A lot has changed in the past ten years. In fact, a lot has changed in Chicago in just the last year. Billy Donovan was brought in as head coach. Gar Forman isn’t with the organization anymore, while John Paxson was reassigned. The team even traded for All-Star center Nikola Vucevic just a few months ago.
But that isn’t the end of the story for these Bulls. For Chicago to make it back to the postseason, more changes are going to need to be made.
The players who don’t return may prove to be just as important, however. The Bulls could part ways with a number of players this summer who were initially seen as being big parts of the franchise’s future. They’ve instead fallen out of favor and will likely see their careers prosper or end elsewhere.
Here are three players who have likely played their last game in a Chicago Bulls uniform.
Chicago Bulls</a> season is in the books. The Bulls finished 31-41 and missed the postseason for the fourth consecutive season. It’s now been a full decade since the last time the Bulls made the conference finals, as well as a decade since Derrick Rose’s MVP season.</p>
<p>A lot has changed in the past ten years. In fact, a lot has changed in Chicago in just the last year. Billy Donovan was brought in as head coach. Gar Forman isn’t with the organization anymore, while John Paxson was reassigned. The team even traded for All-Star center Nikola Vucevic just a few months ago.</p>
<p>But that isn’t the end of the story for these Bulls. For Chicago to make it back to the postseason, more changes are going to need to be made.</p>
<h2>The Chicago Bulls are likely to part ways with a few players in the offseason in an effort to end their four-year playoff drought.</h2>
<p>Many eyes in Chicago <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/02/chicago-bulls-3-players-return-season/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/05/21/chicago-bulls-3-free-agent-point-guards/">will be on the additions</a>, rather than the subtractions. The rumors sending Lonzo Ball to the city through restricted free agency will likely persist until Ball signs on the dotted line somewhere this summer.</p>
<p>The players who don’t return may prove to be just as important, however. The Bulls could part ways with a number of players this summer who were initially seen as being big parts of the franchise’s future. They’ve instead fallen out of favor and will likely see their careers prosper or end elsewhere.</p>
<p>Here are three players who have likely played their last game in a Chicago Bulls uniform.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/02/chicago-bulls-3-players-return-season/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 3 </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_429433" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-429433" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/02/chicago-bulls-3-players-return-season/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1211473777.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1211473777.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1211473777-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Chicago Bulls Photo by Steven Ryan/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>Chicago Bulls unlikely to return No. 3: PF Cristiano Felicio</h2>
<p>Cristiano Felicio appeared to be the next big thing in Chicago several years ago. At least that’s what Forman thought when he signed the big man to a four-year, $32 million contract in 2017, despite him starting just four games to that point in his career and never averaging even five points per game. Unsurprisingly, that contract became a major albatross.</p>
<p>The following season, Felicio had the best year of his career, when he started 16 games and averaged 5.6 points per game. His scoring average dropped to 4.0 points per game in 2018-19, then 3.9 points per game in 2019-20.</p>
<p>Bulls fans would be forgiven for thinking Felicio wasn’t on the roster this past season. He played in just 18 games, averaging 4.7 minutes per contest. Felicio scored 1.3 points per game and grabbed 1.4 rebounds per game in 2020-21.</p>
<p>Frankly, it’s only worth bringing up Felicio’s name here as a reminder of just how bad his contract turned out. His disappearance from next season’s roster won’t be felt in any grand way on the court.</p>
<p>It’s possible Felicio could carve out a role on the end of a bench somewhere without the burden of expectations he suffered from in Chicago. There’s virtually no chance he’ll be with the Bulls next season, though.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/02/chicago-bulls-3-players-return-season/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 2 </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_304503" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-304503" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/02/chicago-bulls-3-players-return-season/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1304,w_1600/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F924712842.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1304" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/924712842.jpeg 1600w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/924712842-768x626.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">Chicago Bulls Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>Chicago Bulls unlikely to return No. 2: SG Denzel Valentine</h2>
<p>After a starry career with Michigan State, the Bulls selected Denzel Valentine at the end of the draft lottery in 2016. And while their relationship is destined to end this summer, it wasn’t all bad for Valentine and the Bulls.</p>
<p>In his second season, Valentine started almost half of his games with Chicago. He averaged 10.2 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game, demonstrating the same all-around proficiency he had in college. The guard even hit 38.6 percent of his 3-pointers.</p>
<p>The next season, however, Valentine struggled with an ankle problem that proved to be thorny to address. He ended up missing the entire season and hasn’t been the same player in the two seasons since.</p>
