Chicago Bulls Mark Significant Improvement After Player Trade

By: Anthony Tirado and Brandon Gonzalez and Jacob Castillo

The Chicago Bulls 2024-25 season resulted in a 39-43 record, with 15 of those wins coming in the final 20 games led by stellar play from Coby White and Josh Giddey. 

The season came to an end at the United Center in a 109-90 loss to the Miami Heat in the Play-In Tournament. Prior to the season-altering change with Zach LaVine going to the Sacramento Kings, the Bulls were hovering around play-in contention for the second consecutive season.

Second-year student Brian Gonzalez said the Bulls are “playing with a different energy” following LaVine’s departure.

The All-Star break marked an important time in this year’s Bulls season as they traded away their star guard, Zach LaVine, who played for the Windy City for eight memorable seasons. Once news broke on February 2, fans were split. Some were relieved LaVine was off the Bulls’ books, others believed he was our only chance at current and future success. 

After seeing the recent production from the Bulls on the court, first-year computer science major Steven Allam explained, “This is what happens when the ball starts moving, no one is standing watching ‘iso-ball’ from Zach.”

Following the Play-In loss, Allam said, “Now we’re back to Earth.” Jokingly referring to the Bulls surge to end the season was just a favorable stretch of games, nothing more.

During a hot month in March, combo guard Coby White earned two consecutive Player of the Week awards and the Player of the Month award. Point guard Josh Giddey’s production has taken off as well, with rookie Matas Buzelis and recent trade acquisitions chipping in every game.

Bulls fans are excited for next year's season. Second year business major Endy Jimenez said “I'm excited to see the younger guys play. I hope the bulls give Matas Buzelis and John Giddey a star rolerole.” Buzelis and Giddey excelled bulls fan expectations shutting down the Lakers in a heated battle to stay in the playoff hunt.   

Shortly after LaVine was traded to the Sacramento Kings to rejoin forces with DeMar DeRozan, the Bulls' ball-movement and shot-making started hitting their stride. With notable wins over the Denver Nuggets, Indiana Pacers, and a half-court heave to beat the Lakers a win the season series, letting go of LaVine may have been a move the front office should have made seasons ago.

The Kings season would later end in the same fate as the bulls falling short to the Mavericks 120-106 in the NBA play-in game. With DeRozan dropping 33 points, two assists and seven rebounds. Along with former Bulls player Zach LaVine dropping 20 points, nine assists and three rebounds.  

Amir Memic, a 3rd year at Wilbur Wright, hopes to see the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Oklahoma Thunders in the finals. They have been a top seed team in each of their conferences.

Memic believes the Golden State Warriors are going to be the most underrated threat to make the finals this year. They started with a low level from the beginning of the season until the end of the season they started increasing their level when they got Jimmy Butler.

The matchup Memic would like to see in the finals are “Lakers and Bucks because they're both interesting teams to watch”. 

The superstars throughout these playoffs are Julius Randle and Anthony Edwards from the Timberwolves. They are dark horse players that are going to shine in the playoffs from high level energy and rush in the play and are strong.

Illustration by Reanna Sturgill