With the 2024-25 season fast approaching, now should be the perfect time to check out the Chicago Bulls roster. Let’s dive into three Bulls players who don’t fit with the team and might be holding them back.
3 Bulls Players Who Don’t Fit With the Team
Overview of the Offseason Challenges
During the offseason, the Bulls did little to establish a defined identity for their team, leaving many fans with more queries than answers. The team will, of course, work with this roster, but expectations aren’t high. The Bulls didn’t commit to a full rebuild and are still stuck in NBA purgatory. The Bulls do have some young players and training camp invitees who could serve as developmental projects. However, there are also a few players on the roster whose presence seems redundant, a situation the Bulls contributed to through questionable trades and signings.
Lonzo Ball
Basketball fans should be rooting for Lonzo Ball. He has faced numerous injuries but is an exciting player when healthy, and many hope to see him return and continue his career. However, even if he comes back strong, he likely won’t benefit the Bulls much as they are loaded with guards. His $20 million expiring contract will be tough to move, as no NBA team has the cap space to take it on without sending back salary. The best-case scenario for a trade might be a second-round pick, contingent on him being healthy at the deadline—a risky assumption given his injury history.
There’s a possibility that Lonzo could perform well enough to earn a team-friendly deal in the offseason, but why would he? As an unrestricted free agent, he would have options beyond the Bulls, especially if he seeks a better deal.
Jevon Carter
Jevon Carter is quietly one of the worst contracts the Bulls have handed out recently. A three-year deal seemed excessive at the time, especially with a player option included. Although Carter initially showed promise as a backup point guard capable of making three-pointers and providing some defense, his performance plummeted last season, hitting only 32 percent of his long-range shots.
With salaries of $6.5 million and $6.8 million over the next two years, it’s a hefty price for a player who averaged just 14 minutes per game last season—and might see even less time next year, particularly if Lonzo Ball is healthy. It’s hard to envision Carter fitting into the rotation to start the season, especially given the Bulls’ depth at guard.
Chris Duarte
Chris Duarte was part of the ill-fated sign-and-trade that sent DeMar DeRozan to Sacramento, where the Bulls ended up with the least favorable outcome despite having the most valuable asset. Had they acquired a promising young player or a first-round draft pick, the trade might not have looked so bad. Instead, they ended up with the 27-year-old Duarte, who has seen a decline in performance each year in the league.
He has struggled, shooting below 40 percent in the last two seasons and averaging just 34 percent from three-point range. Shooting was his main selling point upon entering the NBA. With only 160 games under his belt in three years and decreasing minutes and stats, making the rotation will be a challenge, especially with more established players ahead of him.
Duarte isn’t likely to become a trade asset by the deadline. Unless he improves his shooting and stays healthy, his contributions will be minimal. Currently on a $5.8 million contract, with a team option after this season, he might just spend the season on the bench, which isn’t a bad gig. If the Bulls decide to make a trade, his contract could have some utility; otherwise, his place on the roster seems like a waste.
Implications and Future Prospects
In total, the Bulls have over $12 million tied up in two players who aren’t likely to contribute significantly to either production or trade value. With their recent acquisition of Josh Giddey as the point guard for the future, it’s hard to see why any guard would choose to join a rebuilding Bulls team. If Ball performs well this season, it could complicate the Bulls’ draft plans as their pick is top-10 protected this year. Ball may ultimately leave for nothing in free agency. The situation with Lonzo Ball presents few avenues for success for the Bulls.
