The report asks the biggest question of them all: What’s the Chicago Bulls’ plan?

Does Chicago even have a blueprint?

© Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bulls’ faithful must be pretty frustrated by now, watching the once-proud franchise languish in the NBA’s purgatory for years. While it’s impossible to change the Bulls’ trajectory in a season or two, taking the first few steps toward a clear plan would be a major step in the right direction.

The Bulls have been stuck in mediocrity since their last playoff appearance in 2021. They’ve tried various approaches, from hoping for luck in the draft lottery to signing veteran free agents, but nothing has worked out. And with no clear direction or vision for the future, fans wonder: what is the team’s plan?

Flubbed another chance

This year’s trade deadline brought the Bulls another chance to hit the reset button on their middling roster and accumulate some assets—be it draft picks or talented young players. DeMar DeRozan and Andre Drummond will be unrestricted free agents this offseason, meaning there’s a chance Chicago could lose both players for nothing. But instead, the Bulls stood pat and kept their core intact. This—in the eyes of many—was the Bulls’ biggest gaffe this season.

“Running back the same core to begin this season was an obvious mistake for the Bulls. While it was a few months too late, the trade deadline at least brought some hope that Chicago would finally realize its blunder, shake up the roster and get some much-needed draft compensation back for some vets. Instead, the Bulls did nothing. No adding. No selling. Just happy to be in ninth place playing sub-.500 basketball. Again,” Greg Swartz wrote.

Deebo to the rack!@DunkinDonuts Dunk of the Week: pic.twitter.com/BFJdb6eGmI

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) February 26, 2024

Stuck in purgatory

The purgatory is a place no NBA franchise wants to be stuck in. It’s the middle ground between true contention and a full-blown rebuild. Unfortunately for the Chicago Bulls, that’s exactly where they find themselves this season and, perhaps, the seasons to come. And so, Swartz dared to ask: “So, what the hell is the plan?”

The veteran core Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic are clearly good enough for only a spot in the Play-in Tournament and maybe a first-round appearance but not much else.

“This franchise is a car in need of an oil change, new tires and brakes, yet it continues to sputter down the road, passing mechanic after mechanic with a wave saying, "No thanks, we're good!"

A plan—any plan—would be nice,” Swartz emphasized.

Came back home with a win!@Plus500 | #SeeRed pic.twitter.com/wFeV96dtVp

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) February 26, 2024

Chicago Bulls shore up roster with the addition of Andrew Funk, conversion of Onuralp Bitim's contract