-5 to start against the Rockets who are rebuilding.
There’s just so much wrong in this picture.
What direction are you heading? Trying to win or rebuild? Who’s your franchise player? Where are you heading? How do you get there?
Someone needs to have the answers and make the tough calls. It all just seems like a boat in the ocean with a broken motor going no where and no one is doing anything about it.
As I’ve said a bunch,
I’d go Caruso for Wiseman
Take Russ and 2 firsts for DD and Vuce
Then make LaVine available for trade too.
2 Potential LaVine deals which I like in particular
– LaVine for MPJ
-LaVine and a 1st for OG and GTJ (ideally this 1)
Then lastly Dragic and Drummond for Josh Green
Buy out Russ, and just embrace the rebuild.
Ayo GTJ OG Williams Wiseman
White Jo.Green DJJ Ja.Green Bradley
Come the offseason Lonzo returns, bring back DRose in FA, bring back GTJ from FA, and bring in culture guys. Taj Gibson can return to play with DRose in a farewell season. I’d even give Jabari Parker another chance.
Line up like this
1. Lonzo. DRose (FA). Terry
2. GTJ. Ayo. Green
3. OG. Taylor Hendricks (draft). DJJ
4. Pat Will. Jabari Parker (FA) Gibson (FA)
5. Wiseman. Nerlens Noel (FA). Siminovic
Don’t need results right away, you have the lakers picks to come aswell. Lonzo is great defensively, GTJ gets a bunch of steals and holds up defensively, OG is a beast, Pat Will is a beast and Wiseman should develop in minutes. Offensively Lonzo gets to take control and run the point. GTJ is a great floor spacer, OG gets a great opportunity, Pat Will also gets a bigger role and lastly James Wiseman should get minutes and be able to put up real numbers.
Off the bench DRose helps teach Ayo much like he’s been doing with IQ in NY. Josh Green is a solid young wing. From the draft I think they need either a wing or combo forward, some versatility and a good skill set. I’ve gone with Kendrick’s who is a 6’9 combo forward and Freshman at UCF. Can stretch the floor, has highlight finishes and gets blocks. Projects to have below average on ball skills but good two way ability and potential to improve his all round game. Next to him would be either DJJ in small line ups or Jabari Parker who I’d take a flyer on. Then locking it all down I’d get Nerlens Noel for cheap as a defensive centre.
Parker : been there, done that, no good no way. The rest cannot be any worse than this steaming pile of players.
That was Parker is a win now mode. This is Parker for the vets min with no expectations not even necessarily trying to win games. Just a home town kid given another chance and hopefully he takes it this time. Look at him in college and how Andrew Wiggins was labelled a bust until GSW. Maybe abit of growing up from Parker and less attention on him and he will do well.
As for the rest, I’m not sure it’s an upgrade but long term wise they definitely have a bunch more potential and would improve from where they are now
Raps aren’t going anywhere near LaVine, with his health issues, contract size and lack of defense/determination, especially at the cost of OG.
There was a rumour that the Knicks had interest in LaVine, depending on the return I would jump at the opportunity to get rid of that contract.
I agree though, the Bulls need to strip it down and start over. If they do it now it may not be too long of a rebuild.
LaVine is the issue… hardest to trade as well.