Projecting the Bulls' 2024-25 Lineup After DeRozan Trade, Offseason Moves

So, the direction isn’t crystal-clear, but crystal-ish enough. After signing-and-trading franchise ironman DeMar DeRozan to the Sacramento Kings – in conjunction with Alex Caruso’s deal to Oklahoma City, and Zach LaVine’s increasingly rancorous relationship with management – the Bulls appear on track for a potential *sighs in tenuous relief* rebuild.

What do the nascent rosters of that rebuild look like? Forecasting the Bulls’ starting lineup is complicated by their remaining veterans’ lack of value. LaVine has three years and over $137 million left on a burgeoning candidate for worst contract in the league. Nikola Vucevic has a moveable two years and $41 million left on his, but unfortunately appears to now be the only NBA player required to wear shoes magnetized to the floor.

Assuming Chicago will do anything specific feels like a fool’s errand. Shoot, Lonzo Ball could start at point guard in October. But assuming their laboriously resisted (no exasperated gesture this time) rebuild has arrived, let’s project your 2024-25 Chicago Bulls starting five.

PG/SG: Coby White

Starting controversial. A 24-year-old guard coming off a season of career highs in almost every volume and efficiency category needs no justification. Give him another 36 minutes a game and see if there’s an even superior version to the on-ball dynamo we were treated to last year.

White does bring up a conflicting question for roster construction. He’s 24, young even in the dog years we seem to age young athletes by. Is he young enough to be a star – or at least a turnkey offensive weapon – for the next great Bulls team?

Provided an acceptably paced rebuild, of course. But is that realistic? Let’s say under ideal circumstances the Bulls draft their next cornerstone high in one of the next two drafts, given how fruitful they appear at present juncture. Hopefully, they then spend two or three years acquiring talent – depending on how much they had in the first place – to accent their star quickly, a la the Spurs with Victor Wembanyama. Four or five years. White would only be 28/29, Josh Giddey hypothetically in his prime, Matas Buzelis potentially entering his.

Now, look at the festering pile of malaise that is the Detroit Pistons. Let’s play a game – here’s their win totals the last five seasons, out of order: 20, 17, 23, 20, 14. Which one was the shortened pandemic season? Which one was last year? Detroit hit the low point of this rebuild last year, winning 14 games and still only getting the fifth pick. After toiling for that long, they already had to extend their own cornerstone, Cade Cunningham, to a rookie max-extension (five years, $226 million).

This is not to suggest Chicago shouldn’t hold on to Coby White with everything they have, only an exercise in sobriety. Commit hard to this reconstruction, and more homegrown talent is likely to be around when it’s done. In the meantime, I hope Coby’s ready for 20 shots a game.