Report says Chicago Bulls unlikely to "blow it up" this season

The Chicago Bulls are having an underwhelming season so far, and it fueled rumors of a rebuild as the February 9 trade deadline is getting closer. However, according to a recent report by Darnell Mayberry of The Athletic, the team is unlikely to make any major moves and will stand pat unless someone makes a “godfather offer”.

See where it goes

The Bulls are fourth in the Central Division with a 19-22 record. Although they've played better recently, winning eight of their last 12 games, it's become clear that this is a flawed roster.

The Bulls have struggled to find consistent scoring, and their defense has been up and down all season. With the Eastern Conference being as competitive as it is, Chicago doesn't seem to have enough firepower to compete.

Despite these issues, however, the Bulls seem content with staying put for the time being. As Mayberry notes, the team isn't looking for a quick fix and is more interested in building on what they already have.

"But in the weeks leading up to what could be a crucial deadline, multiple league sources have told The Athletic the expectation is for the Bulls to remain relatively quiet. No one expects the Bulls to “blow it up” and commit to a complete rebuilding process," wrote Mayberry.

Much of the talk surrounding trades has involved their "Big Three" of Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic. LaVine, in particular, is said to be attracting some attention from other teams. However, it may be difficult to find takers of the remaining four years of LaVine's $215 contract.

Zach LaVine with a crazy putback dunk off a free throw. 😲 pic.twitter.com/edEGw4jI1f
— Bulls Talk (@NBCSBulls) January 10, 2023

Lonzo Ball's return

Much of the Bulls' optimism—or stubbornness—hinges on the potential return of their starting point guard, Lonzo Ball. The two-way ace has yet to play since January 14, 2022, due to knee injuries but is working his way back to full health. The Bulls are banking on Ball's return to provide a spark on offense and stabilize their defense, which could help them make a playoff push in an otherwise lackluster season.

Just spoke with Lonzo Ball, who participated in gift drive with ‘Fathers Families & Healthy Communities’

Updates: Knee has improved in D2D life. Has done some stationary shooting, which is new. Staying positive, but not where he wants to be yet and rehab timeline still uncertain pic.twitter.com/VnrGEsK5vD
— Rob Schaefer (@rob_schaef) December 21, 2022

In the end, it looks like the Bulls will not be making any major moves for the time being. Instead, they are hoping to see improvements from within. Whether or not this strategy will pay off remains to be seen, but it looks like Chicago won't be “blowing it up” before the trade deadline.