What the Chicago Bulls Are:

I’m a Chicago sports fan; Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, Cubs. Those are my teams, it is in my blood. I have been a loser more times than I have been a winner for most of my life and that’s okay. Makes winning helluva a lot sweeter. 

You know what Chicagoans love to do more than anything? Talk about the past, relish in it. It’s great knowing that there were points in time where the city was dominant, in all sports. 

Perhaps that familiar feeling of being winners will return to this great city one day but as of now, it’s time to get real. Patrick Kane is in Detroit, Kyle Schwarber is in Philly, Roquan Smith is in Baltimore and Michael Jordan is not making a return. 

Winning has become a relic of the past, in all sports franchises in Chicago, now, can it be fixed? Well, let’s start with the Bulls.

What a fascinating conundrum the Bulls have found themselves in, once again. Another year of mediocrity, living up to the standards set at the start of the year that were oh-so-mid. I believe the word “purgatory” resonates with Bulls fans the most when discussing this current roster. 

Living on the fine line of being a potentially dangerous team while also being aware that a full blown rebuild is needed. Then, just when you made up your mind that this team is in fact garbage; Demar Derozan drops 47 points in an overtime win against a tough Indiana team. Around and around we go.

I am an optimist by nature, always looking for the good in the bad. Usually, after a win such as the one I described I would be looking at the standings, mapping out the Bulls route to a playoff berth. However, optimism lasts only so long and optimistically, I am no longer. We are looking at at least five years before we will have a team taken seriously. 

The Bulls have very little cap space, good players with little trade value and besides glimpses of Demar Derozan, the roster has no true x-factor. The Bulls lack an identity and having an identity is key. 

In the NBA, identities of teams typically come from the identity of that team's best player(s). Golden State are sharpshooters (Curry & Klay), Lakers are bruisers (Lebron & AD) and the Celtics are a little bit of both (Tatum & Brown). I’d rather have the 11 win Detroit Pistons roster; they at least know what they are. A young, gritty team who are two years out from likely being a true competitor; plus, Cade Cunningham is a good leader. 

Now, what are the Bulls? The problem is, I have no idea. We have been accustomed to mediocrity, and the team doesn't make up for our average play with personality, either. Billy Donovan is always relaxed and even after a blowout loss will say “there’s a lot of good to build on.” 

No heart. Strip it down, build it back up, with new players, coaches, everything.

Oh to think of what the Bulls could have been if Lonzo Ball never got hurt, hard to say but that roster was legit.