Welcome to IAI Sports! And welcome to the 2022-23 NBA Season!
To begin the season, we will be running through each NBA team and analysing what they’ve done throughout the off-season. Each article will start off with an introduction, telling a story of how this team is where they are at today. We quickly delve into the results of the 2021-2022 NBA season, before diving into the off-season in’s and out’s.
From there, we go into depth discussing some of the important rotation pieces for the upcoming season, before finishing with a quick analysis of a team’s win totals and a full conclusion of why this team has completed these moves, what their win total will be, and my own predictions of breakout players and what to expect from this team. It’s a season preview series with the purpose of getting you up-to-date with what has happened throughout the league.
A season preview of each of the 30 teams will be released, leading up to the beginning of the NBA season. All data and information included in these articles have been gathered from Basketball Reference, NBA.com and ESPN.
Today’s team is the Chicago Bulls – one of the best Eastern Conference squads for portions of the 2022 season, before falling away due to injury.
Introduction
The Chicago Bulls have struggled to maintain their relevance recently due to the lack of success since the Derrick Rose – Joakim Noah – Tom Thibodeau days of the early 2010s. The team did make a brief appearance in the 2016-17 playoffs thanks to Jimmy Butler, but once he was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Bulls went through a long rebuild.
In that aforementioned Butler trade, the Bulls were able to acquire Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen. At that point in his career, LaVine had been more known for his ridiculous dunking ability at the All-Star Weekend Dunk Contest rather than his skills on the NBA court. As he was coming off an ACL tear, the Bulls were taking an especially huge risk by trading him for Butler. In the meantime, the Bulls continued to bring in young talent to partner to LaVine and Markkanen, by selecting Wendell Carter Jr 7th overall in 2018, Coby White 7th overall in 2019 and Patrick Williams 4th overall in 2020.
During the four seasons of talent accumulation, the Bulls finished with win tallies of 27, 22, 22 and 31 wins, had three different coaches and changed front office personnel. In response to this unstable period of Bulls basketball, the new front office decided to sell off some of their future in order to win now. This changing of philosophy was seen at the 2021 trade deadline deal, sending Wendell Carter Jr and two 1st round selections to the Orlando Magic for All-Star centre Nikola Vucevic.
With a large amount of salary cap room, the Bulls had money to spend in the 2021 off-season. It started by acquiring Lonzo Ball from the New Orleans Pelicans in a sign-and-trade for Tomas Satoransky, Garrett Temple and a 2nd round pick. Next, Alex Caruso was signed from the Los Angeles Lakers. Finally, they were able to get DeMar DeRozan from the San Antonio Spurs for Al-Farouq Aminu, Thaddeus Young, a 1st round pick and two 2nd round picks.
Last Season
The trades and free agent acquisitions in the 2021 off-season helped the Bulls win right away. There was so much excitement about the new-look Bulls when they got out to a 6-1 start, which then became a 26-10 record thanks to two 4-game and a 9-game winning streak. They were first in the Eastern Conference for a two month stretch of the season. However, key injuries to Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso and Patrick Williams left the Bulls defence in shambles. As a result, they finished the season with a 46-36 record, good enough for 6th in the Eastern Conference, placing 13th in offensive rating and 23rd in defensive rating.
The Bulls were able to reach the playoffs for the first time in five seasons. But their time there was short-lived, and brutal. Coming up against the reigning champion Milwaukee Bucks in the 1st round, they lost the series in 5 games. The first two games were close; they did steal home court advantage to get the series 1-1. However, the Bulls lost the next three games by an average of 22.3 points; they were completely outplayed by a Bucks team missing Khris Middleton.
