Report paints the Chicago Bulls as a team that’s facing a lot of pressure this week

The Chicago Bulls used to be one of the NBA’s premier franchises, one that aspired for NBA titles, not appearances in the NBA Play-in Tournament. However, that is the reality the Bulls find themselves in, as they have been unable to extricate themselves from the league’s purgatory.

This week’s trade deadline provides the team with a chance to make some much-needed changes but also adds pressure on them to make the right moves. The Bulls have been struggling this season, currently sitting in ninth place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 23-27.

This is not what fans and analysts expected after the team made some subtle moves in the offseason, including acquiring solid role players like Jevon Carter and Torrey Craig to add to the core of DeMar DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic, and Zach LaVine.

With the trade deadline looming on February 8, it's clear that changes need to be made if the Bulls want any chance of becoming relevant again. And it all starts with setting a clear path they want to take.

What are the Bulls trying to accomplish?

Hindsight is 20-20, and the front office’s call to double down on this roster has proven to not be the right decision. However, it's not too late for them to turn things around and reboot. The first step towards that is establishing a clear direction for the team.

“For the life of me, I could not tell you what the Bulls are trying to accomplish other than saving money while remaining reasonably competitive. Even the "saving money" part might not even be possible anymore,” Sam Quinn of CBS Sports wrote.

“The Bulls might not even be able to get off of the Zach LaVine contract with assets attached anymore now that he's set to miss the remainder of the season. I'm not sure what compelled them to give Nikola Vucevic a three-year deal last summer, but that's decidedly negative money for the next two seasons. Patrick Williams wants a raise, and DeMar DeRozan wants an extension.”

There are plenty of questions the Bulls need answers to, but the path forward starts with clarity, which the team expects to have whether or not the team makes moves at the trade deadline.

Our February game schedule 🗓️ pic.twitter.com/9RJG7fUEGk
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) February 5, 2024

Pressure makes diamonds

The deadline brings forth a pressure point for this franchise. Will the team’s chief basketball executive, Arturas Karnisovas, finally wave the white flag on this roster? Or will they stay on the path with a team that doesn’t have enough to contend for an NBA title, now or in the future?

“The pressure here should be internal, but it doesn't seem to be. But externally, almost everyone outside of Chicago seems to understand that the Bulls should be trying to recoup assets for DeRozan and Alex Caruso with an eye on keeping that 2025 first-round pick and potentially adding the sort of centerpiece they currently lack,” Quinn continued.

Coby has 12 points in the 4th quarter and counting! pic.twitter.com/FKVVQuL2fy
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) February 4, 2024

“The Bulls might not see it that way, but this deadline is a pretty critical inflection point. If they maintain their current trajectory, they're headed for years of irrelevance.”

What are the Bulls trying to accomplish?

Pressure makes diamonds

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