As trade deadline approaches, Bulls need to change styles

Here's one way to put an optimistic spin on the Bulls' inevitable fourth-straight trip to the play-in tournament.

There's a difference between being in play-in purgatory when Zach LaVine and DeMar DeRozan were the team's best players, and reaching the play-in led by Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis.

The team led by DeRozan and LaVine had reached its ceiling, while this is a younger squad with room to grow. Now the Bulls just need to make some smart moves, which has been a problem for the past decade or so.

When assessing the state of the Bulls ahead of Thursday's NBA trade deadline, a couple things are obvious:

1. Nothing that happens ahead of the deadline is going to turn the Bulls into instant contenders. If they can swap a guard for a big man, they should do it. Giving away Coby White or Ayo Dosunmu won't help the cause.

2. The Bulls need to change their approach. A fast-paced, analytical offense worked well when the Bulls had all their players, but that style takes too much of a toll.

Physicality is back in fashion in the NBA. The Bulls should prioritize getting bigger and burlier, making sure Buzelis plays on the wing, not as a power forward.

Credit the Detroit Pistons for setting the tone, a storyline that’s familiar to longtime Bulls fans. Currently leading the Eastern Conference, the Pistons are a tough matchup thanks to big men like Jalen Duren, Ausar Thompson and Isaiah Stewart.

In the West, Oklahoma City isn't as physical as Detroit, but plays the best defense in the NBA by a wide margin. Minnesota, Phoenix and Houston are also doing well with a bruising style.

The Bulls have shown a few times how playing at a fast pace can be a good way to counter physical opponents. Remember, they beat the Pistons on opening night.

The problem is the injuries. This Bulls group has proven it's not durable enough to try to exhaust other teams. They certainly don't have it in them to match physicality.

Since the all-star break last season, the Bulls have been reasonably successful, with a 40-35 record. Only one player has survived to play in all 75 of those games, and that’s Buzelis, one of the youngest players on the team.

White, Giddey and Tre Jones appeared in 53 of the 75 games, which adds up to 70.7%. Dosunmu has suited up for 58.7%, though he's been more durable this season after having shoulder surgery last year. Zach Collins has played well since joining the Bulls in the LaVine trade, but has played in less than half of those 75 contests.

It should be obvious by now that playing fast won't work for the Bulls because it's not sustainable. The Pistons found their leader in Cade Cunningham through a draft lottery victory in 2021. Giddey's a similar player, a tall point guard who can fill the stat sheet.

The 6-7 Giddey at point guard, 6-9 Buzelis at small forward, a shooter at the two, and some physical, rim protectors playing inside — that's the formula for a successful Bulls team. White or Dosunmu could work at the two, though White's hit a wall in his improvement this season while struggling with a calf strain.

Defensive-minded big men are in high demand, so building this dream team won't be easy. Jalen Smith is under contract beyond this year, and Collins could be helpful if he could ever stay healthy. There won't be much on the free-agent market this summer, so the Bulls need to look mostly in the draft, while exploring all trade avenues.

Tanking isn't necessary, but the Bulls can help their cause by avoiding the actual playoffs. Losing play-in games at least keeps them in the draft lottery.

It's possible the Bulls could essentially have three first-round draft picks this summer. They'll have their own for sure, they'll get Portland's first-round pick (from the Lauri Markkanen trade) if the Blazers make the real playoffs, and they'll get 2025 first-rounder Noa Essengue back after a shoulder injury for a replay of his rookie year.

So, there's reasons for optimism here. The management team of Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley needs to be flawless, though, which could be a big ask.