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- [00:01]
A
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D
Good morning everybody. Welcome to the Athletic NBA Daily. We are continuing on with our season previews and team previews. Today it is the Chicago Bulls. And we've got our Chicago Bulls beat writer, Joelle Lorenzi for From the Athletic. How does that sound? That sounds good. Got a nice ring to it, doesn't it?
- [02:36]
C
I can get used to that.
- [02:38]
D
Yeah, exactly. I can get used to it, too, man. It's. It's good to have you part of the team. You know, you spent the, the last season and seasons before that covering the Oklahoma City Thunder, covering the championship run. Maybe some of that good luck wears off, wears onto the Chicago Bulls. We'll see.
- [02:55]
C
It'll take a lot more than luck.
- [02:56]
D
It will take a lot more than luck. You're absolutely right. Pretty quiet offseason for the Bulls, other than recently. Josh Giddey getting the extension. Four years, $100 million. They drafted Noah Senge, which was their other big move. A lot of people will remember Noah Senge from the picture and the poster at summer league, but he had some pretty impressive performances in summer league as well. What was the biggest thing in the offseason for this Bull?
- [03:26]
C
Probably securing Josh Giddy, as boring as that is, because maybe a lot of people expected that, but locking up this team. I know ESPN did a survey, I think yesterday or some kind of poll, and they sort of ranked like future based on a mix of, you know, front office and talent and whatever. And it kind of gelled with. What I thought about this busting was that, you know, regardless of market and everything else, like, as far as assets go, like the roster, there are maybe three and a half, four real assets on this roster, which is a very small number on the NBA roster. That puts them probably bottom three in the league at best. And so securing one of those assets, a for sure asset, was important, no matter the way you dice it. You know, I know a lot of people are not high on, you know, Josh Giddy because of the way you have to build around him, at least right now, maybe a lot of people consider that you're pigeonholed with him. In a way, these things might be true. But regardless, for where the Bulls are and what they want to do in this window for which he signed in, he's important for what they want to do. Like he enables this sort of placed out, they've pivoted toward, yeah, he improves your younger guys, which is important. They're all about internal development. And regardless of whether you're leaning this hard into internal development or not, if you want your young guys to be Better and play faster. Like Josh Giddey is probably the guard you don't mind them being around. And so we could debate about the number and the final details of the contract, whatever, but locking up one of your surefire assets was important. It was probably the biggest thing they did all summer.
- [05:09]
D
Look, I know people are going to talk about the price and four years, $100 million. It was reported that Giddy wanted more than that. Obviously the Bulls sort of met middle there with the, the deal that they locked him down on. He had a really impressive end to his season for the Bulls. Right. I, I looked up the numbers earlier, but basically averaged a triple double post all star break shot like 45% from three. What do you expect out of Josh Giddy next season with this team? Like you said, banking on internal development.
- [05:41]
C
Yeah, I, I, I don't think I expect anything too different from what we saw post break and that's just the roster around him, the keys he's been given. Like when, when Zach lavine was out of the picture, it became fairly easy for him to slip into that role and, and be more comfortable. I think, you know, similar to like the last of his time at okc, I think when OKC was trying to reinvent him, there were toes he didn't want to step on, there were things he didn't want to keep doing that he was able to do when he was, you know, more of a tank commander earlier in his okay C time. And so I think you saw some of that early on with the Bulls, a new environment. Obviously he, he had a lot of change, he didn't want to step on toes. And so when you get Zach Levine out the picture, it's like these are your shoes now. So yeah, he needs to be stepping. So I think you'll see more of that. Especially like I said, this roster is, is hollow man, to be honest. So the offense is going to be his for better or worse and I think you'll see similar numbers. I don't know why. As a rebounder he'll be pretty much the same. The assists are always going to be there for him scoring wise. You know, I think, you know, he became better and cleaner as a driver back half of last season and the Bulls should be banking on that. I don't play into offseason videos, but if you've seen allseason videos, like he's shooting side steps and whatnot in Australia, we could, we can go on and on about that. But I, I do think he'll, he'll have at Least a, you know, a minor jump as a score. So the numbers post break should be more or less. I, I think real 45% from 3.
