The Chicago Bulls are stuck in NBA no man’s land. Can Billy Donovan discover the path back to relevancy next season?
The Chicago Bulls‘ season ended with a heartbreaking last-minute collapse against the No. 8 seed Miami Heat in the final Eastern Conference play-in game. The Bulls were a couple minutes away from toppling the eventual conference champs.
Whatever pride was derived from that fact has evidently kept the roster intact, which is probably not the best possible offseason outcome. Chicago made a few nice upgrades on the margins but the core remains intact and it’s hard to decipher a path to a materially better outcome than last season.
The Bulls obviously want to contend, but the front office is reportedly prepared to pull the plug if things go south again. Get prepared mentally, Chicago fans, because it will go south. The Bulls have enough talent to feign competitiveness on a nightly basis, but the Bulls’ absolute ceiling is a first-round exit. At some point, the franchise has to admit defeat and pivot toward the future.
For now, however, the roster is essentially set ahead of training camp. The star duo of DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine isn’t going anywhere and the Bulls furnished Nikola Vucevic with a lucrative new three-year contract. Lonzo Ball’s sustained absence is a dark cloud hanging over the organization, but the Bulls will have a potentially useful traded player exception (TPE) to use on free agents or future buyout candidates.
As the Bulls gear up for another run at the middle of the East, here’s what Billy Donovan is working with.
Chicago Bulls starting point guard: Jevon Carter
The Bulls gave Jevon Carter a three-year, $19.5 million contract with a player option in the final year. He figures to take over the reins at point guard. The Bulls have more guard depth than the average team, but Carter is the most traditional ball-handler to lead the first unit.
Carter exploded into the national consciousness with his play in Milwaukee last season. He averaged 8.0 points and 2.4 assists on .423/.421/.816 splits in 22.3 minutes per game. The 27-year-old, aptly nicknamed ‘Bulldog,’ also started 39 of his 81 appearances in place of the injured Jrue Holiday. He was a critical role player for the No. 1 seed in the East.
Now Carter will get full-time starting duties in Chicago. His role shouldn’t change much from what it was in Milwaukee. Carter can set the table and he doesn’t make many mistakes as a ball-handler, but he’s not going to be the head of the snake. Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan will still anchor the halfcourt offense; that’s where Carter’s versatility as an off-ball shooter and connective passer make him so valuable.
The real highlight of Carter’s game, however, is his defense. It’s hard for 6-foot-1 guards to carve out a consistent defensive role in the NBA but Carter can punch above his weight class due to his unrivaled tenacity and razor-sharp instincts. He digs in at the point of attack and never relents. Donovan is a defensive-minded coach and he’s apt to fall madly in love with Carter’s approach. Fans should look forward to the minutes Carter shares with All-Defense guard Alex Caruso.
Primary backup point guard: Coby White
The No. 7 pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, it would be fair to categorize Coby White’s career as a mild disappointment so far. Even so, the Bulls spent $33 million over three years to keep White around this summer. He’s the most potent offensive weapon in the Bulls’ second unit, capable of burying 3s at a healthy clip or skating to the rim for acrobatic finishes.
White is a bursty scorer with positional size at 6-foot-5 and the ability to heat up quickly. The Bulls will hope White can progress as a creator for others, but he’s comfortable handling the rock and he’s a frequent shot in the arm for Chicago’s offense, which has a tendency to stall.