2024-25 NBA season preview

Central Division

CHICAGO BULLS

Last season, tried the same ineffective thing over and over and expected it to run differently every time. Of course, us few remaining Chicago Bulls fans respond with the same treatment, year after year, just hoping to hear John Deacon and ‘Another One Bites the Dust’ as the Bulls walk the wrong way off the court after another home win. But they stopped playing that song last season, not because the Bulls never won at home, but because the Bulls organization thought it had a better idea.
Coach: Billy Donovan

C: Nikola Vucevic — a 34-year old tied for Bulls lead in exhibition shot attempts because nobody rebuilds like the Bulls. Vuc makes over $21.4 million next season. This campaign (as it is with his All-Star teammate’s 2024-25) is essentially one long bid not to have to attach a first-round pick to get someone to take Vuc’s contract, and Vuc’s usage expectations. What’s also important, and I’m not trying to pick on these kids, is that Franz Wagner and Jett Howard continue to miss three-point attempts at unexpected rates.
PF: Patrick Williams — worked four utterly inert exhibition games but his foot didn’t re-explode, so, $90 million sounds about right. Thank goodness the Bulls let loose Lauri Markkanen before he, too, became too depressed to continue.
F/G: Josh Giddey — I’m glad the Bulls didn’t trade for someone I like to act as the complete and total representation of the club’s disdain for its fandom. It would be a drag to dump that sort of condition on a player I enjoy, in many ways it is good the club brought in Josh Giddey, who probably calls it “X,” as the focus of my frustration. Eddie Robinson? I liked him! He was great in Charlotte. It was sickening, watching Eddie’s career go to mush in Chicago. Josh Giddey? I’m fine with it. I’m ready for a lot of missed shots. Giddey managed 31.7 percent from the floor in the exhibition season and the Bulls ran all preseason, he doesn’t get better in the half-court.
G/F: Zach LaVine — between Zach calling out for fouls and all the noises Carlos Boozer used to make, it has been a banner century for microphones along the Chicago Bulls sideline. LaVine means well but he has to slow everyone else down while he does it. And the Bulls still sometimes play ‘Another One Bites the Dust’ after home wins, just not all the time.
G: Coby White — if he isn’t one of your favorite players, ever, take two acetaminophen and a hit of whatever I pass you and catch on. Coby, I don’t think, stopped playing basketball after Chicago’s Play-In loss in the Play-In. He’s just been playing basketball, this whole time.