The 2024–25 season was supposed to be different for the Chicago Bulls. When the team traded six-time all-star DeMar DeRozan in the offseason, it felt like a fresh start. Fans were hopeful. The move signaled that maybe, finally, the front office was ready to let go of the old core and start building something new. Then came the midseason trade of Zach LaVine, and it was clear that a real shift was underway.
Josh Giddey, acquired in a trade with the Oklahoma City Thunder, became one of the more encouraging stories of the season. While questions about his three-point shooting lingered, his strengths quickly began to shine through in Chicago. The tall guard showed great feel for the game, making smart passes and controlling the pace of play. As the season went on, he looked more confident and assertive, reminding fans why he was once seen as having all-star potential.
Coby White, a former seventh overall pick, also emerged as a clear bright spot. After years of inconsistency, he finally took a big step forward—playing smarter, scoring more efficiently, and showing improved decision-making.
Rookie Matas Buzelis, a Chicago native, gave fans plenty of reasons to be excited about the future. With his length, athleticism, and smooth shooting touch, Buzelis never looked overwhelmed in his first season.
But, as the months went by, the Bulls found themselves in a familiar place. Not terrible. Not great. Just average. Once again, they hovered around the edge of the play-in tournament, close enough to matter but never quite able to break through.
Despite the promising pieces, the Bulls just couldn’t put it all together. They never went on a real run and never found their rhythm. They dropped too many winnable games and struggled to finish strong in tight matchups. By the end of the season, they found themselves just outside the play-in bracket.
To add insult to injury, the Bulls barely missed out on the first pick in the draft and thus the opportunity to select Duke University superstar Cooper Flagg. Flagg is the kind of player who could completely change the direction of a franchise with his size, three-level scoring ability, and otherworldly defensive instincts. His leadership is also an underrated trait of his, having led Duke to a Final Four appearance. But due to a lost coin flip with the Dallas Mavericks, the Bulls missed out on an extra 0.1 percent chance to win the lottery, resulting in the Mavs getting the first pick. It was another reminder of what happens when a team tries to compete without truly rebuilding.
However, there’s still hope. Giddey, White, and Buzelis make for a solid young trio. While Giddey and White may not be all-stars yet, they are getting closer and have started to look like foundational pieces for the franchise. Buzelis’s confident style of play and natural tools suggest that he could be a long-term contributor as he continues to develop. There is a clear foundation to build on, but the front office has to make a choice: keep chasing short-term wins and risk being stuck in the same place again next year or fully commit to the youth movement and give their young stars room to grow.
Fans are ready to see this team go somewhere rather than staying stuck in the middle. The pieces are there. Now it’s about putting them together and letting them lead the way.
