Cordaro Johnson (Haize) here, the host of the daily Locked On Bulls podcast, with your daily Locked On Bulls newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Bulls and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
Bulls at a Crossroads: Trade Deadline Decisions Loom
The Chicago Bulls find themselves at a critical juncture as the trade deadline approaches. As a passionate Bulls fan, I’ve been grappling with the question that’s on everyone’s mind: What should the team do?
It’s a complex situation. On one hand, we have players like Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic performing at an All-Star level. But despite their individual success, the team is still struggling to break out of the play-in tournament range. This predicament raises an important question: Is it time to consider reshuffling the deck?
The NBA’s creation of the play-in tournament has somewhat skewed our perception of success. We’re calling a team that would have been out of playoff contention a few years ago “middle of the pack.” It’s a sobering reality check when you consider that we traded away talents like Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler because we couldn’t get past being a fifth or sixth seed.
The Case for Change
While it’s not about blaming LaVine and Vucevic for our current position, we need to seriously consider whether keeping this core together is the best path forward. If it takes All-Star caliber seasons from these players just to secure the tenth seed, how can we realistically expect to improve our standing in the coming years?
This is why the idea of trading our top performers for assets is gaining traction. It’s not about their individual performance, but rather about maximizing our future potential. We’ve seen this strategy work before – remember when we traded Jimmy Butler after nearly winning a first-round playoff series?
The Young Guns
Another crucial aspect of this decision is the development of our young players. Fans are eager to see more of talents like Matas Buzelis and Julian Phillips. These players have shown flashes of potential, and there’s a growing sentiment that they deserve more minutes to showcase their abilities and grow.
The frustration with the current situation is palpable. As Bulls fans, we’re tired of living in two timelines simultaneously. We want a clear direction, whether that’s fully committing to our veterans or embracing a youth movement.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Bulls’ trade deadline options, tune into the Locked On Bulls podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Bulls Podcast:
• The potential trade value of Lonzo Ball
• Billy Donovan’s future with the team
• Patrick Williams’ struggles and the impact on his role
Jan 14, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives for a shot past Philadelphia 76ers forward Guerschon Yabusele (28) during the third quarter at Wells Fargo Center. | Bill Streicher/Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the rest of the NBA season could just be various instances spent listening to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander go WOOOO to varying decibels and degrees of excitement? It would be, to borrow from a master gone too soon, Lynchian.
If not that, then to watch the Thunder and Cavaliers play each other, over and over, until April 13th. I suspect we still wouldn’t have our fill of these two teams but don’t fret, we’d have a riveting seven game series. Each game a competitive and tight feast for the eyes.
To really get an understanding of how, though relentless pressuring and seamless switching, the Thunder have run away with the first overall defensive rating. That even against a team like Cleveland who pride themselves on the way they’re able to take care of the ball, and their communication skills, OKC can pluck the ball out of the hands of an opponent on a fastbreak, a drive, as if they were walking right up to a kid and taking candy from their hands.
Of course, this all makes it sound like watching these two teams in perpetuity is going to look heavily lopsided for the Thunder. The matchup last night was a wallop for the West, for sure, but Cleveland showed why they’ve been coolly leading the East and the entire league. Rainbow threes from Mitchell, light lobs over the heads of every Thunder player — just then upturned to watch — between Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen, and fadeaway shots from the corner care of Max Strus.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Ranking The Bulls come in at No. 22 in the latest NBA Power Rankings. (Bleacher Report)
Must Read The NBA needs a Comeback Player of the Year award. And its first winner should be Lonzo Ball. (Chicago Tribune)
Fantasy Basketball News Roundup: The Tanking In Utah
Jan 11, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) looks on against the Phoenix Suns during the first half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images | Joe Camporeale/Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
The Utah Jazz and Portland Trail Blazers are taking tanking to a whole new level. The Jazz have been sitting players like John Collins, Lauri Markkanen, and Walker Kessler for various reasons. While I understand the incentives for tanking, the odds of getting the number one pick are not high. The NBA has been cracking down on teams resting healthy players, but these two franchises seem to be pushing the boundaries.
As a fantasy analyst, I’ve been advising people to avoid high picks from these teams due to the risk of shutdowns and reduced playing time. It’s frustrating to see this level of blatant tanking, especially when it impacts fantasy basketball managers.
The Memphis Grizzlies are another team to watch, with Ja Morant constantly appearing on the injury report. While they’re not tanking like Utah and Portland, Morant’s frequent injuries are concerning for fantasy managers.
In other news, Donte DiVincenzo is out with a toe sprain for the Knicks, which could lead to increased minutes for Mike Conley. However, I wouldn’t rush to add Conley in most leagues.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Bulls podcasts.
The Chicago Bulls Want To Be Sellers At The Deadline.. So What’s Stopping Them? Explore the intricate dynamics of the Bulls’ roster management, including the challenges of retaining talents like Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu under the new CBA rules. Haize examines the front office’s past decisions, comparing the Bulls’ situation to more successful franchises like the Miami Heat and New York Knicks.
Zach LaVine’s Historic Night Propels Bulls to Victory Over Clippers Hosts Haize and Pat explore LaVine’s place in Bulls history, debating his status as one of the team’s top scorers alongside legends like Michael Jordan. They also discuss Matas Buzelis’ entry into the NBA dunk contest and touch on the evolving dynamics of race in sports.
From Derrick Rose Night to Rock Bottom: The Bulls’ Freefall Haize and Pat dissect the team’s defensive lapses and coaching challenges, questioning whether talent alone can carry them through the NBA season. The conversation also explores potential roster changes and the implications of keeping veterans during a rebuild.
