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NBA free agency: The 3 biggest losers in this offseason so far

By Nicholas Chiarito

Dec 26, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) reacts during the first half of an NBA game against the Houston Rockets at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 26, 2022; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine (8) reacts during the first half of an NBA game against the Houston Rockets at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /
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Zach LaVine (Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images)
Zach LaVine (Photo by Andrew Lahodynskyj/Getty Images) /

The initial wave of NBA free agency has come and gone. Here are the three biggest losers so far. 

NBA Free Agency is one of the most exciting and nerve-racking times for NBA fans. Stars and superstars are moving across the league to increase their chances of winning an NBA championship. For fans, their favorite players can leave their team, leaving them in agony, or join their team, leaving them with hope.

Free agency is one of the main factors in how a team will fare off in the upcoming season. If a team doesn’t make any changes to their roster, they will see a similar performance to the prior year and a team that makes drastic changes has an idea on what direction the team is going.

As always, there are enormous winners in free agency and there are always enormous losers in free agency. Here are the 3 biggest losers in free agency so far this offseason.

No. 3 biggest loser in free agency so far: Chicago Bulls

In the 2021 offseason, the Bulls had some of the best moves, bringing in DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball, and Alex Caruso. At one point during the 2022 season, the Bulls were the No. 1 seed but finished the season as the No. 6 seed due to Ball suffering an injury.

Ball’s injury would cause him to miss the entirety of last season and is a reason the Bulls would finish as the No. 10 seed with a record 40-42. The Bulls definitely underperformed last season. With DeRozan entering his 15th season at age 34, the Bulls needed to make drastic changes to their roster in order to compete for a championship.

They would try to make these changes by signing Jevon Carter to a contract of three years and $20 million, signing Torrey Craig to a contract of two years and $5.3 million, and re-signing Coby White to a contract of three years and $33 million.

Last season the Bulls finished 24th in offensive rating and 19th in pace. The moves that they have made so far this offseason are not going to change that nor put them in a position to win a championship.

There are two other factors that make the Bulls big losers this offseason. Based on multiple reports, it is believed that there is a chance Ball may never be able to play on an NBA floor again. Ball is the perfect fit for this team as he would solve their offensive problems but, if he’s going to be injury-riddled, it would be better for them to move on.

The second factor that is hurting the Bulls offseason is the Zach LaVine trade rumors. The two-time All-Star has played his last six seasons in Chicago and has made the playoffs only once. The Bulls are looking to move on from him, and if they don’t get a good package back for him, it may be time for them to blow up the team.

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