Bulls need to explode it considerably more. But, can they?

It’s not exactly shaping up to be a banner year for the Chicago Bulls. Quite the opposite.

The Bulls lost DeMar DeRozan to the Sacramento Kings. They traded Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder (for Josh Giddey). They still have Zach LaVine on the roster, and the entire hoops-loving universe knows that both LaVine and the Bulls are wildly seeking a split.

Lavine has a massive contract that is capped by a player option of nearly $49 million in 2026-27. In the new era of the second tax apron, teams just don’t want to take on that deal, and those who can aren’t so sure it’d be a great idea.

There is also talk the Bulls have explored trading Nikola Vucevic. But again, the market is pretty dry.

Interestingly, this season is expected to mark the return of guard Lonzo Ball after about two years away with a mysterious knee injury. How impactful Ball will be … well, that’s anyone’s guess.

Looking at the roster today, we see a starting lineup that likely consists of Giddey and up-and-comer Coby White in the backcourt, LaVine sliding to small forward next to power forward Patrick Williams, and Vucevic at center.

If everyone is happy and healthy under coach Billy Donovan, that’s not a terrible way to go. With the likes of Ball, Ayo Dosunmu, newcomer Jalen Smith and rookie Matas Buzelis in reserve, the Bulls actually have the look of a potential playoff team.

But it just feels like a lot would have to go really, really well.

That hasn’t been the case in the LaVine era, and again, neither side wants to continue on. Unfortunately, no changes appear to be on the way. What you see today is likely what you will get with the Bulls this season — at least at the start.

Basically, this is a team that needs more changes, but it appears very much as if it is helpless to make any.