{"id":121872,"date":"2025-02-04T07:40:55","date_gmt":"2025-02-04T12:40:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=121872"},"modified":"2025-02-04T07:40:55","modified_gmt":"2025-02-04T12:40:55","slug":"time-for-the-fbi-to-investigate-the-chicago-bulls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/02\/04\/time-for-the-fbi-to-investigate-the-chicago-bulls\/","title":{"rendered":"Time For The FBI To Investigate The Chicago Bulls"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.fbi.gov\/\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Federal Bureau of Investigation<\/a> (FBI) exists to investigate crimes and enforce federal laws. The FBI doesn\u2019t investigate NBA teams for malpractice, but maybe they should start with the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/01\/28\/top-trade-candidate-bradley-beal-not-interested-chicago-bulls\/\" target=\"_self\">Chicago Bulls<\/a>. The Bulls\u2019 front office has made decisions that baffle fans, analysts, and even casual observers. Their recent trades suggest either incompetence or a blatant disregard for building a competitive team.<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Time For The FBI To Investigate The Chicago Bulls<\/strong><\/h2>\n<h3><strong>A Trade Deadline Disaster<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>Another blockbuster trade shook the NBA world on Sunday night. This time, it involved the Bulls, <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/01\/11\/early-promising-signs-from-devin-carter-justify-kings-stance\/\" target=\"_self\">Sacramento Kings<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/11\/25\/spurs-additions-paul-castle-barnes\/\" target=\"_self\">San Antonio Spurs<\/a>. The main pieces in the deal? <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/f\/foxde01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">De\u2019Aaron Fox<\/a> landed in San Antonio, while <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/l\/lavinza01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Zach LaVine<\/a> was shipped to Sacramento for a reunion with <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/derozde01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">DeMar DeRozan<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s the full breakdown of the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/02\/03\/nba-trade-grades-wemby-gets-star-running-mate-while-kings-get-another-scorer\/\" target=\"_self\">trade<\/a>, per <em>ESPN\u2019s<\/em> Shams Charania:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Spurs receive<\/strong>: De\u2019Aaron Fox<a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/m\/mclaujo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">, Jordan McLaughlin<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Kings receive<\/strong>: Zach LaVine, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/c\/cissosi01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Sidy Cissoko<\/a>, three first-round picks (2025 CHA, 2027 SAS, 2031 MIN), three second-round picks (2025 CHI, 2028 DEN, 2028 own back)<\/li>\n<li><strong>Bulls receive<\/strong>: <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/c\/colliza01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Zach Collins,<\/a> <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/j\/jonestr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Tre Jones<\/a>, <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/h\/huertke01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Kevin Huerter<\/a>, their own 2025 pick via SAS<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The return for LaVine? Horrible<strong>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Chicago gave up a player averaging 24 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game. In exchange, they got role players and a pick they already had rights to<strong>.<\/strong> The 2025 first-round pick was top-10 protected. If the Bulls finished in the bottom 10, they would\u2019ve kept it anyway. Essentially, they removed protections from a pick they already controlled.<\/p>\n<p>Art\u016bras Karni\u0161ovas, the Bulls&#8217; executive vice president, continues to showcase poor negotiation skills. He turned an All-Star-caliber player into minimal assets. Bulls fans deserved better.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>A Legacy of Poor<\/strong> Decisions<\/h3>\n<p>This isn\u2019t the first time Karni\u0161ovas has mismanaged the roster. Earlier, he traded <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/c\/carusal01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Alex Caruso<\/a>\u2014one of the league\u2019s best defenders\u2014to Oklahoma City for <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/g\/giddejo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Josh Giddey<\/a>. He also sent DeRozan to Sacramento for <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/d\/duartch01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Chris Duarte<\/a> and two second-round picks.<\/p>\n<p>These trades scream poor asset management. The Bulls held onto their core for years, only to dismantle it without maximizing returns.<\/p>\n<p>Chicago\u2019s 2021-22 team won 46 games before <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/b\/balllo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Lonzo Ball<\/a> suffered a career-altering injury. That team finally ended five straight losing seasons and secured a playoff berth for the first time since 2017. Yet, the front office failed to capitalize on their momentum.