The Chicago Bulls have three days to scarf down junk food and not stretch a single muscle in their body. The race to the bottom starts on Thursday!
To be clear, the Bulls’ chances of finishing with Top-5 lottery odds are extremely slim. Washington, New Orleans, Utah, Charlotte, and Toronto have all but locked up that area of the draft board. However, the sixth and seventh spots remain up for grabs. The Bulls sit only 1.5 games ahead of BOTH the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets, respectively. Philly has every reason to push for the Play-In Tournament with their veteran core. We certainly can’t say the same about the rebuilding Nets, but they are 6-4 in their last ten games and have shockingly thrust themselves right back into the Play-In picture. While it would be ideal for the Bulls to finish below both teams, this may be a tad too much to ask for in the final 28 games. The focus should largely be on trading spots with one of them to finally get out of the Play-In Tournament picture. Despite the Bulls’ 7-15 record since Jan. 1, they have somehow held onto the East’s final Play-In spot. The last thing they need is any risk of losing a lottery pick. I know it may sound silly to worry about this roster winning back-to-back Play-In games to steal the privilege of getting smacked by Cleveland … but we can all agree nothing would be more Bulls than that, right? Forget a rebuild, AK has got a playoff team!! Josh Giddey’s recent play has flown under the radar. The first-year Bull has put together one of his best stretches of the season over his last 12 games, averaging 15.3 points, 5.6 assists, 6.6 rebounds, and 1.2 steals per game. Most notably, Giddey has shot 48.9 percent from the field and 41.1 percent from long range on roughly 5.0 attempts per game. The three-point shot is going to come and go, but the overall higher scoring efficiency is undoubtedly a positive. He has appeared a lot more aggressive attacking the basket and using his size to finish over defenders. While I’d still love to see him use that size to score more through contact, he has been shooting 56 percent on his short-midrange shots (4-14 ft from the rim), per Cleaning the Glass. His float game has been VERY effective. Likewise, while he may not be finishing strong at the basket, he is getting to the free-throw line more consistently. He has averaged 3.0 attempts per game during this 12-game sample size, and he’s shot at least 4.0 in four of his last six games. If I’m the Bulls, this is an area I’m harping on behind the scenes. While Giddey may not be the most explosive athlete, he has both the ball-handling ability and oversized frame to draw more whistles. Especially with LaVine out of the picture, somebody has to be willing to put more pressure on the rim. Nevertheless, no matter what Giddey manages to do over these final 28 games, the Bulls’ approach to his free agency shouldn’t change. The 22-year-old simply has not shown enough this season to justify an early contract offer. The Bulls must demonstrate that they have learned from their Patrick Williams mistake and allow Giddey to test the open market. They can match any offer another team throws his way, so why not at least see what opposing front offices are willing to pay him? What do you have to lose? This is the benefit of restricted free agency! © Dale Zanine-Imagn Images Zach LaVine joined Ja Morant in teasing a dunk contest appearance on Saturday night. Two things: (1) I hate that this wouldn’t be in a Bulls jersey, and (2) yeah right! Every season a big star or two claims that they will consider stepping into the ring, but do they ever follow up? No. And, look, I get it! Health is the priority, especially when the postseason is around the corner. However, why give fans the hope?Thinking I might have too again…. t.co/LVnVyEGOwP
— Zach LaVine (@ZachLaVine) February 16, 2025 HAPPY 62ND BIRTHDAY TO THE GOAT! This graphic will always go so hard …Happy Birthday, MJ! ? pic.twitter.com/eti70tfeSz
— Chicago Bulls Archive (@BullsArchive) February 17, 2025 A new prospect ranking doesn’t feature as many Cubs as you’d hope. More on that here. Speaking of prospect rankings, Tab compares a few of the newest ones over at BN Blackhawks!ELSEWHERE AT BN: Check Out BN Fantasy | Subscribe to The BN Newsletter
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