- [07:31]
D
Is, is a lot.
- [07:33]
C
That's, yeah, I, I, I wouldn't bank on that. I think that would dip for sure. But I just mean that the numerical stuff, everything else, like the counting stats should look similar. But then again that doesn't mean it translates to winning. So I think he's capable of putting up some, some really decent, you know, eyeball numbers, but this roster is just again, hollow. So I'm not sure it'll really translate to wins. I think he is a better shooter than he was in, in the past, but again, I wouldn't bet on what he shot post All Star break. You're right.
- [08:06]
D
Yeah. I mean look, they, they played a fun brand of basketball and we, we had talked about it a couple times on this show last season. Like you tune into a Bulls game and you're pretty much guaranteed to watch a fun basketball game because of the style that they played. Part of that is because of Josh Giddey and the pace, the, the, the, the up tempo style that they generally wanted to play matched Giddy's skill set. The question I have moving forward with this team is like, how does that backcourt of Kobe White and Josh Giddey win defensively because, or to be honest with you, the entire team because you got Vuch at the back line also. And there's, there's multiple questions about what the future direction of this team is. Given the fact that Kobe White is hitting unrestricted free agency in 2026, Vuch is going to be a free agent as well. There's sort of this question of like, all right, what's the next step for this group? Who do you think is the guy that needs to take a step forward for them to not be in the middle of the Eastern Conference once again?
- [09:05]
C
Yeah, I mean, if I'm being honest, the guy that needs to be the guy for them probably isn't on the team right now. He probably doesn't exist for them right now. I mean, a real first option for this team is somewhere out there, but on the roster because they're hellbent on internal development. I think there's two. I think Josh Giddy obviously has to make a leap because building around him is different than building around most guards. Certainly different than building around a Shay or somebody like that. Like building around Josh Giddey with his limitations and it's hard to, you know, even if he improves those limitations and Becomes, you know, an average defender, an above average shooter. There's still difficulties with him being an average defender. Right. And so Josh Giddy has to be one of them and then modest Bouzilles, I think is the other. Just because. Yeah, I think they're putting a lot of stock on him from what I can tell. And he's an encouraging player. Had a great, encouraging rookie season, especially when you could see the trust being put in him and sort of the opportunity being given to him. Just a. I like his build. His archetype should be a combo four for them moving forward and be on the ball more in an idyllic world and, you know, can be a guy like, you need at least a couple of those big fours who can switch and, you know, are not just attacking closeouts, but maybe getting to pick and roll a couple times.
- [10:37]
D
That's.
- [10:38]
C
That's what he should project as. But obviously he made fun defensive plays last year and as a cutter and all those things. Was. Was exciting and made flashy plays and was. Was great in that trip to LA that everybody cites from, from last year. So he. He probably has to be, you know, I, I think realistically, because I don't know that the aforementioned guy is out there for them because they don't want to tank. Realistically, like, modest probably has to be one of their two best players during this next iteration.
- [11:12]
D
Yeah, I'm very high on Modest Bozelis and high in the realm of like, I think he will be a very good player at some point in his career. Can he hit star upside? Can he become the guy for the Bulls? I think a couple of things have to pan out for that. The three point shooting is obviously a major part, but also just like I thought he was a unique driver for the Bulls last season. Again, he's another guy who fits the style of let's play fast, let's play up tempo. That seems like they're really building a philosophy behind that. Their best player though. Who do you think the Bulls best player is? Actually, now that we're asking this question.
- [11:51]
C
I think was by slim margins, probably Kobe White. But I just. I don't know that I see the futures messing for them based on the numbers that are put out there for what Kobe desires and everything. Like, if the Bulls are, you know, they're in this unique spot where they got all these expirings and they're so, you know, enthusiastic about next summer. I just don't know that it makes sense to give Kobe White that kind of money. Even though you Know, you look at the average based on this next cap, projected cap, and the average salary for guards around his talent level, like, sure, that is probably what guards as good as him should make. But if you're in, in their position where, like, again, I, I know I said earlier, like, they need to keep assets, but if you want a future and you don't want to, you know, really box yourself in, like, you probably can't give that much money to a guy like that. Like, they're not in a position to do that and it be smart and wise and whatever. Like, if you're, if they were closer to being a contender, then sure, maybe you do that to put you over the top. Maybe that's your, your final piece you need or something. But I just don't think the Bull, the future is. The two futures don't mesh for me.
