The Chicago Bulls have gained national attention over the past few weeks, having won four games in a row before dropping their last two decisions to the Denver Nuggets and Milwaukee Bucks. Despite the two-game losing streak, the Bulls have looked like a much sharper product since Zach LaVine’s injury before their first consecutive wins of the 2023 season. With nationwide attention comes scrutiny, something former NBA MVP Charles Barkley is no stranger to. With Chicago seemingly in shambles, having no future assets or championship pieces on the roster, Barkley didn’t hold back regarding the historic franchise.
“Y’all Stink”
Famously known for his colorful personality and candid takes, Barkley is back with his latest aggressive statement. It’s hard to argue his stance when Chicago’s in the bottom eight leaguewide record-wise and sits in 12th place in the Eastern Conference. Before LaVine’s injury six games ago, the Bulls were 5-13 and eyeing a top-lottery draft pick. Barring a complete makeover in the next few months, they’ll likely miss the playoffs again and have more talent walking out of the door this summer.
Again, this is hard to refute given the way the last offseason went and the 2023 season has begun. Not owning the rights to their draft pick in 2023, despite missing the playoffs, was the beginning. Failing to acquire anything beyond bench additions continued the disappointing stretch, and starting the year 5-13 put the cherry on top of a terrible 2023 calendar year for the Chicago Bulls franchise. On top of that, Patrick Williams and DeMar DeRozan are reportedly headed for free agency, with the respective sides being far apart on potential extensions. It’s hard to imagine anyone who wants to remain in this lowly state in which the Bulls find themselves.
One Silver Lining: Coby White
If someone had told Chicago’s fanbase that this season would be sacrificial, where they purge most of the roster and rebuild around Coby White, many would have cringed at the thought. Now, things have changed. In LaVine’s absence, White has been a completely new animal, taking the league by storm. Amongst point guards, his ranks over the last six games would put him in the top eight in points, top 12 in assists, and top five in rebounds.
His pace during the previous six games as the featured guard would make him a surefire NBA All-Star for the first time, and at the age of 23, he would be the youngest Chicago Bull to appear in the league’s recognition of its’ top players since Derrick Rose during his rookie campaign.
Chuck may be right about the Bulls organization, but there’s still hope for one young rising star. Assuming DeRozan and Williams have departed by next season, this team may be pushing all their chips to the young three-point threat out of North Carolina.
Slowly taking the reigns from what has been LaVine’s team over the past seven years, can White’s recent play convince Chicago’s front office to move on from the lucrative contract and rising dysfunction LaVine currently represents? He becomes eligible for trade on December 15th, 2023.
