The Chicago Bulls came out of the gates in November looking like a team reborn. A 5-0 start-their best since the iconic 1996-97 season-had fans buzzing and raised expectations sky-high.
But fast forward to December, and that early magic has faded. The Bulls now sit at 9-11, and the cracks that were papered over during the unbeaten run have started to show-especially on the defensive end.
Right now, Isaac Okoro is the only consistent perimeter defender on the roster, and that's simply not enough. The Bulls are riding a four-game skid, with losses to struggling teams like the Pelicans, Hornets, and Pacers-squads with a combined record well below .500.
It's not just a rough patch; it's a wake-up call. This team needs help, and they need it from outside the building.
Josh Giddey Is the Real Deal, But He Needs Help
There is one silver lining in Chicago, and his name is Josh Giddey. The 23-year-old point guard has been delivering near triple-double numbers night in and night out-averaging 20.6 points, 9.9 rebounds, and 9.1 assists on nearly 47.5% shooting. He’s not just putting up stats-he’s controlling the tempo, making plays, and showing flashes of the kind of player you build a franchise around.
The Bulls already made a bold move to get him, sending defensive ace Alex Caruso to Oklahoma City. That trade signaled a shift: Giddey is the future.
But if the Bulls are serious about contending, they can’t stop there. Giddey’s development is only part of the equation.
Now it’s about surrounding him with the right pieces-starting with a co-star.
Borrowing a Page from the Pacers’ Playbook
The Bulls aren’t hiding the fact that they’ve been studying the Indiana Pacers' blueprint. After all, Indiana shocked the league with a run to the 2025 NBA Finals, and they did it without a traditional superstar.
Instead, they leaned into pace, chemistry, and complementary talent. Bulls head coach Billy Donovan has been vocal about trying to emulate that style.
"That's who we have to be," Donovan said. "We have to be better than the sum of our parts… Everybody sees Indiana play, and the thing that everybody goes to right away is, ‘Oh, their pace, their pace, their pace.’"
But the Pacers didn’t just run. They also made a calculated move to bring in Pascal Siakam from Toronto-a deal that proved to be a turning point. Siakam wasn’t a top-10 player, but he was exactly what Indiana needed: a versatile, playoff-tested forward who could take pressure off Tyrese Haliburton and elevate the team’s ceiling.
The Bulls Need Their Own Siakam
That’s the next step for Chicago. Giddey is in place, and the young core around him-Coby White, second-year wing Matas Buzelis, and 18-year-old rookie Noe Essengue-has promise. Nikola Vucevic remains a steady veteran presence, but at this stage in his career, he’s more mentor than co-star.
The Bulls need to find their version of Siakam. Someone who can complement Giddey, take on scoring and defensive responsibilities, and bring a winning mentality to a team that’s still trying to find its identity.
“They have Haliburton, who is an All-Star, and they have Siakam,” a Bulls source said. “If Giddey can develop into an All-Star and be what Hali was, when do we pull the trigger to get our Siakam?”
That’s the million-dollar question. The Bulls don’t need to chase a superstar-they need the right star.
Someone who fits the system, shares the ball, and can thrive in the up-tempo, team-first approach Donovan is trying to instill. And with Chicago being a bigger market than Indiana, they might even have the leverage to aim a little higher.
Bottom Line: The Window Is Opening
The Bulls aren’t in rebuild mode anymore. They’ve got a rising star in Giddey, a coach with a clear vision, and a front office that’s already shown it’s willing to make bold moves.
Now it’s about timing. The right trade could turn this team from a fringe playoff hopeful into a legitimate threat in the East.
The blueprint is there. The question is whether Chicago can find their Siakam-and pull the trigger before the window starts to close.