<\/p>\n<p>Now, the only players left from that core (that were acquired via trade) are <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/01\/29\/resurgent-lonzo-ball-could-ease-pistons-dependency-on-cunningham\/\" target=\"_self\">Lonzo<\/a> and <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.basketball-reference.com\/players\/v\/vucevni01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Nikola Vucevic<\/a>. Vucevic, a <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/01\/13\/lakers-warriors-nikola-vucevic-trade\/\" target=\"_self\">trade target<\/a> for contenders, might fetch one or two first-round picks at best. Lonzo, on the other hand, carries a <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.spotrac.com\/nba\/player\/_\/id\/23597\/lonzo-ball\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">$21.39 million<\/a> cap hit and with the constraints of the CBA, will likely be bought out or let go in free agency.<\/p>\n<p>This means Chicago could enter a rebuild with zero additional first-round picks from trading away LaVine, DeRozan, and Caruso. That\u2019s an inexcusable failure in a league where draft picks are currency.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Uninspiring Acquisitions<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The Bulls\u2019 return in these trades does not inspire confidence.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Zach Collins<\/strong> has struggled to stay healthy and contribute meaningfully.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Chris Duarte<\/strong> was waived Just hours ago.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Tre Jones<\/strong> is a solid backup but not a starting-caliber point guard for a playoff team.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Kevin Huerter<\/strong>, normally a good shooter, has regressed to 30% from three on 4.8 attempts per game this season.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Giddey is only 22, but his future with the Bulls is uncertain. The team and Giddey failed to sign a <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/02\/03\/josh-giddey-contract\/\" target=\"_self\">contract extension<\/a> and will enter restricted free agency this offseason. <a  href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/amp\/s\/syndication.bleacherreport.com\/amp\/10140576-bulls-rumors-josh-giddey-didnt-have-meaningful-contract-talks-before-deadline.amp.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Reports<\/a> suggest he wants $30 million per year, but his performance in Chicago has been inconsistent. The Bulls seem interested in keeping him, but they lost Caruso\u2014a two-time All-Defensive selection\u2014to acquire him. That gamble has to pay off.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>A Franchise Stuck in Neutral<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>The Chicago Bulls play in the third-largest market in the NBA. They won six championships in the 1990s and still have a massive fanbase. Yet, they have paid the luxury tax only once in franchise history.<\/p>\n<p>For years, the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2025\/01\/19\/does-bulls-desire-trade-patrick-williams-make-sense\/\" target=\"_self\">Bulls<\/a> have prioritized profit over competitiveness. They spend just enough to reach the playoffs, with little concern for actually winning once they get there. The last decade has been filled with mediocrity, risk-averse decisions, and financial conservatism.<\/p>\n<p>Bulls fans deserve a franchise that values winning. Instead, they get inertia and incompetence. At this point, maybe the FBI should step in and save the Bulls fans from their front office and ownership.<\/p>\n<p><em><label>Credit: <\/label>\u00a9 Matt Marton-Imagn Images<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) exists to investigate crimes and enforce federal laws. The FBI doesn\u2019t investigate NBA teams for malpractice, but maybe they should start with the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls\u2019 front office has made decisions that baffle fans, analysts, and even casual observers. Their recent trades suggest either incompetence or a blatant [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5018,"featured_media":121880,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[62,1608,8],"tags":[2037,4268,664,350,4068,49926,4276,1600,667,2113,4975,98,1382,474,1823,970,457],"class_list":["post-121872","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nba","category-basketball","category-bulls","tag-alex-caruso","tag-chris-duarte","tag-deaaron-fox","tag-demar-derozan","tag-fbi","tag-front-office","tag-josh-giddey","tag-kevin-huerter","tag-lonzo-ball","tag-nba-contract-extension","tag-nba-contracts","tag-nba-draft","tag-nba-trade","tag-nikola-vucevic","tag-tre-jones","tag-zach-collins","tag-zach-lavine"],"modified_by":"Frederick Okocha","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121872","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5018"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=121872"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121872\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":121881,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/121872\/revisions\/121881"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/121880"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=121872"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=121872"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=121872"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}