With two 2022 All-Stars in Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan and former All-Star center Nikola Vucevic, the Chicago Bulls were hoping to be a serious contender in the Eastern Conference and build on their No. 1. 6 seed from last season. But as this season continued, with the Bulls now sitting at a disappointing 11-18, and while playing without their star point guard Lonzo Ball due to a lingering knee injury, serious questions arose. in the locker room to find out if their two star wings can fit together at a high level on the pitch this season and beyond.
The Bulls have held several team meetings to try to resolve their issues, and that has included one-on-one talks between DeRozan and LaVine, according to team and league sources who spoke on condition of anonymity. because they are not allowed to speak publicly about team dynamics. DeRozan and LaVine have always had a strong mutual respect for each other. Just 10 months ago, at All-Star Weekend in Cleveland, the stars proclaimed themselves the best duo in the NBA. They have good personal relationships. But so far, their encounters have failed to yield in-game results, with a level of stylistic tension on the pitch that has only worsened throughout the season and amplified due to the winning record and of defeats.
“I think everyone goes through ups and downs, like all teams,” LaVine said. Athleticism Tuesday when asked about it. Obviously, if we don’t win games, not everyone will be happy. It’s not going to be as pretty as before. Everything is sparkling and shows when you win games. But when you lose games and try to do the same things, it’s turmoil. Everyone has the right to have their own opinion. For my part, I lower my head. I work on my game and I try to help my team. I help lead the team. This is where I stand. I’m just trying to take it day by day and assess how we’re doing.
Additionally, multiple league sources and sources close to the organization say LaVine and the Bulls disagree. Over the past few weeks, there has been a palpable sense in various parts of the franchise of a disconnect over LaVine’s situation in Chicago. This all happened while LaVine is in the first season of a five-year, $215 million max deal that was signed this summer.
“There is a certain level of frustration among people trying to figure out what we can do to help right the ship,” LaVine said. Athleticism. “I think with the players we have, we try to get on top of each other right of the ship. We have this type of guy, this type of mentality where each of us had number one options on a team before and then we all come together collectively. It won’t take one person. It will take us all as a unit. I think that’s what the guys are trying to figure out how to help the band.
As the saying goes, winning cures everything. A year ago, DeRozan, LaVine and those Bulls were clicking on all cylinders while Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and the Celtics struggled to find their way. The roles seem reversed a year later, and it’s obvious when you look at the rankings.
During the third season of Billy Donovan’s tenure, there was also increased skepticism in the locker room about the head coach and coaching staff. For Donovan, the challenge of optimizing DeRozan and LaVine together through a balance of execution, accountability and cooperation is significant. Donovan’s job is currently safe, however, because Athleticism reported that he had signed a multi-year contract extension before the start of this season.
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The Bulls’ season started with optimism. They fired 12 players from last season’s roster, and the hope was for continuity to bring increased chemistry and better results. The Bulls are a much more complete and dynamic team with Ball healthy, of course, as his ability to pace and set the table for DeRozan and LaVine was necessary for last season’s squad.
But even with Ball’s status pending in terms of a return date, the Bulls’ executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnišovas laid out expectations for this season during the team’s media day. in September.
“What we want to see is obviously improvement,” he said. “Once you get to the playoffs and have a healthy body, I think a lot of things can happen. So I think we have to do better than last year. When you get to the playoffs, as always, things happen. A certain team is missing one or two key players and you can skip a round. So those are the expectations.
From the start, however, the Bulls faced a bumpy road.
LaVine unexpectedly sat out the team’s first two contests this season, with the team saying his occasional absence would be part of scheduled maintenance centered around handling off-season arthroscopic knee surgery. LaVine battled a nagging knee issue in the second half of last season, showing tremendous resilience and courage to stay on the floor for the first playoff appearance of his career. LaVine could have had knee surgery during the season, but opted to wait until after the Bulls playoffs to ensure his availability for the team.
DeRozan arrived at the Bulls in the 2021 offseason intending to be the second option most nights behind LaVine and provide LaVine with the support needed to win more games. In that role, he emerged as one of the league’s best players, however, with clutch moments, multiple game winners, and consistent leadership.
Now is the time to figure out how we can make this work for the whole group. I haven’t played with a talent at that winger position like Zach. It is one of a kind. I want to put everything I’ve been through in my career, share it with him and win together. DeRozan said last October.
The duo enjoyed a successful first season, leading the Bulls to a 46-36 record and their first playoff berth in four years, having the best record in the East for parts of the first half of the year. due to a 27-11 start and really seeming to enjoy each other’s presence. It’s clear that Ball is a powerhouse for these Bulls: the team went 22-13 with him in the lineup and 24-23 without him. DeRozan and LaVine seemed to lay the groundwork for their partnership last season — except everything is in question throughout the organization this season.
For Karnišovas, the best decision of his tenure was acquiring DeRozan, who made the All-NBA Second Team and received an MVP vote a season ago. DeRozan has played brilliant basketball since joining the Bulls. He averaged 27.3 points, 5.1 rebounds and 4.9 assists while shooting 50.4 percent from the field and 88.1 percent on nearly eight free throws per game. As a fourth quarter performer, he ranks among the best in the NBA.
DeRozan joined the Bulls on a three-year, $85 million contract in 2021 and will be eligible this summer for an extension worth up to four years and $153.7 million. Do the Bulls see DeRozan as a centerpiece for years to come?
LaVine has chastised the idea that the weight of expectations of his maximum allowed contract has affected him.
“It didn’t weigh (on) anything for me. I don’t understand how this is put into context,” LaVine said. Athleticism. “Just because you’re signing a deal doesn’t mean he’s supposed to add weight to it?” I think there’s an added weight every time you step onto the court if you’re not playing correctly or if you’re playing incorrectly. But everyone is open to their own opinion.
“I improved every day after an injury. If you lose, you don’t see it. Obviously it’s frustrating to lose and it’s all these other stories that come out. It does not come from us. It comes from outside sources. That’s just what you have to deal with. It comes with the territory. I understand that. I think the team got it right. That does not bother me. I think it’s something that comes with it.”
Additionally, Vucevic is eligible for an extension worth up to four years and $118.2 million, but is currently expected to enter free agency in the offseason.
The Bulls’ direction moving forward is clouded by the fact that they still owe the Orlando Magic a protected first-round pick in the top four in the 2023 NBA Draft. a playoff and Play-In Tournament berth to a full rebuild, the Bulls’ front office would still risk being out of the top four and thus giving Orlando their pick.
And yet, if these Bulls continued down this path anyway, even with all that talent, it might leave the organization with no choice.
Goran Dragić, the team’s oldest and most experienced player, did not water down the team’s problem after a 150-126 loss at Minnesota on Sunday.
“We don’t play for each other,” he said. “It’s that simple.”
The veteran playmaker’s comments followed Donovan’s in an equally candid post-match interview. Donovan publicly challenged his star trio through the media, but he was more direct than ever on Sunday.
“We have to get out of the mindset of worrying about the score and how it’s going offensively and realizing the ball scores,” Donovan said. “And if the ball is moved and passed, whoever scores scores.”
Donovan echoed Dragic’s sentiments that the Bulls are playing too much individually and the results won’t start to change until the team does.
When you have that mentality, I feel like I’m doing it for him. And I’m going to do it for him, and I’m going to do it for him. And I don’t let down the guy I’m with there,” Donovan said.
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(Photo: Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
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