The Chicago Bulls made tremendous progress last year after acquiring DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball, and Alex Caruso in the offseason. With Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic on the court already, Chicago was expected to be very strong in the East. Unfortunately, injuries to Lonzo Ball and roster inconsistencies meant the Bulls were a first-round exit last year and are currently 31-37 in the Eastern Conference this season. To make matters worse, Lonzo Ball is expected to miss most of the 2023-24 season after undergoing his third surgery on his left knee. In one of the saddest situations we have seen, Ball simply cannot stay healthy and show what he can do. As things stand roster-wise and based on the evidence of how far the DeRozan and LaVine duo can go, this team needs a complete rebuild.
Interestingly, their two stars are performing on the stat sheet this year. DeMar is averaging 25.1 PPG and once again made the All-Star Team, while LaVine is averaging 24.9 PPG. But there could be some major changes because DeRozan is not capable of being the best player on a championship team, and LaVine is somewhat untouchable as he is only 28 years old and has at least five more seasons in his prime. The Bulls were supposed to be major sellers before this trading deadline, but they held onto DeRozan, Nikola Vucevic, and other assets instead of moving on from them.
No doubt, the Bulls failed the trade deadline. Chicago should have brought in fresh talent if they want to compete (since they don’t want to blow it up). Luckily, the franchise has time to correct its wrongs by engaging in a massive roster overhaul this summer. The best way to do this is acquiring former Chicago Bulls stars to not only give fans a chance to reminisce but actually make the team formidable on both ends of the court. Do the names Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler ring a bell?
Foreshadowing aside, the Chicago Bulls need to make changes and their best chance to become formidable in the East without losing franchise star Zach LaVine is acquiring three new starters to bolster the team for good. Here is how the Chicago Bulls can create the ultimate ‘Reunion’ Superteam to bring a feel-good factor to Bulls fans and actually compete in the Eastern Conference next year.
Sign Derrick Rose This Summer
Derrick Rose needs to be a Chicago Bull and retire a Chicago Bull. The former superstar point guard exploded onto the scene in his rookie season, winning Rookie of the Year by averaging 16.8 PPG and 6.3 APG. A year later, Rose made his first All-Star Team by posting 20.8 PPG and 6.0 APG over 78 games. In his third season, Rose became the youngest MVP award winner ever at only 22 years old.
Rose was spectacular in the 2010-11 season, posting 25.0 PPG and 7.7 APG while leading the Chicago Bulls to a 62-20 record in the Eastern Conference, which was the first seed. Unfortunately, the following season, Rose suffered an ACL injury that effectively ended the superstar player’s prime. Rose tried to come back in the 2014 season, but a meniscus injury killed that chance, and the point guard was never able to recover his superstar form. It is a shame that the youngest MVP ever couldn’t recover, and he has bounced around the league after leaving the Bulls in the 2016 season. At age 34, Derrick Rose is past his prime but can still be a capable floor general and start for the Bulls if he has star players around him.
The first step to a Reunion Superteam is to acquire Derrick Rose in the summer since the point guard is a free agent if the New York Knicks do not pick up the player’s team option. Considering that Rose has only appeared in 27 games at 12.5 MPG this season, that chance is unlikely. The Chicago Bulls should bring back Rose for a chance to have the player retire in the uniform that belongs to him. Rose might find his best form again by being in Chicago and turning back the clock just a few years because he has some reinforcements coming.
A Smart Trade For Deandre Ayton
Trade Package: Nikola Vucevic, Alex Caruso, 2028 First-Round Pick for Deandre Ayton
Deandre Ayton is a very good center, even if he is constantly criticized for his motor that wavers up and down. The big man is a capable scorer inside and can also crash the boards at an elite level when he is in the zone. So far this season, Ayton is putting up 18.4 PPG and 10.2 RPG for the Phoenix Suns. His team is performing inconsistently this season, although they are in clear contending mode as they try to win it all thanks to the acquisition of 4-time scoring champion Kevin Durant. Even if the Suns win it all this season (albeit unlikely with Durant injured), Ayton could be out the door.
Deandre Ayton is clearly not too keen on Phoenix since his issues with head coach Monty Williams are well-documented. Remember, Ayton signed a contract with the Indiana Pacers in the preseason, but the Suns matched after failing to negotiate with the center all season last year. Ayton got his money, but there might be some burned bridges in Phoenix. Would a move to Chicago be exciting for the young center? Absolutely because he can be the go-to big man for an iconic franchise.
With Chicago, Ayton can replace Vucevic in the lineup currently and also be a long-term partner for Rose and LaVine who will own the perimeter. Ayton is 6’11” and is perfectly suited to play at the long-term center position, especially with his rebounding and scoring ability. Perhaps Nikola Vucevic can be a better partner for Chris Paul in Phoenix because he is more offensively inclined than Ayton and can space the floor from three. Meanwhile, Ayton can control the middle and be given free rein since Patrick Williams would be the starting forward alongside him.
