As the NBA offseason shifts from slow to slower, ESPN has begun rolling out content previewing the 2024-25 season. This includes a poll of league experts predicting potential award finalists, and unsurprisingly, the Chicago Bulls were barely mentioned.
I didn’t anticipate any Bulls players making it into the MVP or Defensive Player of the Year discussions. With Alex Caruso gone, Sixth Man of the Year also seemed improbable. However, I was hoping Matas Buzelis might receive some early attention for Rookie of the Year. It looks like that hope was unfounded.
Seven players were mentioned as potential Rookie of the Year candidates. The names that came up were Reed Sheppard, Zach Edey, Donovan Clingan, Stephon Castle, Rob Dillingham, Alex Sarr, and Zacchaire Risacher. It’s understandable that players like Sheppard and Edey received the most attention, as they will be on winning teams. Rob Dillingham also has potential, but there are questions about his role in Year 1 with the contending Minnesota Timberwolves.
Ultimately, a strong Rookie of the Year case relies heavily on impressive statistics. While Buzelis’ exact role in the rotation is still uncertain, it’s clear he will play a significant part in the rebuilding Bulls’ lineup. Given his comfort level during Summer League and his standout moments, he could easily enter the ROY conversation. This is especially true since there isn’t a clear standout candidate from this draft class. Being a highlight reel could also work in Buzelis’ favor as he has the potential to make an impact with his exciting play.
We discussed Buzelis’ ROY prospects more earlier this offseason if you’re interested.
This week, The Athletic published its “40 Under 40” list for the NBA, which highlights influential figures such as coaches, front-office executives, agents, and other league staff, excluding players and media members. Notably, no one from the Chicago Bulls organization made the list. It’s somewhat astonishing how little recognition the franchise is currently receiving. While I’m eager for a fresh direction on the court, the lack of representation in these lists (or in the ESPN poll) highlights just how far the Bulls are from achieving true relevance.
I often recall what Marc Eversley said when he joined the organization as General Manager. As a former Nike executive, Eversley stressed the need to restore and enhance the Chicago Bulls’ brand.
“We’re trying to bring this team back to relevance, absolutely,” Eversley stated in 2020. “This is the Chicago Bulls; it’s an iconic brand with a tremendous amount of history. But with that comes a tremendous amount of responsibility.”
Relevance was a major focus for the Bulls early on, but I worry their interpretation of the term might differ from mine. They seemed to believe the “Big 3 Era” was sufficient to maintain relevance for too long. Instead of pushing forward, they seemed to pause and take a break. It wasn’t until they faced significant setbacks that they reassessed their strategy. This raises concerns about the standards they will set for the next phase of the team. Will mere playoff appearances be deemed sufficient?
The anticipation for Lonzo Ball’s return continues to grow…
Part of me hoped the Chicago Bulls would find a way to re-sign Javonte Green. Regardless of whether a team is winning or losing, having a player like Green is always advantageous. Not only is he a delight to watch, but his relentless hustle can be inspiring for others. In a period of transition for the Bulls, Green could have helped maximize the potential of some of the younger players. However, Green also deserves to be in a winning environment. After spending nearly all of last season out of the league, he quickly demonstrated to all 30 teams that this was a mistake. At 31, Green has worked hard to prove his value as a key role player, so it’s great to see New Orleans giving him the opportunity to contribute to a playoff push.
