The Chicago Bulls’ defeat to the Miami Heat ended another disappointing season and left fans and management with a lot of questions about how they can progress next season.
There are some minor positives to take from this, with one being the opportunity to focus on making necessary changes. Had the Bulls scraped into the playoffs, the focus would have been on the games, and an argument could have been made to try and keep things heading in the same direction.
It also allows fans to take a breather and watch the championship play out without any vested interest, making it easier to enjoy and allowing bettors to make decisions with their heads rather than their hearts. Sports fans will be able to make selections based on their sporting knowledge, and finding the best odds and choice of markets will be easier when using trusted offshore sportsbook reviews by CasinoBeats.
Online gambling expert Matt Bastock explains that offshore bookmakers often have a wider selection of betting markets, more competitive odds, and better bonuses, which is ideal for NBA fans looking to amp up the excitement in the playoffs when their team isn’t competing.
While fans will be tuned into the action, the Bulls hierarchy will be sitting down to figure out what can be done to turn things around for a franchise that last won the championship in 1998 and last featured in the playoffs in 2022.
Resolve Nikola Vučević’s Future
The consistency of Nikola Vučević has been a positive for the Bulls, but if they plan to use him as a tradeable asset, it will likely come soon. Only Matas Buzelis appears to be off limits to potential suitors, and there were lots of rumours about Vučević moving before the February transfer window closed.
If they plan to offload him as a trade to strengthen other positions, the sooner it is done, the better, so head coach Billy Donovan and GM Marc Eversley can have a settled roster in place for the season starting in October.
Draft Priorities
The Bulls still have a couple of months before the draft to run the rule over their current roster and try and work out any deals for free agents. This will give them a set of priorities to work on. They will be hopeful of landing another star that will work out as well as Buzelis has.
The luck of the lottery will have a lot of bearing on who they will be able to target, but one thing about being in a poor position to start with is that they don’t need to be picky. While some teams will have specific positions to target, the Bulls currently find themselves at a point where any high-quality additions would be welcomed.
The team needs a rebuild, and this freedom going into the draft could be a benefit that puts them in a better place than other teams.
Free Agents and Trades
The Bulls will be keen to re-sign restricted free agents like Josh Giddey and Tre Jones and will be working on some key trades to try and transform the team for next season. Utah Jazz’s Walker Kessler could be a consideration if Vučević moves on, and the 7-footer has proven to be more than capable since becoming a regular starter.
A move for Giddey would require the Bulls to maximize the space around the 22-year-old, and the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Isaiah Joe could be the solution.
Oklahoma will want to keep Joe, but there is a possibility that they could look to a lower-cost option as they prepare bigger contracts for more integral stars for their future.
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