The Bulls season is over and with it comes the uncertainty of what’s next for the franchise. The front office is in the process of preparing for the 2025 NBA Draft and looking at free agency targets. But as they navigate this transition period, Kenny Beecham’s comments recently had me thinking about the Bulls immediate future.
On the latest Run It Back on FanDuel TV, Beecham didn’t sugar coat it when talking about the Bulls. He said they are 2-3 years away from being competitive again. Ouch. That’s a tough pill to swallow and makes you wonder if the Bulls are on the right track.
Beecham’s Harsh Reality Check
Kenny Beecham didn’t sugarcoat it when he talked about the Bulls’ roster. “Not a lot going on here.”
“A lot of us wanted this team to take a step back, which they did,” Beecham said. “They traded Zach LaVine. Traded DeMar DeRozan before the season started. And even then, we looked at the roster and squinted our eyes and said, ‘there’s not a lot going on here.’ I think we’ve got two to three more years before we can be excited about Bulls basketball again.”
His comments sum up the harsh reality. Despite some good play after the trade deadline, the Bulls were eliminated by the Miami Heat for the third straight year. That’s how far they are from being a real team.
Nikola Vucevic: A Trade Piece on the Move?
One of the biggest questions for the Bulls is what happens with Nikola Vucevic. The veteran big man has been a bright spot, but his contract is up after the 2025-26 season, and he’s an unrestricted free agent. Recently, he mentioned wanting to play for a contender in a media availability.
“There are some good, young pieces that can be built around,” Vucevic said. “But I’m at the stage in my career where I’m trying to win now, play in the playoffs and hopefully have deep playoff runs. It’s a young team and it takes time.”
With those words echoing in the locker room, the Bulls may trade Vucevic rather than lose him for nothing next summer. His value could bring in much needed assets to speed up the rebuild.
Arturas Karnisovas Asks for Patience
Vice President of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas knows it won’t be easy. In a press conference on April 17, he asked the fans to be patient as the team enters “the first year of that transition”.
“I’m asking for the fans to have patience,” Karnisovas said. “We’re in the first year of that transition. I thought we finished the year strong. It’s hard to win games in this league. But to go 15-5 [after the trade deadline], it’s not a victory lap, but I think there are some positives.”
Karnisovas pointed to the draft, free agency, and player development as the key steps to rebuilding the roster. He emphasized adding talent through the lottery and free agency, and giving the young players time to grow.
Reasons to be Cheerful
Beecham’s assessment is dire, but there’s hope for Bulls fans. Josh Giddey and Coby White are the foundation of the team’s future. If the front office can sign them long term the Bulls can build something.
Plus the 15-5 finish to the 2024-25 season after the trade deadline was a glimpse into the future. Young players showed growth and the new additions brought energy to the roster.
Will Fans Buy In?
For Bulls fans patience has been the theme of this rebuild. The front office has to prove progress is being made. If the team shows improvement and a clear plan moving forward the city will get behind them.
But Beecham’s comments are a reminder the Bulls are far from relevant. The future is bright but the present is dark.
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