For the past two seasons, the Chicago Bulls have rolled out a new-look lineup that features Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic as the stars. The trio has found middling success, making the playoffs in Year 1 and getting bounced in the Play-In Tournament this past season.
Now, with Arturas Karnisovas’ eyes set on competing with the current core, big changes are needed. The Bulls need to add a better supporting cast around their stars, or they will fall into the trap of mediocrity once again next year. And while Chicago has plenty of needs, their number one priority should be shooting.
According to Elias Schuster of Bleacher Nation, the lack of shooting in Chicago’s supporting cast has been “laughable” for the past two years.
“Finding those role players who fit around your stars is arguably as important as finding the stars themselves,” Schuster wrote. “I hope this game – and a disappointing season – reminded the Chicago Bulls of that. I know I’ve screamed it from the rooftop until my throat has bled, but the lack of shooting on Chicago’s roster has been laughable. Not to mention, the lack of traditional size/length has been a major concern around three subpar defenders. While the Bulls’ defense still rose to the occasion at the end of the year, we all remember the times were they were dominated on the offensive glass. Anyway, roster building isn’t just about building a core, it’s about building a coherent rotation. We’re still waiting to see that in Chicago.”
If the Bulls don’t add shooting to the roster this summer, the offseason will have been a complete and utter failure.
