The Bulls Hit Reset - But What Exactly Are They Building?
One week after the trade deadline, the Chicago Bulls are 0-4 and searching for answers - not just in the win column, but in the mirror. Seven new faces arrived, but instead of clarity, the Bulls are left with a roster that feels more like a puzzle missing its corner pieces.
There’s movement, sure. But direction?
That’s harder to spot.
Let’s be clear: some growing pains were inevitable. You don’t overhaul half your team midseason and expect instant chemistry.
But what’s happening in Chicago isn’t just about timing or cohesion. It’s about construction - and right now, the blueprint looks flawed.
A Frontcourt Void That’s Hard to Ignore
The Bulls don’t have a single player taller than 6-foot-9 on the roster. That’s not just a fun fact - it’s a flashing red light.
Interior defense was already a concern earlier in the season, even with Nikola Vucevic anchoring the paint. Head coach Billy Donovan eventually pivoted, leaning into bigger lineups with Vucevic and Jalen Smith, and the results were promising, if not game-changing.
But instead of building on that progress, the front office went in a different direction. Vucevic?
Gone. Smith?
Gone. Their replacements?
Well, they haven’t made much of an impact. Guerschon Yabusele and Nick Richards bring hustle and effort, but they don’t offer the same presence or polish.
The size issue hasn’t just remained - it’s worsened.
Backcourt Shuffle: Change for the Sake of Change?
Chicago’s backcourt underwent a full transformation. Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu - two players who had grown with the franchise and shown real development - are out.
In their place: Colin Sexton and Anfernee Simons, with Rob Dillingham and Jaden Ivey backing them up. Mac McClung was re-signed to a two-way deal, joining Yuki Kawamura, who got a similar offer in January.
On paper, these are talented guards. But the question isn’t whether they can play - it’s whether they make the Bulls better.
So far, there’s no evidence they do. The team hasn’t upgraded; it’s just rearranged.
And calling the changes “lateral moves” might be generous, considering the 0-4 record since the deadline.
This isn’t a rebuild. It’s not a tank.
And it certainly doesn’t look like a playoff push. It’s a retooling without a clear purpose - a reshuffling of pieces that don’t seem to fit together.
The One That Got Away (Again)
If Bulls fans are frustrated, look no further than Ousmane Dieng. Acquired briefly in a trade, he was flipped to Milwaukee almost immediately. In his first two games with the Bucks, Dieng looked like the kind of versatile, athletic frontcourt piece Chicago desperately needs - averaging 18 points and shooting 8-of-14 from three while posting a +22 combined plus-minus.
That’s the kind of upside you hold onto, especially when your own frontcourt is paper-thin. But instead, the Bulls let him walk - and watched him flourish somewhere else.
It’s not an isolated incident. Derik Queen, passed over in the 2025 draft, is thriving in New Orleans.
Vucevic is now a seamless fit in Boston, bringing veteran leadership to a team with championship aspirations. Ayo Dosunmu is giving Minnesota quality minutes off the bench, while Julian Phillips - rarely used in Chicago - is earning praise for his hustle under Chris Finch.
There’s a pattern here: players leave Chicago and get better. That’s not just bad luck. That’s a red flag.
Buzelis and the Emotional Toll of Change
Through it all, Matas Buzelis remains the centerpiece of Chicago’s future. His development continues at a steady pace, but there’s no denying he’s navigating a tough emotional stretch.
Losing teammates like White and Dosunmu - guys he shared the floor and locker room with - isn’t easy. And now, he’s tasked with adjusting to a whole new cast while trying to grow into a franchise cornerstone.
That’s a lot to ask of a young player, especially when the team’s identity is still in flux.
What’s the Plan?
The Bulls now have six guards in their rotation - not counting two-way deals. That’s a lot of small-ball, and it begs the question: is this the long-term vision? Is Donovan leaning into pace and space to create an up-tempo attack that can out-run bigger teams?
It’s possible. But for that to work, the execution has to be crisp.
The offense needs to generate quality looks, move the ball with purpose, and find ways to compensate for the lack of size. Right now, that’s not happening.
Injuries haven’t helped. Josh Giddey, Tre Jones, and Zach Collins are all out, and their return could ease some of the chemistry concerns.
But even with them back, this roster has fundamental questions to answer. Can they defend the paint?
Can they rebound consistently? Can they create a hierarchy on offense that doesn’t just rely on trading buckets?
Because if the Bulls are counting on another late-season surge like last year, they’ll need more than just hope. They’ll need a reason to believe this group - this version of the Bulls - can actually win.
Right now, that reason is hard to find.