Chicago Bulls

Kendrick Perkins says the Chicago Bulls are a play-in team ‘at best’

Published by
Peter Dewey

Former NBA center and current ESPN analyst Kendrick Perkins doesn’t believe that the Chicago Bulls will finish in the top six teams in the Eastern Conference this season.

Perkins believes they are a play-in team “at best” in the 2022-23 campaign, which would be a step back from when they earned the No. 6 seed in the East in the 2021-22 season.

It’s hard to fault Perkins for this take, as two teams that finished below the Bulls last season made some major improvements this offseason.

The Atlanta Hawks traded for All-Star guard Dejounte Murray to help improve their backcourt, and the Cleveland Cavaliers added three-time All-Star Donovan Mitchell in another blockbuster deal this offseason.

Last season, Atlanta made the playoffs by way of the play-in tournament while the Cavs were knocked out after back-to-back losses to the Brooklyn Nets and Atlanta.

The Bulls, who relied heavily on DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine in the 2021-22 season, have most of their core back, but there is one key injury that could hamper them this season.

Point guard Lonzo Ball, who suffered a knee injury last season, offered a concerning update on the status of his recovery for the 2022-23 campaign. Ball revealed that he can’t run or jump yet.

Even though Ball isn’t the Bulls’ best player, the team struggled without him in the lineup last season. In the 47 games that Ball missed, Chicago was about a .500 team, going 24-23. In the 35 games that Ball suited up in, the Bulls were 22-13.

If he’s unable to go for the start of the 2022-23 season, the Bulls will likely rely more on guards like Coby White and Alex Caruso to handle the ball. The team also brought in veteran guard Goran Dragic in free agency this offseason.

The Eastern Conference is loaded with talent this season, especially if the Brooklyn Nets are able to stay healthy. Brooklyn finished with the No. 7 seed in the East last season, and it is another candidate to jump the Bulls in the standings.

Perkins is known to have hot takes from time to time, but he may be right about the Bulls heading into this season.

Peter Dewey

Peter is a graduate of Quinnipiac University where he covered the MAAC and college basketball for three years. He has worked for NBC Sports, the Connecticut Sun and the Meriden Record-Journal covering basketball, football and other major sports. Follow him on Twitter @peterdewey2.

Published by
Peter Dewey

Recent Posts

Report: NBA GM believed Grizzlies would have had to shop Ja Morant this summer before they fired Taylor Jenkins

Earlier on in the year, long before the Memphis Grizzlies dismissed Taylor Jenkins after he…

12 hours ago

Ja Morant opens up about Grizzlies firing Taylor Jenkins: ‘It’s tough for me’

Guard Ja Morant suited up for the first time since the Memphis Grizzlies fired Taylor…

1 day ago

Tyrese Haliburton on ‘easy decision’ to name SGA MVP: ‘If you took a player poll, I’m sure he would win’

Oklahoma City Thunder star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has a compelling case to win this season's MVP…

3 days ago

Report: ‘Early expectation’ is that Clint Capela will sign elsewhere this summer

Big man Clint Capela is in his fifth season playing for the Atlanta Hawks, and…

5 days ago

Stephen A. says LeBron is in his feelings: ‘Could it be because I don’t believe you’re the G.O.A.T.?’

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith claimed on Wednesday that if his confrontation with Los Angeles Lakers…

5 days ago

LeBron James reflects on 2007 Cavs roster that he took to NBA Finals: ‘How is that possible?’

Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James recently reflected on the 2006-07 Cleveland Cavaliers and their…

7 days ago