- [13:04]
D
So if they don't mesh, and we've seen this in the past with the Bulls, where they'll hold on to an asset for a little bit too long to the point where you know, either whether it's the Alex Crusoe situation, whether it's the Zach Levine situation, whatever you want to call it, like, they, they've had to not get the most out of who they had in terms of asset reaccumulation and whatnot. What do you think they do with Josh Giddy. Sorry. With Kobe White? Like, is this a deadline move? Is this a guy in February we might be thinking of? Or just based on how the Bulls have operated recently, are they just going to move this onto free agency?
- [13:41]
C
I think it should be a deadline move. I mean, frankly, like, like you said, like, based on past moves, everything we expect and we think is wrong and they'll move way past that. I mean, Vuch is still on the roster. So yeah, like, I, I, I think in a, again, in a perfect world, it should be a deadline move. He'll, he'll play his way into great numbers about it. Not like he really even has much to prove at this point. Like, he's, he's proved he's a good player and probably worth that money to somebody.
- [14:14]
D
Yeah.
- [14:14]
C
And, you know, worth some good draft capital, which is what they should be seeking. But then again, who are we to guess what the Bulls should do, like, based on, I mean, based on what they've done. It's probably going to be a summer.
- [14:36]
A
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- [16:10]
D
That's what makes it probably very frustrating for Bulls fans out there because there's toggling this line of the long term and what this current team is that makes it so that this team is always in the middle. You look back at their record over the last couple years, 39 wins last year, 39 wins the year before that, 40 wins the year before that. So this team has been a 40 win team for the last three seasons. Regardless of the guys on the roster, regardless of who the best player on the roster is. I just. What is the long term direction for the Chicago Bulls based on what you've seen over the last couple months? What do you think their intention is long term?
- [16:54]
C
Intention? Those are two different questions. Intention is tricky. Yeah, I don't think anybody has a clear idea. The people who cover the team, the people who own the team, the people who run the team. I think everybody has a different idea of the direction this thing is going. I'd say it's headed nowhere. But again, that's a lot of that like falls on ownership and what they've been okay with and their priorities. I think from afar a lot of people would say that they are passionate about the fans and, and you know, in a, in the sick way that they want to see them every night and they want to sell out the building, but maybe not so much in that they want the fans to have. I mean the thing is that the Bulls are such a brand. Like they're gonna sell out regardless of being a 41 team, a 31 team. If Josh Giddey or Mo is their best player, like they're, they're gonna sell out. So I, I think a lot of fans are to the point where they'd rather just tink and have a good product in a couple years. I know everybody can't do it like okay, see where it happens in two years. But I think fans are willing to endure that from what I've since. But you know, it's just not that easy. The ownership is not committed to that and that's. The front office is not committed to that. So the direction, the thing they constantly harp on is internal development. I mean, you know this like I think AK it was either AKA Mark Everly was directly asked, you know, this summer or after the season, you know, where they're gonna find the guy because they are so adamant about internal development. And they just circled back to internal development like the guy has to be in the building for them and I just don't know that it's likely. So if they're, if they're stuck on that and like Yokich isn't walking through the door in some summer, like, you.
- [18:50]
D
Know, let's just put that to rest. Nicola Jokic is not walking through the door in Chicago. I'm just. I don't think that's going to happen. Look, I don't think so either. It's. It's wild to think of the Bulls, this franchise who is obviously known for the six championships, Michael Jordan, Derrick Rose with the one MVP and like the, the heyday of how popular team was. Even now like you said, they are sellout. They are near the top of the league in terms of like merch sales and jersey sales and whatnot. Just because of the brand of Chicago and the Bulls, how that hasn't been leveraged into being a free agency destination. I think part of that is because of the like the decision making process of this team over the last couple years. And if you were to look forward especially particularly into this season, what do you think is the biggest swing factor for this team from going from 39 wins like we can pencil them into to maybe being better than that.