Off-Season
Ins:
Dalen Terry (18th pick, NBA Draft)
Andre Drummond (free agency, originally with Brooklyn Nets)
Goran Dragic (free agency, originally with Brooklyn Nets)
Outs:
Troy Brown Jr (free agent, moved to LA Lakers)
Matt Thomas (free agent)
Tristan Thompson (free agent)
Tyler Cook (free agent)
After making heaps of moves to improve their roster last off-season, the Bulls remained steady and picked up pieces to help fix their depth issues. With the 18th pick, the team selected PG Dalen Terry, a raw 6’7” guard who won’t be expected to contribute straight away. The team made sure to bring back star guard Zach LaVine, who signed a 5 year $215.2m max extension. They also brought back important reserve forward Derrick Jones Jr on a 2 year $6.6m contract. Free agency acquisitions included bringing ageing Brooklyn Nets duo Andre Drummond (2 yrs/$6.6m) and Goran Dragic (1 yr/$2.9m).
The Bulls didn’t really lose anyone meaningful to their rotation. Troy Brown Jr brought important minutes during stages of last season where injuries impacted the team. But he was never more than a role player coming off the bench, so they were fine with letting him walk to the Lakers. The rest of the guys were players coming off the end of the bench and were not important to the makeup of the team.
2022-23 Roster
Starting Five
PG – Lonzo Ball
| H: 6’6″ | W: 190lbs | Age: 24 |
| Contract: 2 yr/$40m | Years Pro: 5 |
Career Averages:
11.9 pts, 5.7 reb, 6.2 asts, 1.6 stls, 0.6 blks, 2.5 to, 40.0%/36.4%/57.8%, 32.5 mins
Averages Last Season:
13.0 pts, 5.4 reb, 5.1 asts, 1.8 stls, 0.9 blks, 2.3 to, 42.3%/42.3%/75.0%, 34.6 mins
2022-23 Projections:
13.9 pts, 5.5 reb, 5.6 asts, 1.7 stls, 0.7 blks, 2.3 to, 42.6%/40.3%/74.5%
Lonzo Ball has developed into one of the better 3-and-D guards in the NBA. He has always been great defensively (1.6 steals per game for his career) and has always had a second-sense for playmaking (6.2 assists per game for his career). But his biggest improvement has been his shooting (30.5% in his rookie season vs 42.3% last season from 3-point range). He did struggle to stay on the court last season (35 games total) and is injured to start this upcoming season.
SG – Zach LaVine
| H: 6’5″ | W: 200lbs | Age: 27 |
| Contract: 5 yr/$215.2m | Years Pro: 8 |
Career Averages:
19.8 pts, 3.9 reb, 3.9 asts, 0.9 stls, 0.3 blks, 2.7 to, 46.1%/38.6%/83.0%, 31.8 mins
Averages Last Season:
24.4 pts, 4.6 reb, 4.5 asts, 0.6 stls, 0.3 blks, 2.6 to, 47.6%/38.9%/85.3%, 34.7 mins
2022-23 Projections:
23.9 pts, 4.6 reb, 4.3 asts, 0.7 stls, 0.4 blks, 2.7 to, 48.4%/39.8%/84.6%
A 2-time NBA Dunk Contest champion, and now a 2-time All-Star, Zach LaVine has built himself into a go-to scorer for the Chicago Bulls. Increasing his points per game from 16.7 in his first season with the Bulls, to as high as 27.4 in 2021, the Bulls paid him a handsome extension to continue to be the guy they lean on for a bucket or two.
SF - DeMar DeRozan
| H: 6’6″ | W: 220lbs | Age: 33 |
| Contract: 2 yr/$55.9m | Years Pro: 13 |
Career Averages:
20.8 pts, 4.4 reb, 3.9 asts, 1.0 stls, 0.3 blks, 2.1 to, 46.5%/28.8%/83.7%, 34.3 mins
Averages Last Season:
27.9 pts, 5.2 reb, 4.9 asts, 0.9 stls, 0.3 blks, 2.4 to, 50.4%/35.2%/87.7%, 36.1 mins
2022-23 Projections:
25.0 pts, 5.0 reb, 5.4 asts, 0.9 stls, 0.3 blks, 2.2 to, 49.8%/32.8%/87.1%
Not many people would have predicted the season DeMar DeRozan produced last year. A former 4-time All-Star in Toronto, his 3 seasons in San Antonio were solid without being exciting. Once he arrived in Chicago, he averaged more points than ever (27.9 per game) and had the most rounded shooting percentages of his career. He had a career-year at age 32 and was rewarded with an All-Star appearance and selection into the All-NBA Second team.
