The Current State of the Bulls

The change in the Bulls' front office is the perfect opportunity to discuss my views on the Bulls, as they are currently constructed. And I know I'm in the minority.

May as well just put it out there: I do not like the Bulls as currently constructed. They have one great player (Derrick Rose), one quality third option (John Salmons), and one good backup point guard (Kirk Hinrich). And even Hinrich is iffy.

Let's start with generalizations: The team is way too dependent on jump shots, the team lacks anything resembling a legitimate post presence, and the team doesn't play defense. Every year since 04-05 (when they actually had an upside), the Bulls have started slowly, only to make a run late in the year and finish in the playoffs or near the playoffs, due to the ineptitude of the Eastern Conference. And yet every year, the late season "surge" gives everyone false hope and a feeling of "oh, this team is definitely on the rise now!" only for the Bulls to start out 10 games under .500 the following season.

Firing Scott Skiles was the correct move, because the team tuned him out, and in a players' league, it's important to get a coach who will allow some flexibility with the players, and not try to discipline them into his system. I admire the ideals of Skiles, but in today's NBA, they simply do not work. Unfortunately, after correctly sending Jim Boylan packing, they hired Vinny Del Negro. Let's forget about the 7 game classic with the Celtics for a moment, because all Vinny did was lead the Bulls to an average season. Because they are an average team. 41-41 does not count as progress. 41-41 does count as mediocre, especially in the weak East.

But now let's move to the playoffs. Clamor all you want about overtimes and it being the defending champs, but let's be realistic here. The Bulls struggled to defeat a team playing at 80%. Without Garnett, the Celtics are vulnerable, and the Bulls struggled to beat them in each of the three games they won. Remember, if Paul Pierce hits a free throw at the end of the fourth quarter in Game 1, the Bulls lose in 5, if not sooner. In one of the games, play-by-play man Neil Funk called the Celtics "ordinary" without Garnett. And since each win for the Bulls was a struggle, that means they struggled to beat an ordinary team, and ultimately lost to an ordinary team. So what does that make the Bulls?

The Ben Gordon debate is tiresome, and he probably will go elsewhere. It would be asinine to re-sign him. They can find scoring elsewhere, and with the emergence of Rose, he will be taking over games soon enough anyway. If the rumors of Chris Bosh being available in a trade this offseason are true, the Bulls absolutely must get him. Anyone but Rose is available. Keep Salmons if you can. Brad Miller is hardly even a big man anymore, Tyrus Thomas and Luol Deng have reached their respective peaks, and even Noah is expendable, though I like his energy.

Imagine Rose with Bosh and Salmons. Surround them with role players (most of which are on the team, I will admit) and the Bulls will be among the elite in the East and not among the average anymore.

I know I'm in a strong minority, but the Bulls have been the same team for the last four years. It's time for a change and it's time to build around Rose. Hopefully the new GM realizes this.