10 most dysfunctional NBA franchises

By John Buhler | May 26, 2016

Mar 9, 2016; Sacramento, CA, USA; Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins (15) reacts to a call with the referee during the second quarter of the game against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Sleep Train Arena. The Cleveland Cavaliers defeated the Sacramento Kings 120-111. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports /

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Chicago Bulls’ point guard Derrick Rose, a former NBA MVP, has been highly scrutinized due to his injuries, was defended by his head coach, Tom Thibodeau. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports /

East. Central. Chicago Bulls. 6. player. 24.

Though they do mask it well, the Chicago Bulls have been a high-end dysfunctional NBA franchise for a very long time. It’s just kind of been an overarching story of the entire ownership of Jerry Reinsdorf.

Once Michael Jordan retired for the second time after winning the 1998 NBA Finals over the Utah Jazz, the organization immediately fell off a cliff, wallowing in obscurity until draft Joakim Noah out of Florida and Derrick Rose out of Memphis in back-to-back NBA Drafts (2007-08).

From there Chicago had the framework to build strong defense-first teams under head coaches Vinny Del Negro and Tom Thibodeau. However, neither coach was able to last in Chicago as long as they should have. Del Negro was ousted in favor of the best defensive mind of the last 25 years in Celtics’ top assistant Thibodeau in 2010.

Thibodeau’s Bulls relentlessly competed on the defensive end of the floor, as one of the top five defensive clubs on an annual basis. Rose became an MVP, Noah an All-Defensive First Teamer, and the Bulls’ depth became a massive strength for this basketball team.

Then friction between Thibodeau, his players, and front office executives like Gar Forman and John Paxson caused major upheaval during an era where the Bulls could have conceivably won NBA Championship No. 7.

Firing Thibodeau and hiring the Mayor of Ames, Iowa Fred Hoiberg didn’t pan out in 2015-16, as Chicago failed to reach the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Rose is reluctant to let All-Star shooting guard Jimmy Butler become the face of the franchise. Butler may want out of Chicago. Noah is on the decline physically.

A front court log jam and players starting to break down from the stress of playing defense in Thibodeau’s all-effort system are taking its toll on the club. Does Chicago cut its losses and blow this thing up for another rebuild or does the organization hope that 2016-17 offers some signs that things are going to get better. Chicago faces pressure for all the wrong reasons entering next season.

Next: 5. Cleveland Cavaliers

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