Despite losing to bad teams regularly and not having the preferred starting lineup together for most of the year, the Bulls somehow finished the schedule at 50-32. They should have swept the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round of the playoffs, but made it difficult by dropping two games before finally closing them out. Then, the Cavaliers series featured a Derrick Rose buzzer beater to give the Bulls a 2-1 series lead. But a Pau Gasol injury and LeBron James' own buzzer beater one game later proved to be the turning point.
Players need to be critiqued when a season ends, so let's start with Rose, who was nearly derailed again when he retore the meniscus in his left knee. When healthy, he showed flashes of his MVP form, but it just didn't come consistently enough. If the Bulls are still relying on him to turn the clock back to 2011, it better happen for him soon or those who say he's not who we was will only grow in number. The good news for him is he finished the season healthy, so instead of rehabbing, he can concentrate on how he can get the best of where his body will allow him to go for the rest of his career.
While a lot of attention went to Rose, people were most excited about Jimmy Butler, who became an All-Star, won the Most Improved Player Award and was named to the All-Defensive Second Team. How his two-way play blossomed this year showed he's going to be a special player in this league for a long time. The Bulls will do whatever it takes to keep the restricted free agent, even if their cap room is wiped out from it. Sometimes, you have to take a long-term look at the expense of short-term growth.
Unfortunately, re-signing Butler might mean saying goodbye to Mike Dunleavy, an unrestricted free agent. His veteran leadership and knack for hitting a big three when the Bulls needed it will have to come from somewhere else. He's not declining just yet, so his market value will remain decent. If the Bulls weren't faced with the Butler situation, this might have been an easier situation for them.
Gasol resurrected his career by playing in an offensive system that allowed him more opportunities in the post. It translated into an All-Star season and being named to the All-NBA Second Team. With two years left on his contract, his final productive years should be in a Bulls uniform, which will hopefully pay even more dividends than it did this year. Of course, that depends on where the franchise goes (more on that later).
Joakim Noah's best days already seem behind him at age 30. Unless he learns how to play on that bad knee, we'll be seeing a lot more games of him limping up the court and not finishing around the basket. The rebounds and emotional impact will still be there, but his overall productivity needs to return to previous form. Otherwise, his future with the club may not exist as he has one year left on his contract.
Taj Gibson once again set the tone for the bench this year. Slated as a starter this year until Gasol was signed, he went about his business as if nothing had changed because it really hadn't. His solid offense and consistent defense make him valuable for anybody. Most other teams would love to have him start, but that his talent is usually showcased as a sixth man shows how deep the front office has worked to make the roster.
Nikola Mirotic finally came over from Spain and proved he was a rookie in name only. Years of playing in Europe paid off as his terrific presence inside and ability to shoot further out earned him a spot on the All-Rookie First Team. Give him a couple of years and he'll be one of the core members with Gasol out of the picture. He's got the stuff to become an All-Star and will probably have that happen before too long.
Tony Snell struggled for awhile this year to the point where a few wanted him gone. Instead, he proved patience is a virtue when his second half of the year brought out the best of his shooting motion and defense. He was a spark plug at times, but a little more development will make him a far better role player in the future. After all, you want an NBA player who can give you at least 30 minutes of consistent play, not one who's only good for far shorter periods.
After shining a lot while playing in every game in the regular season, Aaron Brooks looked to be the next in line of Bulls point guards in recent years who have given the Bulls an extra kick. Instead, he disappeared completely in the playoffs, giving Rose no help at the position. That will hopefully be enough for the Bulls to bid farewell to this unrestricted free agent. You can't forget your game or you'll find yourself without a team.
Despite receiving heavy minutes from Thibodeau, Kirk Hinrich averaged a career-worst 5.7 points and 2.2 assists per game. He was on the court at times a player past his prime shouldn't have been. His skills have diminished so greatly that it breaks my heart to see him reduced to that. If that player option is picked up for next year, it would be best if he only played garbage minutes or if the Bulls need another man due to injuries.
Nazr Mohammed intends to play next year, but the 37-year-old barely saw time this year and will likely have to look elsewhere if that's his plan. E'Twaun Moore's season highlight was hitting a game-winning shot in a nationally televised game against the Thunder, so he's got potential to shine more. Rookie Doug McDermott was injured early in the season and never worked his way back into the rotation due to questionable defense, so he'll need to work on that if he wants more time in his sophomre season. The other rookie, Cameron Bairstow, made the least impact, meaning he'll have to prove himself in the Summer League and beyond if he wants to stay in the NBA.
Rumors about Thibodeau have varied, but the most prevalent ones are the Bulls letting him go to New Orleans or Orlando in exchange for draft picks. Gar Forman and John Paxson, despite their differences with Thibodeau, recognize his value and would rather wait to see what they can get for him than fire him outright. Otherwise, he likely would have been out the door already. It's partially surprising how they're sick of him and yet, the hammer hasn't come down yet.
In a perfect world, Thibodeau would be staying in Chicago for as long as his contract runs (two more years). He's even expressed a desire to remain in town. Yet for all the emphasis he places on winning every single game, his stubbornness and overall personality have made it difficult for anyone in the organization besides the players to speak out on his behalf. The Bulls aren't going to find a better coach than him, which makes this whole situation more distressing.
If the Bulls must rid themselves of Thibodeau, they better be ready to hire a proven professional like Alvin Gentry and not a professional project like Fred Hoiberg. The Bulls have a bad history of hiring coaches with no NBA experience (Tim Floyd, Vinny Del Negro) and it hasn't been a pretty picture on the court. There's too much talent on the roster to make the players go through that. Even if no championship is expected, you can't force everyone to abide by someone not used to the 82-game grind from a coaching perspective.
With little cap space to work with following the pending Butler deal, there's not a whole lot the Bulls can do to improve what they already have. The young talent is there, but many returning veterans are getting up in age and could be forced to do more than they should. With the Cavaliers expected to improve in the offseason and the Bulls handcuffed, going far in the playoffs appears to be just a pipe dream. That's why this past season will be looked as one of missed opportunity and we might have to wait for the next core group of Bulls before this team seriously contends again.
The time has come for me to put a bow on the 2014-15 season. Next time you hear from me, it will probably have to do with Thibodeau and what he'll do next. Player moves and other offseason news will be analyzed throughout the summer. Until then, keep those horns raised.
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