Getty Image / Rich Storry
Everything was set up for the Chicago Bulls to make the Eastern Conference Playoffs with a win on Friday night in the final play-in game against the Miami Heat. The Heat’s best player, Jimmy Butler, was out with injury, and the Heat should’ve struggled to score.
Instead, the Chicago Bulls put in a putrid performance in Miami, losing 112-91 in a game that was a blowout from the start. Now, it’s become quite clear that the right move in Chicago is for the franchise to tear down.
The Bulls fell behind 34-17 after the first quarter, and that was that. The lead only got under double digits for about a one-minute stretch in the third quarter as the Heat coasted home.
And, frankly, if the Bulls aren’t going to win this game, considering Miami being hampered by the Jimmy Butler injury, you’ve got to blow it up.
Yes, the Bulls are without star guard Zach Lavine, who is out with a foot injury. He would’ve helped, no doubt. But, they should’ve had enough firepower with DeMar Derozan and Nicola Vucevic to be able to outscore a Miami team that struggles to score even with Jimmy Butler.
Instead, they got a lifeless performance. With DeMar Derozan entering unrestricted free agency, the time is not to blow it up.
It wouldn’t be very hard. While Lavine is injury-prone, he’s a fringe All-Star caliber player that could get at least some assets back in a trade. All-world defender Alex Caruso might be their best asset, as teams love what he brings to the table. Plus, he’s got an incredibly friendly contract, and his $9.8 million salary will be easily movable. Coby White had a breakout season this year, and he’s just 24 years old. And, former top-five pick Patrick Williams is still a promising player at just 22.
Not tearing it down is risking another year mired in mediocrity with few options to get better. Right now, they don’t have the pieces to go trade for a star without leaving the team to the point where there’s nothing around him. They’re drawing dead, and it’s time to rebuild.