Chicago Bulls: NBA Draft Lottery offers a little hope
The best time of the year for Chicago Bulls fans is almost here.
It has become a sad reality for Chicago Bulls fans, but the fact of the matter is the NBA Draft has been just about the only thing they have had to look forward to over recent years. The product on the court hasn’t been much to write home about.
For that matter, the goings-on off the court haven’t been any better. In a move that has been expected, though feared by Bulls fans, the front office “brain trust” of Gar Forman and John Paxson extended head coach and chief disciplinarian, Jim Boylen. Apparently, the beatings will continue around the United Center until morale improves.
Though the terms of the contract were not announced, it is allegedly a multi-year deal. Frankly, it doesn’t matter, because any extension at all is a massive mistake. In fact, elevating him to head coach in the first place was an epic blunder.
But here are the Bulls, in familiar territory — in the midst (read no closer) of a rebuild with no apparent exit strategy. They are figuratively on a sinking ship with no life jacket.
However, a life saving (and franchise saving) flotation device could be waiting for them in the 2019 NBA Draft. While the Bulls have been mired in mediocrity, all it takes is one franchise-altering player to change the trajectory of the team.
It is clear that the Bulls will not acquire that player via free agency as there is little to no chance that any free agent of that caliber would want to play for Boylen — despite GarPax’s insistence to the contrary.
And so the only chance they have is finding themselves with one of the top two picks in this year’s Draft. Realistically, there are two players — Zion Williamson and Ja Morant — who could quickly change the fortunes of this team.
Next. 5 free agent fits for Boylen's style. dark
Whether the Bulls will find themselves with the good fortune of landing one of those picks remains to be seen, but fans will find out very soon as the Draft Lottery is scheduled to occur in less than one week on May 14th. With a lucky draw, the Bulls could be poised to change the future and climb out of this rebuild — of course, you have to trust that they’ll make the right pick — which is a whole other issue.