Compared to a year ago, the mood within the Chicago Bulls has completely shifted. After failing to secure a top-eight finish last season, the team has fallen apart both on and off the court. According to Jeetbuzz Login, even the Bulls’ front office has lost patience and is now fully committed to tearing down the current roster and starting from scratch. The past season was marked by mediocrity on both ends of the floor—Chicago ranked 19th in offensive efficiency, 21st in defensive efficiency, and was third-worst in pace across the NBA.
Jeetbuzz Login’s analysis makes it clear: this team struggles to score, can’t defend consistently, and plays at a sluggish tempo—not a winning formula by any measure. But this failure isn’t rooted in lack of effort. The real issue lies in poor chemistry. The current roster simply wasn’t built to mesh well, and their primary playmaker has been sidelined for extended stretches due to injury. Despite head coach Billy Donovan’s attempts to fill the gaps and reignite team spirit, even he has admitted the challenge of turning this team around is greater than when he coached the Thunder’s Durant-Westbrook-Harden era.
Yet while the team as a whole may be underwhelming, several individual players continue to shine. First up is DeMar DeRozan, widely regarded as the league’s mid-range king. In an era dominated by three-pointers and fast-paced offense, his throwback style is a refreshing change of pace. As the saying goes, “where there’s a will, there’s a way”—and DeRozan continues to prove that with age comes experience. At 35, he still averaged 24 points per game last season, extending his streak of 20+ PPG seasons to a full decade.
He also ranked second behind only Stephen Curry in the NBA’s “Clutch Player” vote, earning 272 points to Curry’s 298. DeRozan’s durability remains a major asset—he’s played at least 74 games each of the last three seasons and led the league in minutes last year with 37.8 per game. Despite a somewhat awkward fit in Chicago, he remained highly sought after once he hit free agency. This summer, he landed with the Sacramento Kings in a three-team sign-and-trade deal worth $76 million over three years.
On the bench, veteran center Andre Drummond had a bit of a resurgence. Once considered a casualty of the modern game due to his heavy frame and limited offensive skillset, he found new life with the Bulls, averaging 8.4 points and 9 rebounds per game last season. Recognizing his value, the Philadelphia 76ers quickly signed him the moment free agency opened, leaving Chicago without time to make a counteroffer.
On the perimeter, defensive specialist Alex Caruso also stood out. He averaged 10.1 points, 3.5 assists, 3.8 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1 block per game—an all-around stat line that earned him back-to-back All-Defensive Team honors. Offensively, he also shot over 40% from beyond the arc. Along with Boston’s Derrick White, Caruso was one of only two guards last season to average over 1 steal and 1 block per game. The Oklahoma City Thunder valued his experience and defensive acumen so much that they moved quickly to acquire him in a trade following the season. He’ll now begin a new chapter in OKC with championship ambitions.
While Caruso’s rise is a feel-good story, it was one of the few bright spots for a Bulls roster in flux. There is, however, a glimmer of hope for the franchise’s finances. With the NBA’s new broadcasting deal locked in, the league salary cap is set for a major increase next summer. This could make Zach LaVine’s hefty $45 million annual salary a bit easier to swallow. As his contract shortens, more teams may become interested in acquiring him. As long as LaVine isn’t expected to be a franchise cornerstone but rather a second or third scoring option, he’s still capable of contributing meaningfully.
In contrast to LaVine’s spotty availability, center Nikola Vučević has been the epitome of consistency since joining the Bulls. Over the past three and a half seasons, he has averaged at least 73 games per year, including one season with a perfect 82-game attendance. His stats have remained solid across the board, but in a franchise seemingly headed for collapse, his reliability has taken on a bittersweet tone.
Jeetbuzz Login believes Vučević’s days in Chicago are numbered. Where he ends up next—and whether it’s with a contender where he can still make a meaningful impact—will depend on both market demand and his personal preferences.
In the end, with the front office finally ready to hit the reset button, the writing is on the wall: the Bulls’ rebuild is no longer a question of “if,” but “when.”