The Chicago Bulls were one of the NBA’s biggest disappointments this season, as they finished with a losing record and were eliminated in the play-in tournament.
Lonzo Ball’s absence didn’t do the team any favors, as the point guard missed the entire season due to his ongoing knee troubles.
Many believe that the Bulls need to get started on some sort of rebuild and give themselves a fresh start, but according to a report, there are some people in Chicago’s front office that want to run it back and wait for Ball’s return from injury.
There are some people in the Chicago Bulls front office that want to run it back with the same team and wait for Lonzo Ball to return and there are some in the front office that want to make changes to this roster, per @SeanDeveney on @mullyhaugh.
— Daniel Greenberg (@ChiSportUpdates) May 15, 2023
The 2021-22 season was Ball’s first with the Bulls. When his season was derailed by injury, he had appeared in 35 games for the squad, at which point the Bulls had 40 games in the books overall. They were 27-13 at that point in the season.
But once Ball was lost for the year, Chicago’s season started to come unglued, and the team finished with a 46-36 record before losing in the first round of the 2022 postseason.
When Ball was available, the Bulls, featuring DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic, did look like a very formidable group. There’s a chance that those four players could take the floor together again in the future.
However, that aforementioned 40-game sample size is starting to feel like a distant memory, and it may be time for Chicago to let go of the idea that it’s simply a healthy Ball away from being a contender.
The good news for Bulls fans is that if there are folks in Chicago’s front office who still think of Ball as a key piece, that may indicate that the 25-year-old has a real shot at returning to the floor.
Some fans have expressed doubt as to whether or not the former No. 2 overall pick will be able to eventually resume his NBA career, but it seems like there’s a growing sense of optimism in the regard.
Whatever route the Bulls take this offseason, it’s safe to assume that the organization is hoping to avoid another losing season in the 2023-24 campaign. The team will likely evaluate all of its options this summer.
