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The Chicago Bulls are off to a disappointing 10-14 start to the season, and NBA analyst Charles Barkley thinks the team has to enter rebuild mode. ​

Barkley appeared on Waddle & Silvy on ESPN 1000 radio and urged the Bulls to start over.

“Blow it up. It’s time,” Barkley said. “You’ve got some good players – not good enough. It’s time to start the rebuild.”

Barkley lost faith in the Bulls

Barkley admitted he no longer believes in the Bulls’ chances to contend. “That was last year. This is a new year,” Barkley noted.

The NBA Hall of Famer believes the Bulls should see their underachieving season as an opportunity to start over.

“You’re not gonna win a championship this year or the next couple of years. You’ve got some good players. You got to start the rebuild,” Charles stated.

As much as Barkley wants them to do this, it is unlikely the Bulls will follow his advice and give up on their current team.

What will the Bulls do?

The Bulls have underachieved, even with all their injury issues. No one can deny this. But it would take an epic losing streak for them to reconsider their stance and disrupt the continuity that management has preserved, especially before Lonzo Ball is back in the lineup.

The Bulls are waiting for Lonzo to make a return, but they don’t know when he could be part of the lineup and start contributing.

“Christmas miracle? I’d hold off on that. I’ll say to start I have no idea, and based on previous experience I’d have to say no one who says they have an idea has an idea. Because last January’s surgery came with a two-month return to playing. So they don’t know. The general word around the Bulls is he might be able to play in January, maybe by the All-Star break,“ Bulls.com’s Sam Smith wrote recently.

According to Barkley, a rebuild seems inevitable for Chicago. That's why he also shared his take on what the Bulls should do before the trade deadline.

“I think you trade all your best players and get draft picks or some young talent,” Barkley explained. “You guys are not close. The Celtics and the Bucks are on a whole other level in the Eastern Conference. You guys aren’t even as good as the Cavs. The Cavs are good.”