Should the Chicago Bulls tank the second half of the season?

There has been a lot  of talk among fans regarding the team tanking the rest of the way in 2018.

The Chicago Bulls were supposed to be contending for the worst record in the NBA this season. Instead, they are sitting at the eighth-worst record in the league and have, surprisingly, ripped off a few small win streaks this year.

So, with lots of fans asking for a tank, will the team oblige? Should they oblige?

For starters, it’s apparent that the players aren’t going to let that happen. Back in January, Justin Holiday told the Chicago Sun Times his thoughts on the topic.

"“It is strange. I’ve never been a part of a fan base where some of them get angry when you win. But at the same time, as angry as the fan base may seem, the ones that come to that game want us to win. I’ll continue to say that.”"

He went on to assure that he and his teammates aren’t about to lose any games on purpose. He also alluded to the true fans that want to see wins, regardless.

"“If that was the case, than what’s the point of supporting us? What’s the point of cheering for us to do well? Like I said, they enjoy winning. Every person in this world enjoys winning, regardless of how bad they want a draft pick or something like that. When it comes to that game, us having a chance to win, they want that. You can hear it.”"

There is something to be said about the whole idea of a team tanking. The Philadelphia 76ers seemed as though they played that card for a couple of years and now it is paying dividends with the likes of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons.

Even some fan social media accounts that have gained a following over the years have been rooting for the team to lose games.

That’s cute. It really is. But, is that the most noble route to go? Absolutely not.

Chicago sports fans seem to find themselves in this position quite often. Look at the Cubs or Bears. How many fans were cheering for more losses than wins last year for the Bears? I am sure if many are honest, that number is high. The Cubs, on the other hand, could only stink for so long before they had a crop of top picks ready to roll.

The Bulls are far from the laughing stock of the NBA, as they were projected to be originally, and they should absolutely not go into tank mode.

The biggest reason why is simple: Building a team in the 21st century isn’t necessarily done through the draft anymore. Free agency has become the way to do it. Of course, a team always wants the best available prospect come draft time. But, teams are built much quicker and much stronger now through free agency.

What Chicago needs to do is prove that this young core of guys like Lauri Markkanen, Zach LaVine and Kris Dunn are competitive enough to warrant free agents’ attention this summer.

Tanking should be the furthest thing from anyone’s mind, assuming they call themselves a loyal fan.

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