Why Bulls' core wants management to keep team together originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Run the core back.
That’s what the most prominent Chicago Bulls want. And more importantly, it’s what those players believe management will do following their individual player exit meetings on Thursday at the Advocate Center.
Continuity stood out as a central theme to Artūras Karnišovas’ remarks following his decision to stand pat at the February trade deadline. The Bulls executive vice president is scheduled to address reporters on Friday.
Until then, Nikola Vučević pointed to the Bulls, in the rare moments they were closer to whole, possessing both the talent and makeup needed to become a conference contender. Until injuries forced lengthy absences from Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso and limited Zach LaVine, the Bulls led the East for weeks.
“You look at the talent we have and there’s a lot of good players and a lot of players who have had success throughout their career,” Vučević said. “You see the group of guys we have, there are a lot of guys who are willing to sacrifice to win, guys that get along now.
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“I think we do have the talent to match up with the teams in the East. I don’t see any reason or anything that has happened for us to panic and take the group apart.”
The flip side of this argument is that the Bulls managed just a 1-14 against the Heat, Bucks, 76ers and Celtics this season and then got dismantled by the Bucks in five games in the playoffs. Caruso and LaVine missed Game 5.
“I think almost all the great teams, they’re built over time. Nothing happens overnight or over a year. You need to have that continuity. You need to give teams a chance to go through the ups and downs of seasons and playoffs, tough moments, good moments,” Vučević said. “Getting to build that chemistry doesn’t happen just like that. You have to go through the grind of the season and do that to get there. And I think they know that.
“That was the message we talked about in exit meetings. I think the core guys here are really good players and we can work really well together. It’s just about taking that next step forward now.”
This management regime has proved to be aggressive, flipping the entire roster it inherited over save for LaVine and Coby White in just two seasons. Its track record is that it will address needs, with improved outside shooting, bench talent and rim protection standing out as the biggest.
But DeMar DeRozan is under the impression those moves will be made on the margins.
“I got the utmost trust, faith and hope in the front office to do the job,” DeRozan said. “Just like we are competitors, they are as well, for the right reasons. That’s all you can ask for.”
DeRozan joined the chorus of Bulls advocating for continuity among the core.
“That’s where it starts,” he said. “All the great teams that played for something, that played deep, that competed for championships, that continuity has to be there, first and foremost.”
So did Ball.
“I would love to run it back,” he said. “I was unhealthy this year. Caruso went down. Pat was pretty much out all the way until the playoffs. Everyone knows Zach was playing hurt pretty much this whole year. If everybody can get healthy and come back, I don’t see why we couldn’t run it back.
“Early on, you could kind of see the potential we had. I don’t think we ever got to reach that full potential because of COVID and injuries. Hopefully this summer does well for everyone and we can regroup and come back stronger.”
Caruso won a title with the Lakers and saw firsthand what keeping a core intact can do.
“Ultimately, championship teams are tight. Championship teams are connected,” he said. “And you build that connection playing games together throughout the regular season.
“I don’t know if we got to see our full potential having as many guys miss as many games. Lonzo wasn’t able to play in the playoffs. Just big pieces that hurt the symmetry and ability to build habits throughout the season. I think we’re a really good team that has a chance to be really special.”
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