The Chicago Bulls were tabbed as potential championship contenders as recently as two seasons ago, but things have fallen apart for them since then, and they now sit at a crossroads.
They have three valuable players — DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine, and Alex Caruso — whose names have come up in trade rumors, but they also have a couple of young players, such as Coby White and Patrick Williams, who have potential for the future.
The Bulls are just 3-6 this season, and while White and Williams have been struggling so far, Phoenix Suns superstar Kevin Durant encouraged them to stick to the program, per Joshua M. Hicks.
@KDTrey5 tells @itsthebigs some advice he would give to @CobyWhite and Patrick Williams as they continue to progress in their careers.
“Play free, stick to the work and prepare the right way every day. It’s a hard process but if you prepare right you’ll be fine.” #SeeRed pic.twitter.com/VtKZpJCk9H
— Joshua M. Hicks (@joshmhicksmedia) November 10, 2023
So far this season, White is shooting just 38.6 percent from the field and 28.6 percent from 3-point range, while Williams is at 31.7 percent overall and 23.3 percent from downtown.
In recent seasons, White has shown potential as a combo guard, while Williams, a 6-foot-7 power forward, has been a reliable 3-point shooter.
The Bulls seem to be stuck in the middle as, at best, a play-in tournament team, and therefore it may be best for them to sell off players such as DeRozan, LaVine, and Caruso and hit the proverbial reset button.
DeRozan is 34 years of age, and while LaVine is in his prime at 28, his impact hasn’t seemed to match his numbers, and he has been discussed as a player Chicago may look to trade for the last couple of years.
Caruso, meanwhile, is a role player who needs one or two legitimate stars to play off of, and having him may not make sense if the team is to undergo a sincere rebuilding project.
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