The Chicago Bulls finally did it. After years of hovering in the NBA’s no-man’s land-just good enough to chase a Play-In spot, but not bad enough to land premium lottery odds-they’ve picked a direction.
And it’s the one fans have been clamoring for: a full teardown. The Bulls sold at the deadline.
They didn’t hedge. They didn’t kick the can down the road.
They hit the reset button.
But here’s the catch: they may have waited too long.
In a league where timing is everything, the Bulls’ front office held onto their core past its expiration date. And when they finally decided to sell, the market had already moved on.
Seven players were shipped out before the deadline. The return?
Not a single first-round pick. That’s not just underwhelming-it’s a gut punch for a team that once believed it was on the cusp of contention.
Rebuilds are supposed to be about stockpiling young talent and future assets. But Chicago’s haul felt more like a salvage operation than a strategic reset. The cautionary tale here is clear: wait too long to make a move, and the league will let you know just how little your assets are worth.
Take Coby White, for example. The Bulls spent seven years trying to figure out if he could be a foundational piece.
By the time they made up their minds, the league had already made up theirs. The return?
An expiring contract in Collin Sexton, Osumane Dieng (who was later flipped for Nick Richards), and three second-round picks. That’s not the kind of package you build a future around.
That’s the kind of package you accept when you’re out of options.
And this is where the New Orleans Pelicans come into the picture-because if they’re not careful, they’re walking the same tightrope.
Zion Williamson, like White, was drafted in 2019. And like White, he’s spent seven seasons in a situation clouded by indecision.
The difference? Zion’s ceiling is miles higher.
He’s a generational talent when healthy. But potential doesn’t last forever in this league.
If New Orleans continues to hesitate, they risk watching Zion’s trade value erode in real time.
The parallels are hard to ignore. Chicago waited too long to act on White. New Orleans might be doing the same with Zion.
And it’s not just about the stars. Role players matter, too-especially in a league that values depth and versatility.
The Bulls moved Nikola Vučević and Ayo Dosunmu, two key pieces of their rotation. The return?
Five second-round picks. That’s the going rate when the league no longer sees your players as difference-makers.
Now look at the Pelicans. Trey Murphy III and Herb Jones may not be household names, but they’re central to what New Orleans is building. If the front office waits too long to decide whether to go all-in or pivot, they could find themselves in the same spot Chicago just left-selling off key contributors for pennies on the dollar.
The NBA doesn’t wait for anyone. Player value is fleeting.
One year you’re a franchise cornerstone, the next you’re a trade filler. The Bulls’ deadline moves were a stark reminder of that reality.
And if the Pelicans don’t get proactive this offseason-if they don’t take a hard look at their timeline, their roster, and their future-they could be next in line for a painful rebuild that arrives too late to matter.