PF - Patrick Williams
| H: 6’7″ | W: 215lbs | Age: 20 |
| Contract: 2 yr/$17.6m (RC) | Years Pro: 2 |
Career Averages:
9.2 pts, 4.5 reb, 1.3 asts, 0.8 stls, 0.6 blks, 1.3 to, 49.0%/41.3%/72.9%, 27.3 mins
Averages Last Season:
9.0 pts, 4.1 reb, 0.9 asts, 0.5 stls, 0.5 blks, 0.9 to, 52.9%/51.7%/73.2%, 24.8 mins
2022-23 Projections:
9.5 pts, 4.5 reb, 1.4 asts, 0.8 stls, 0.6 blks, 1.2 to, 50.5%/42.9%/74.6%
Patrick Williams has the potential to be one of the best 3-and-D forwards in the league. Drafted 4th overall in 2020, Williams has shown spots of lockdown defensive potential and a solid 3-point stroke (see the 51.7% 3-point percentage in 17 games last season). After playing 72 games in his rookie season, he struggled with injuries most of last season. The Bulls have to keep him healthy if there’s any chance of him doing well this season.
C - Nikola Vucevic
| H: 6’10” | W: 260lbs | Age: 31 |
| Contract: 1 yr/$22m | Years Pro: 11 |
Career Averages:
16.9 pts, 10.4 reb, 2.7 asts, 0.9 stls, 0.9 blks, 1.7 to, 49.4%/34.8%/75.7%, 30.9 mins
Averages Last Season:
17.6 pts, 11.0 reb, 3.2 asts, 1.0 stls, 1.0 blks, 1.9 to, 47.3%/31.4%/76.0%, 33.1 mins
2022-23 Projections:
18.5 pts, 10.0 reb, 3.3 asts, 0.9 stls, 0.8 blks, 1.8 to, 47.1%/34.4%/78.6%
A former 2-time All-Star, Nikola Vucevic struggled in his first full season in Chicago. After playing his entire career as the lone star, he became a complimentary piece to LaVine and DeRozan, which saw his 3-point and free throw percentage drop dramatically (3-point: 40% down to 31.4%, free throw: 84% down to 76%). The Bulls need the once efficient jump shooter to return to form, especially after giving up a lot to bring him in from the Orlando Magic.
Backups
G - Alex Caruso
| H: 6’4″ | W: 186lbs | Age: 28 |
| Contract: 3 yr/$28.4m | Years Pro: 5 |
Going undrafted in his draft class, Caruso has turned himself into an important 6th man for this Bulls roster. He signed a large deal away from the LA Lakers to provide a defensive intensity the Bulls have been searching for. Having missed half of last season due to a broken wrist, it could be argued that the downfall of the Bulls coincided with Caruso missing games.
G - Ayo Dosumnu
| H: 6’5″ | W: 200lbs | Age: 22 |
| Contract: 1 yr/$1.6m | Years Pro: 1 |
When injuries hit the Bulls throughout last season, Ayo Dosumnu was able to get minutes and show his worth on the court. Originally the 38th overall selection in 2021, Dosumnu brings athleticism and a unique spark to the Bulls bench. Look for the Bulls to continue to develop him into a high-energy defensive-minded point guard.
F - Javonte Green
| H: 6’4″ | W: 205lbs | Age: 29 |
| Contract: 1 yr/$1.8m | Years Pro: 3 |
Throughout the chaos of last season, Javonte Green emerged as the “Mr Fix It” of the Chicago Bulls, starting 45 out of 65 games and coming in as a big body that could play anywhere from SG to PF. He was able to shoot it efficiently from 2-point range (54.2% from the field) and be an effective support piece for LaVine and DeRozan as the main scorers.