The trade that will get Ayton to Chicago will involve Vucevic heading to Phoenix along with defensive stopper Alex Caruso and the 2028 first-round pick. The Bulls will hate to lose two starting-caliber players who are key rotation pieces, but acquiring Ayton would be a genius move by Bulls management. As good as Vucevic is, he is 32 years old (8 years older than Ayton) and is not the best defender. The Bulls need a go-to center who will be given control of the paint, and both the Bulls and Ayton would be happy with a trade.
The Bulls Land Jimmy Butler In A Huge Trade
Trade Package: DeMar DeRozan, Coby White, 2026 First-Round Pick for Jimmy Butler
The biggest blockbuster deal for the Chicago Bulls is bringing Jimmy Butler on board for a package involving DeMar DeRozan, Coby White, and the 2026 first-round pick. The team already features Derrick Rose and Zach LaVine in the backcourt, and Jimmy Butler would take this team over the top. There are very few two-way wings who can score and defend better than Butler, and the player is simply an excellent leader. Luckily for Chicago, Butler leaving Miami could be a very real possibility.
Remember, Jimmy Butler is a Chicago Bulls star at heart. The 6’7” wing was taken No. 30 overall in the 2011 NBA Draft and averaged only 2.6 PPG in his rookie campaign. Three years later, Butler blossomed into an elite two-way wing by posting 20.0 PPG, 5.8 RPG, and 3.3 APG and making his first All-Star Team. Jimmy would go on to make two more All-Star Teams with Chicago before joining the Minnesota Timberwolves. No doubt, the Bulls gave Butler a chance to work hard and become the star he is today, and both parties should be open to a reunion.
Jimmy Butler s a perfect modern-day wingman due to his versatility as a defender and athlete on the fastbreak. Butler is always a contender for the Most Valuable Player award because of his undeniably great leadership abilities. Butler is averaging 22.6 PPG, 6.1 RPG, and 5.1 APG this year, while he just missed out on his 7th All-Star Team selection. Butler brings a lot to the floor, including defense and scoring ability, and will be a far better partner to Zach LaVine than DeMar DeRozan is.
DeRozan has been an excellent player for the Bulls over the last two seasons, as he made the All-Star Team twice, but he isn’t on Jimmy Butler’s level. Butler would form the best duo possible with LaVine since the latter is more offensively inclined while the former loves competing on defense. They would complement each other perfectly, and Butler would step into the role as the best player on a contending team. As Jimmy proved during the 2020 season and even in the 2022 season when the Heat was one game away from the NBA Finals, he can be the best player on a title contender.
2023-24 Chicago Bulls Reunion
With Jimmy Butler, Deandre Ayton, and Derrick Rose in Chicago, the Bulls would have one of the best starting lineups in the NBA. Their new starting lineup would feature Derrick Rose, Zach LaVine, Jimmy Butler, Patrick Williams, and Deandre Ayton.
Starting Lineup: Derrick Rose, Zach LaVine, Jimmy Butler, Patrick Williams, Deandre Ayton
Rose would be welcomed back with open arms and create an amazing storyline as he aims to see out his career with the franchise that took him No. 1 overall in the 2008 NBA Draft. Rose is only two seasons away from averaging 14.7 PPG and 4.2 APG, so there is no reason that he cannot get to those numbers again next year. Derrick wants to prove he can still compete in the NBA, and he won’t have an issue being the fourth option on a superteam and also tutoring Lonzo Ball if and when he comes back to the court.
Zach LaVine remains a franchise cornerstone, and quite frankly, it would be a shame if the Bulls let him go, although the franchise seems to want LaVine over DeRozan, which is the right move. Zach has made two All-Star Teams in 2021 and 2022 and has averaged at least 23 PPG for five straight seasons. The sharpshooter is a career 38.5% marksman from deep, and that means he can be the go-to scorer on a team that has solid players around him who attract attention. LaVine would be the best shooter in the starting lineup and the second-best competitor on the team behind Jimmy Butler. Speaking of Butler, is there a better complementary duo than these two?
Butler is one of the best defensive players in the world and is averaging 22.6 PPG on 52.6% FG despite letting Tyler Herro and Bam Adebayo control most of the scoring. Jimmy can average 20 PPG in his sleep because of his talents, but most importantly, he is a player that becomes a legitimate superstar as soon as the playoffs come. Butler’s career 18.1 PPG in the regular season boosts to 20.0 PPG in the postseason, and the player put up 27.4 PPG in last year’s postseason. With Jimmy being the clutch performer in the postseason and letting Zach LaVine control the regular season, he would be an invaluable piece on the roster.
In the frontcourt, Patrick Williams and Deandre Ayton form a dynamic duo. Patrick is a solid 6’7” forward who can shoot the three (41.5% 3-PT FG) and defend multiple positions, so he would be a perfect complement to Ayton down low. Ayton is an upgrade over Vucevic in Chicago because he would control the middle and be motivated to make his first All-Star Team. Rose, LaVine, and Butler could create countless scoring opportunities for Ayton down low in the form of lobs, inside passes, or offensive rebounds.
With a new Reunion Superteam, Bulls fans get treated to the feel-good story of Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler while also creating a superteam. The Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks have multiple star players who can create for themselves, so the Chicago Bulls can do the same. The East could be wide open, so this is a chance for the Bulls to make an impact while keeping Zach LaVine on the team.
