As the 2024-2025 NBA season unfolds, the Chicago Bulls are in a pivotal moment in the franchise’s history. After losing in the play-in round last season, the Bulls have set their sights on returning to the playoff tournament. While their roster remains largely similar to the previous season, the Bulls have made a few questionable adjustments to it that only time will tell if they were correct.
Key Roster and Player Dynamics
Since Demar DeRozan left via free agency, Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic, and Lonzo Ball have become the team’s core anchors. For the Bulls to take the next step, they will need consistent results from all three, which has been a key issue in previous seasons.
Zach LaVine: Coming off a lackluster season partly due to injury, LaVine’s position with the club is shaky, and a lot is expected from him this season. Now that Derozan and Alex Caruso are both gone, LaVine has to fill in big gaps to fill in leadership and defense.
Nikola Vucevic: Because the rest of the roster is relatively small, Vooch’s role in defense and rebounding will be crucial as the Bulls look to match up against other bigs in the Eastern Conference like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid.
Lonzo Ball: “Zo” is finally back, although everyone has a momentary concern whenever he lands. Last season’s disappointing season was reflected in his continued absence due to his troublesome knee, as he was out the entire season. Being the glue that brought the team’s efficient offense together a few seasons ago, his absence was once again extremely apparent.
Youth Development
A few of the Bulls’ younger players made huge improvements this past season. However, since Alex Caruso and Demar Derozan left a gap in defense and scoring has been left open.
Patrick Williams: Picked at number four overall in the 2020 draft, Williams has been one of the team’s biggest disappointments. He has shown outstanding defensive potential and great athleticism but also a lack of confidence and aggression, particularly in their half-court offense. In general, his game lacks consistency. This season could be pivotal for his development, as the Bulls need him to take on a larger role, especially on defense and rebounding.
Coby White: White will be critical in strengthening the Bulls’ backcourt. His scoring improved especially significantly last season, and he is starting to make the jump to star player status. He could be an extremely important sixth man or potentially a starter this season.
Challenges and Eastern Conference Landscape
The Eastern Conference continues to be difficult for the Bulls, as they face tough competition for a playoff spot. Teams like the Milwaukee Bucks, Boston Celtics, and Philadelphia 76ers remain at the top of the conference, while younger, rising teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and Indiana Pacers will also be competing for playoff spots. Even if these top-tier teams are ignored, the Bulls need to work on consistency against other mid and low-tier teams like themselves. This was a major issue for the team last season. For example, they went 0-3 against the Brooklyn Nets, a team that ended up being seeded 11th; the Bulls ended at 9th.
Season Outlook and Predictions
The Bulls can potentially compete for a lower playoff seed, likely in the 7th-10th range, which would place them yet again in the Play-In Tournament. However, this will depend on several factors, including the health of Ball and Lavine, the performance of the younger players, and their defensive improvement. If everything comes together, the Bulls could surprise some and push for a solid playoff spot.
