Chicago Bulls insider says not to expect "major changes" for the team at the trade deadline
For all the talk involving the struggling Chicago Bulls and the team's apparent need for a spark, a team insider has said that fans can expect the franchise not to make a "major change" before or at the trade deadline on February 9.
Staying put
According to ESPN reporter Jamal Collier on Brian Windhorst's The Hoop Collective Podcast, the Bulls are not inclined to tear it all down despite their dismal 23-27 record, which is good for 11th place in the Eastern Conference. Instead, Collier deduced that the team's decision-makers still want to give this collection of talent a little more time to prove itself.
"Zach LaVine has looked a whole lot better. (Nikola) Vucevic has been playing well and I think that they want to give it time. The biggest thing is that they look at a team that wasn't at least around those guys. This still wasn't built that long ago," said Collier.
The Bulls, though, have to make decisions regarding Vucevic, who will become an unrestricted free agent after this season. The two sides have yet to agree upon an extension. If the Bulls lose Vucevic, that would leave a massive hole in the middle of their lineup.
Still missing a major piece
The Bulls are also still waiting for their prized point guard Lonzo Ball to return to the lineup after going down with a knee injury in January 2022. Since then, Ball has gone through two surgeries and is still experiencing pain in his knee. The UCLA product remains without a timeline for a return. Without Ball running the point, the Bulls have struggled to find a reliable offensive flow and finished last season with a 19-23 mark after starting 27-13 with him.
"They're still looking at a major piece that may not be a factor this year, but they still think may become a factor at some point. And they want to give this team every chance," Collier added.
Even though there's a lot of buzz involving several of their players, such as Coby White, Andre Drummond, and Alex Caruso, the Bulls seem content with playing it safe and not making a major move before the deadline. It'll be interesting to see if their decision pays off or if they will regret not taking a chance. Stay tuned.
