Chicago Bulls graded a C+ at the halfway point of the season

The Bulls have a long way to go to get a better grade.

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After struggling to get out of the mud in the early part of the season, the Chicago Bulls have finally started to find their footing. Now, at the halfway point, it's clear that this team still has some work to do to make the NBA Playoffs.

Now in ninth in the Eastern Conference with a 19-22 record, the Bulls are five games out of an outright spot in the postseason and in dire need of clarity heading to the trade deadline on February 8. Because of this, Bleacher Report handed Chicago a grade of C+ at the halfway mark of their 2023-2024 campaign.

Emergence of Coby White

A big reason for the Bulls’ turnaround from a woeful 5-14 start to a 14-8 turnaround in the last month and a half is the remarkable rise to prominence of point guard Coby White. 

After Zach LaVine entered the injured list in December due to a sore foot, the former Tar Heel grabbed the reins and led the Bulls’ ascendance up the Eastern Conference ladder. White has generated some All-Star and Most Improved Player buzz with averages of 22.7 points, 5.8 assists, and 5.8 rebounds in his last 22 games.

“The Chicago Bulls being right around expectations is enough to put them in the C range, but they get a little boost for turning a little more responsibility over to 23-year-old Coby White (even if that may have been forced, in part, by Zach LaVine's injury),” Andy Bailey wrote.

Tween, spin, glass.@NBCSChicago | @CobyWhite pic.twitter.com/w0WB0e2TE9

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 16, 2024

Next moves

With the trade deadline approaching, Bailey is pushing for the Bulls to finally hit the reset button on their current roster and start building around their young, rising star.

“After years of mediocrity, it looks like the Bulls have at least one potential star on the roster. Now, even with this recent run of more competitive play, Chicago needs to trade DeMar DeRozan, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vučević and let White go wild for the rest of this season to move the grade up again before the next quarter ends,” Bailey continued.

Coby with the fancy finish.@NBCSChicago | @CobyWhite pic.twitter.com/Yd3idUJVCY

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 14, 2024

Coby White's work on the defensive end impresses Billy Donovan the most