With a highly productive offseason behind them, the Chicago Bulls have now put together a well-balanced roster that they hope will get them back into the playoff picture next season. After an active 2021 NBA Free Agency and successful draft night, the Bulls are looking to make a big splash next season and make some noise in a deep and talented Eastern Conference.
Now that they've made major changes to their roster with the additions of Lonzo Ball, DeMar DeRozan, Alex Caruso, Tony Bradley, and Ayo Dosunmu, the Bulls are looking poised and prepared to make a surprise playoff run next season and build this young team into a contender. Having said all that, let's checkout the overall grades for the Chicago Bulls' 2021 NBA offseason.
Draft Grade: A
Despite only holding the 38th pick in this year's NBA Draft, the Bulls definitely made the most of it by selecting University of Illinois combo guard and Chicago native Ayo Dosunmu. With Coby White expected to miss a big portion of the 2021-22 season with a torn labrum, this gives the Bulls another electric guard in their second unit behind Alex Caruso.
Between Lonzo Ball, Caruso, and Dosunmu, the Bulls now have a deep and highly talented guard rotation that will give Zach LaVine a ton of relief on offense while providing them with stellar perimeter defense all year long. At just 21 years of age, Dosunmu also gives the Bulls a promising young player that they can develop into an All-Star caliber combo guard. Selecting Ayo Dosunmu was a great move for the Bulls and will prove to be a steal during the 2021-22 NBA season while adding depth to their backcourt.
Free Agency Grade: B+
Right from the get-go the Bulls went all-out during free agency in the hopes of being able to surround their superstar duo of Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic with more talent, and on that front they succeeded. The signings of Lonzo Ball, DeMar DeRozan, Alex Caruso, and Tony Bradley all were great moves that have transformed the Bulls into a legit playoff contender heading into next season.
The one area they did fall short in was getting a veteran wing that could complete their second unit and give them a deeper rotation. Danny Green seemed like the perfect target and would've made for a great fit. Granted free agency isn't over and there are veteran forwards like Paul Millsap who are still available. This is a move that could give the Bulls a complete roster and a perfect offseason.
Currently boasting a starting five of LaVine, Ball, DeRozan, Vucevic, and Patrick Williams, this gives the Bulls a promising starting lineup that can get them back into the thick of the evolving and competitive Eastern Conference. Having made all these strong acquisitions already, they may only be a veteran forward away from making a surprise playoff run next season.
Overall Grade: A-
The Bulls have without question had an active offseason and positioned themselves as legit playoff threat next season. After being injury plagued for the second half of last season, the Bulls missed out on the play-in tournament. Heading into the 2021-22 NBA season, Chicago has a chance to be a top six team in the Eastern Conference and would definitely be a tough out for whoever they end up facing in the first round.
Now possessing a perfectly balanced roster, the Bulls will look to make some serious strides next season while fighting to get back into the playoff mix. Under the guidance of head coach Billy Donovan this young squad could really thrive and develop into a dynamic two-way team that has the ability go toe-to-toe with the best teams in the league. With all this said, the Bulls have made a ton of progress and are looking rejuvenated after making a series of smart and strategic moves during the 2021 NBA offseason.
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