For years, LeBron James tormented the Chicago Bulls. Whether it was in the playoffs with the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Miami Heat, he wasn't the most popular guy at the United Center, especially when Joakim Noah was also in town.
Regardless, most Bulls fans would've buried the hatchet and embraced him with open arms if he had ever decided to join the team. Chicago is a big market with plenty of history, and he would've gotten an opportunity to chase Michael Jordan's ghost in his own building.
James flirted with the Bulls a couple of times in free agency, but to no avail. That's why, even though the Bulls were never in play to sign him this offseason, the fact that he chose the Philadelphia 76ers of all teams should have Bulls fans wondering when it will be their turn.
The Chicago Bulls should be the top free-agency destination
For way too long, the Bulls' front office has wasted opportunities to land the best free agents in the game. In the last couple of decades alone, it happened with LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony, and every time they've gotten their hands on a star, he's already been past his prime, like Pau Gasol and Dwyane Wade.
The 76ers haven't won a ring since the Dr. J days. They haven't been to the NBA Finals since Allen Iverson carried them there in 2001. Yet, they still managed to get the biggest fish in free agency. Why? Because they tried.
After years of knocking on the door and failed postseason trips, the 76ers decided to go all-in. They swapped Paul George for Jaylen Brown, and doubled down on that approach by making a run at LeBron James.
Now, they have the most stacked starting lineup in the game, with Tyrese Maxey, V.J. Edgecombe, and whatever's left of Joel Embiid (which is still better than most players) next to James and Brown. It didn't necessarily happen overnight, but it took one offseason to turn them from NBA Finals hopefuls to 'championship or bust.'
We've seen that happen way too many times since the Bulls' last championship, all while the ownership refuses to spend big bucks or make aggressive and timely moves. Instead, they've chosen to make the team just good enough to make the playoffs, but with no actual championship aspirations.
This is the perfect moment to turn things around and build something sustainable, but also legitimately good. If things don't work out with this young core, they can't hesitate to blow it up and go big-name hunting for a change.
The Bulls never stood a chance to sign LeBron, and they probably didn't even reach out to him this time. But unless they start swinging for the fences, their only shot at bringing the glory days back will be to strike gold in the NBA Draft multiple times, and that's way easier said than done.
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