Chicago Bulls: The 2018 NBA offseason summary and recap
Taking a look back at what the Chicago Bulls did right and wrong during the 2018 NBA offseason, including the draft and free agency
No one expected the Chicago Bulls the be world beaters this past season, but there were still some overall bright spots for the team. During the 2017-18 season, the Bulls only won 27 games – their worst win total since the 2003-04 season.
It wasn’t a bright season overall, but there were certainly some things they could build around. For one, Lauri Markkanen was one of the most surprising rookies in the league last year. Zach LaVine was injured for much of the season, but did show some flashes when he returned during the second half of the season.
Nevertheless, there was still much work to be done for the Bulls to be done heading into the summer. Let’s take a look back at their biggest moves of the summer.
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During the NBA Draft, the Bulls selected Wendell Carter Jr. with the 7th pick and Chandler Hutchinson with their second first-rounder. During free agency, the Bulls matched an offer sheet that Zach LaVine signed with the Sacramento Kings and then followed that move up with signing Jabari Parker, a restricted free agent from the Milwaukee Bucks.
The addition of Parker was seen as somewhat confusing, but considering how the Bulls entered the summer it was a low-risk, high-reward type of move. They signed him to essentially a one-year deal. Even though it was a big money deal, if it doesn’t pan out they could opt out of the second-year and spend that money on a different player in free agency.
The Bulls have a solid core to build around moving forward, with a number of interesting young prospects that could drive up this franchise’s ceiling over the next few years.
Chicago is definitely going to be one of the more interesting teams to watch this season.