NBA: 7 future-defining storylines to follow down the stretch

Chicago Bulls Zach LaVine (Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports)
Chicago Bulls Zach LaVine (Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports)
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Chicago Bulls
Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan (Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports)

How will the Chicago Bulls end the season?

The Chicago Bulls are one team that has some big decisions to make during the offseason. And I’d have to imagine that depending on how they close the season, a lot of their future decisions this offseason could be dictated by the next few weeks. And the big question for the Bulls heading into the final stretch of the season is whether or not they’ll be able to make the postseason.

I’m not sure there’s a worse outcome for the Bulls right now than missing the playoffs. This is a team that was built to win now after big swings during the last offseason. They signed Lonzo Ball and DeMar DeRozan, and acquired Nikola Vucevic via trade. After a fast start to last season, the Bulls have not only fizzled out but they’ve been somewhat of an afterthought in the Eastern Conference.

While Ball’s injury hasn’t made anything easier for the team, because of their irrelevance right now, it could prompt some big-picture questions for the Bulls heading into the offseason. And that’s never good for a team that made the move to win now not even a couple of years ago.