- [19:53]
C
I think the best thing they can hope for is a long term improved outlook. And that's not going to. I don't think they should be trying to get to 45 wins.
- [20:03]
D
Right.
- [20:03]
C
That's, that's not the direction this thing should be going. They should be committing to this draft. I'm not a draft expert. I'm not saying Vicini. Right. But I do, I do know enough to know that this next draft, it's a good draft, is great, probably historically great.
- [20:15]
D
Yeah.
- [20:16]
C
And so like committing to getting a pick better than 11 or 12, you know, maybe even better in, you know, top eight should be the priority and that would be the better long term outlook. But then again, that, that doesn't seem to be in their sights. Exactly. And I don't know what it would take. Clearly they've taken it. They've taken enough. There's credit doing it. They've taken enough of a step to get off Zach Levine and give the keys to Josh Giddy and Modest Bouzelis. Yeah, maybe Kobe White. But like Vuch is still around and they're, they're, there are remnants of, not just that, that team that was first place some years back, but like remnants of wanting to hold on to the playoff picture. And that's just, that shouldn't be in the cards because with their luck, with their fortune, they're going to end up right where they've been, which is playing the Heat in, in April.
- [21:10]
D
So I was just about to ask you that most realistic outcome. I mean, I just talked to you about how they've been 39 wins for the last two seasons. Are we, are we locking in 39 wins in a playing spot for the Chicago Bulls in April?
- [21:23]
C
I would, I would think they, they, they should end up worse. I think.
- [21:26]
D
Okay.
- [21:28]
C
Just because, I don't know. I mean, they're tricky because they're with their playstyle. Like they'll catch some teams off guard. Yeah, they'll do a lot of what they did in March. Like, I think that was a combination of Giddy having the keys and kind of the nature of March in the NBA. So I don't know. I mean, I might not even be too bold here. I think maybe they, they win 37 or 38, it's not going to be like a supreme dip. Like, I think they'll still catch teams off guard on a lot of nights, as is the nature of the NBA. But I don't think they're going to be a 1 and 2.
- [22:04]
D
Yeah, I mean, look, you look at the Eastern Conference and there's just like this group of teams in the middle where I think there is a room for some of them to steal some wins, especially in the Eastern Conference, especially because the east is going to be injured and belabored. And all that. Like, that's just it. I envision the Bulls looking at that and saying, can we, can we maybe get the seven seed? Can we maybe get the eight seed? And that's the MO of this team over the last couple of seasons where it's like, hey, we, if we have a chance to be a playoff team and sell some playoff tickets, they're going to take that chance. And to me it's like, what if this is the year they actually decide to tank? What if this is the year they decide to finally pull the plug? Do you, do you envision a world where that can't happen?
- [22:54]
C
No. Okay, fair enough. Just based on. Because they've, they've had a few years. I mean, if any of these years were going to be here, it's probably this year.
- [23:02]
D
Yeah.
- [23:02]
C
Like, you know, you would, you would think that Vu should be off the roster, that Kobe White's decisions or, you know, his future, the decisions of his future would be clearer. These things are still questions. And so, you know, I, the, the. I think where I understand Bulls fans frustration is like, like internal, like development. If, if we're talking about internal development, like development and you know, playing that, that playing game, the nine, ten player playing game, those things are not synonymous. Like, that's not development. You're not putting them to a playoff series to learn. Like, it's just. It's pretty pointless experience and you're not helping yourself as a franchise because now you're picking 12th. So like, I don't know, like that. That's kind of where the differences for me. And they've, they've given no indication that they want to, you know, tank at all. So no, I don't think this is the year. Maybe, maybe two years from now when, when all hell breaks loose. But I mean, it's been pretty hellish as of lately.
- [24:12]
D
It's been tough. It has been tough. Maybe some of that good luck and that fortune that you provide from OKC brings kind of moves over to Chicago. Joel Lorenzo. Yeah, yeah, maybe Shea Jokic, whatever it is, let's do it all, man. Joel, appreciate you coming on. Thank you very much for talking about the Chicago Bulls. We will see what happens with the Bulls this season. They probably will be playing in April in that 910 game, like he said. Thank you for everybody tapping into the athletic NBA Daily. Appreciate you guys. We'll see.
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