The Bulls overhauled their roster by making seven trades ahead of last week’s deadline, but the new-look team is focused more on competing than rebuilding, Paul Sullivan of The Chicago Tribune writes in a subscriber-only story. Seven new players were on the c0urt Saturday against Denver, and even though they had barely practiced together as a group, the Bulls held a seven-point lead going into the fourth quarter before the game slipped away.
“We definitely can be very special,” said Collin Sexton, who was acquired from Charlotte on Thursday. “I feel like for us to have one walk-through and to go out there pretty much jelling and making the right reads and doing this together. … It was super fun. At the end of the day, I know something good is coming.”
The Bulls had lost five of their last six games heading into the deadline, and management had no interest in being a perennial play-in team any longer, according to Sullivan. The purge was framed as “a stage” rather than a full rebuild, with more significant moves expected this summer.
The long-range plan is to build around young talent like second-year forward Matas Buzelis, who is viewed as a franchise cornerstone. Coach Billy Donovan said Buzelis got a “taste of this (league) as a business” at the deadline and was “still processing” all the moves that took place.
“It’s tough, of course, but at the end of the day you’ve just got to accept what happens,” Buzelis said. “That’s just what it is. I’m happy to see these guys here. I think we’ve got something special and we can make it work, but it’s tough, losing all my brothers. It is what it is, and you’ve got to accept it. … Those guys are always going to be part of my circle. They impacted me as a player. I’m never going to forget the relationships I’ve built with them over the years. They were great vets to me.”
There’s more from Chicago:
- Donovan’s up-tempo offense is a better fit for Rob Dillingham than he had in Minnesota, observes Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times (subscription required). The No. 8 pick in the 2024 draft, Dillingham wasn’t able to crack the Wolves’ rotation, but he played a season-high 22 minutes on Saturday, finishing with nine points and setting up teammates for two impressive alley-oop dunks. ‘‘At times, we’ve struggled to get downhill,’’ Donovan said. ‘‘He’s the one guy, when the ball is in his hand, that can really break people down, play off the dribble and put some pressure on the basket.’’
- With a $27.7MM expiring contract, Anfernee Simons understands that the next few weeks will help to determine his NBA future, Cowley adds in a separate story. Simons plans to take the same approach he did when he was traded to Boston last summer. “I think even before [the trade], it was always going to be a job interview with this being the last year of my contract,” he said. “I’ve just got to make the most out of these last couple of months here, start building chemistry with the guys and see where that goes.”
- Sexton talks about serving as a veteran leader for the young roster in an interview with K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network (YouTube video link).
Neither Simons or Sexton will be apart of the team next year, so it doesn’t matter how well they perform. Getting Rob D was great bc he’s still so young and have immense potential. At Kentucky, he was one of the best players on the court. I agree the tempo and pace will help him grow his game. I’m tired of Donovan making Buzelis into Markkannen, he keeps shooting so many 3’s when he has the ability to get to the basket with his athleticism and length. If we can get into the top 7 for the draft, and grab Wagner from Illinois or Ament from Tennessee, I will be excited. Both are legit buckets and have great size as well.
The Bulls will probably take a big like Ament over a guard. Let’s hope they win the lottery or at least get into the top 3!
I like Ament at the next level but Wagler is a bucket and such shot creativity. I like his range and size too, in growing into a solid defensive player.
I disagree with you. I think the whole purpose was to get a first hand look at each guy to confirm their interest in extending them once their deals expire. Why else would they trade for expiring contracts for expiring contracts all for about the same amount? Sexton they kept while trading the other. I bet you they offer him a deal.
They do need a 6th man off the bench I agree. I rather have Sexton than Simons. Simons is a bucket but Sexton’s energy and motor is contagious. I feel like Simons when his shot isn’t falling, becomes disinterested in the game on both ends of the floor. Sexton, I don’t mind extending him for the right price. We have so much cap space, I’m petrified they might blow it on mid players to stay a mid team.
Like both Simons and Sexton. Much better natural scorers than White and Dosunmu. Hope that the Bulls do offer both two more years if at reasonable money. Simons can score ‘off the bounce’ unlike White and Dosunmu.
Celtics really missed Simons last night.
Bench got trashed w/o him on it.
Could Sexton or Simons be a buyout candidate when Giddey comes back? There doesn’t seem like there will be enough PT to keep all their guards happy. My guess is the Bulls will want to get the longest looks at Ivey & Dillingham.