F - Derrick Jones Jr
| H: 6’5″ | W: 210lbs | Age: 25 |
| Contract: 2 yr/$6.6m | Years Pro: 6 |
The ultra-athletic Derrick Jones Jr re-upped with the Bulls over this past off-season. He continues to develop into becoming a consistent rotation piece in the NBA, hoping to potentially hit a league-average 3-point percentage (shooting 29.8% for his career). Jones Jr played well above his height; often defending bigger PF’s and scoring against them using his athleticism.
C - Andre Drummond
| H: 6’10” | W: 279lbs | Age: 29 |
| Contract: 2 yr/$6.6m | Years Pro: 10 |
The days of Andre Drummond making All-Star teams are well and truly over. A 4-time rebounding champion and All-NBA Third team recipient in 2016, Drummond has now become a borderline starting centre or one of the best back-up big men, depending on which team he is with. He’ll play back up to Vucevic with the Bulls, where he’ll be a rim-running big that crashes the boards and defends the paint with his long wingspan (7’6”).
The Rest
11. Coby White (PG/SG)
12. Tony Bradley (C)
13. Goran Dragic (PG)
14. Marko Simonovic (C)
15. Dalen Terry (PG/SG)
T-W. Kostas Antetokounmpo (PF)
T-W. Malcolm Hill (SG)
Season Projections
Sports betting agencies currently have the Chicago Bulls wins total sitting at 44.5, 9th best in the Eastern Conference. They are currently predicted to be worse than last year, which seems to be a safe observation, considering the improvement from rivals such as the Hawks, Cavs and 76ers. I would say they rank better than 9th best in the East, but the win totals should be right around where they belong.
Conclusion
The Chicago Bulls should have been better than what last season’s postseason produced. The talent on this roster exemplifies why they were on top of the Eastern Conference for 2 months of the regular season. They’ve got the pieces; they just have to put it all together.
Getting this team cohesive may just be the Achilles heel that keeps the Bulls from reaching their full potential. Missing Lonzo Ball, Alex Caruso and Patrick Williams for large stretches of last season was particularly devastating to any chance the Bulls had of achieving post-season success, just because those three players were the best 3 defensive players on the roster. When the 3 best defensive players miss a combined 153 games, it’s no surprise that the team ranked in the bottom third in the league for defensive efficiency.
In order for the Bulls to improve from their first-round exit, they must improve defensively. Obviously getting Caruso and Williams back to start next season will be huge. Whether Ball will join them remains to be seen. But don’t underestimate what Andre Drummond will bring to this team. He is predicted to be the back-up to Vucevic, but gives the Bulls a reliable defensive option when needed. Having their main defensive players back into the rotation will be huge for the Bulls.
It was a surprise that this team finished with the 13th most efficient offence, despite having Zach LaVine, Nikola Vucevic and a career-year from DeMar DeRozan. We know that LaVine will continue to produce at an All-Star level. The questions surround Vucevic and DeRozan. Vucevic is now 31 years old and had originally played his entire career on a poor team. He didn’t adapt to being around other elite scorers last season; dropping his scoring efficiency and scoring totals. In a season where he will be playing for his next contract, can he return to the efficiency seen during his All-Star days at Orlando?
As mentioned, DeMar DeRozan had one of the best seasons of his NBA career last season. At one stage, he had seven consecutive 35+ point games of 50% shooting or better, which ended up breaking a record of most consecutive games, previously held by Wilt Chamberlain. You know you’ve done something ridiculous when you break a Wilt the Stilt record. It was just that type of season for DeRozan. He is already 33 years old; the question is whether he can back up such a historic season with another of similar magnitude.
It’s crazy to think that the Bulls are predicted to be a play-in team despite being top of the Eastern Conference when fully healthy. If all goes to plan, they have the potential to get past the 1st round of the playoffs and make some noise in the post-season. If injuries mount up, it’s a realistic possibility that they can fall into the play-in seeds of the post-season. I believe they will get to 45 wins this upcoming season, with the team defence to starkly improve, Vucevic to play like he is fighting for his next contract and DeRozan to fall slightly back after his superhuman performance last season. It also wouldn’t be surprising to see the Bulls trot out a top 8 offence, as long as they stay injury free.