In order to completely understand the moves a team makes the timeline of events must be listed as well.

Pre Draft

• Bulls waive Terry Taylor's non guaranteed contract saving them 2.2 million this year

Draft

• Pick 11 the Bulls select Tidjane Salaun

  • Explanation: The Bulls take the highest upside guy on their board. The 18 year old has the size and shooting to make an impact in the league but with more development could be a core piece in a few years

Free Agency

• As a part of a much larger trade the Bulls end up receiving Brandon Ingram from the Pelicans in exchange for Zach Lavine and the Blazers 2025 FRP. Ingram is extended immediately to a max 5 year extension.

• DeMar DeRozan resigns with the Bulls for a 3 year 81 million dollar deal with a PO on the final year and a no trade clause.

• Patrick Williams and the Blazers get the Bulls to agree to a deal sending him to Portland in exchange for Robert Williams

• Bulls agree to trade Alex Caruso to the Lakers in exchange for Jared Vanderbilt and a future SRP

While many expected the Bulls to remain stagnant they pull off a few big moves and completely transform the team. They now have more size and length on the wing and clear depth in the front court while staying out of the luxury tax (their key goal).

Non Decisions

• Extending Lonzo Ball is technically an option but there is no way they offer anything more than the minimum without seeing him on the court again.

Start of Season

Starting lineup:

• Coby White

• Brandon Ingram

• DeMar DeRozan

• Jared Vanderbilt

• Nikola Vucevic

Off the bench they have plenty of options starting with Ayo, Lonzo and Jevon Carter. Carter is forced to take a back seat once again though as they favor letting Lonzo try to regain his form. On the wing they have Torrey Craig, Dalen Terry, and rookie Tidjane Salaun who could all fill in. Timelord cleans up the defense on the backend which could lead to one of the best defensive benches in the league.

During the season

• The team struggles to find its footing early with the lack of spacing but after moving Vanderbilt to the bench in exchange for Ayo the team starts catching up in the standings. There are serious questions about Timelord starting by midseason to help make up for the defensive play from DeRozan and Ingram. After that switch is made the team goes from essentially a 500 team to a 60% winner. It also gives the bench an offensive force to lean on. Lonzo is looked at as a trade piece by midseason rather than a piece to help them in the future. Carter and Bitim both step up on the bench allowing for a productive bench unit around Vucevic.