<p>This past season, Valentine averaged 6.5 points per game, the lowest mark since his rookie season. He also dished just 1.7 assists per game and hit 33.1 percent of his threes, the latter serving as the worst mark of his career. The most headlines Valentine generated was when he took a shot so horrendous near the end of the game that the Bulls announcers couldn’t help <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/02/chicago-bulls-3-players-return-season/"https://awfulannouncing.com/nba/denzel-valentines-shot-selection-leaves-the-bulls-broadcast-booth-in-disbelief.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">but rag on him</a>.</p>
<p>Time is not really on Valentine’s side either. Despite only having 232 games under his belt – less than three full seasons – next year will be his age-28 season. He may not be a finished product, but by now, most players would’ve hit their peak.</p>
<p>At this point, it seems readily apparent that Valentine isn’t in the team’s long-term plans. He is set to be an unrestricted free agent this summer and it’s hard to imagine any possibility of his return to Chicago.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/02/chicago-bulls-3-players-return-season/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> No. 1 </a>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_421912" class="wp-caption aligncenter">
<img class="size-full wp-image-421912" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/02/chicago-bulls-3-players-return-season/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2112,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2018%2F08%2F1181245500.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2112" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1181245500.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1181245500-768x507.jpeg 768w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2018/08/1181245500-850x560.jpeg 850w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">Chicago Bulls Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images</p>
</div>
</div>
<h2>Chicago Bulls unlikely to return No. 1: PF Lauri Markkanen</h2>
<p>The end of the Lauri Markkanen experiment in Chicago is proving to be a polarizing one. The young big man has shown that he can be a good modern stretch four in the NBA, but his inability to do so consistently appears to be spelling the end for him.</p>
<p>Markkanen was actually selected by the Minnesota Timberwolves seventh overall in the 2017 NBA Draft, but was immediately shipped to Chicago (with Zach LaVine) in the Jimmy Butler trade. He made an immediate impact as a rookie, averaging 15.2 points and 7.5 rebounds per game and setting a record by hitting 100 3-pointers in 41 games.</p>
<div class="related-categoryright"><div class="related-main-title">More from <span class="related-name">Chicago Bulls</span></div><ul><li>
<a class="related-link" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/02/chicago-bulls-3-players-return-season/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/08/23/predicting-chicago-bulls-22-starters/" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="related-category-shortcode">Predicting the Chicago Bulls’ starting five for the 2022-23 season</a>
</li><li>
<a class="related-link" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/02/chicago-bulls-3-players-return-season/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/08/07/demar-derozan-sustain-chicago-bulls/" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="related-category-shortcode">Can DeMar DeRozan sustain his production for the Chicago Bulls?</a>
</li><li>
<a class="related-link" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/02/chicago-bulls-3-players-return-season/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/07/27/steps-malcolm-hill-chicago-bulls-roster/" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="related-category-shortcode">Steps Malcolm Hill must take to make the Chicago Bulls roster</a>
</li><li>
<a class="related-link" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/02/chicago-bulls-3-players-return-season/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/07/25/andre-drummond-chicago-bulls/" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="related-category-shortcode">Andre Drummond will make an impact for the Chicago Bulls next season</a>
</li><li>
<a class="related-link" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/02/chicago-bulls-3-players-return-season/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/06/25/nba-trades-rudy-gobert-chicago-bulls/" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="related-category-shortcode">NBA Trades: Pros and cons of a potential Rudy Gobert-Chicago Bulls trade</a>
</li></ul></div>
<p>He improved, as one would hope, during his second season. His scoring jumped to 18.7 points per game and his rebounds to 9.0 per contest. He also had 20 double-doubles, fourth in the league.</p>
<p>Last year is when things started to take a turn for the worse. Markkanen saw a drop in scoring, rebounds, and his 3-point shooting. It was a sign of things to come for the young big man.</p>
<p>Markkanen lost his starting gig after Daniel Theis and Nikola Vucevic came to town. His minutes began to dwindle from there and his spot in the rotation grew increasingly vulnerable. On April 12, Markkanen failed to score in a game for the first time in his entire career.</p>
<p>The power forward is a restricted free agent, meaning the Bulls will have the ability to match an offer for the big man. Whether or not they would do so probably depends on the size of the offer.</p>
<p>Regardless, it doesn’t seem like Markkanen is in Billy Donovan’s long-term plans. The way this season torpedoed for Markkanen, it seems like his Bulls days may be behind him.</p>
<div class="fs-shortcode" data-type="StoryLink" data-theme="dark" data-text="3 players trying to impress Bulls" data-url="https://hoopshabit.com/2021/05/31/chicago-bulls-3-make-break-seasons/" data-call-to-action="Next"> <div class="story-link-next"> <a class="story-link-next-btn" style="background:#222423" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="story-link-next-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2021/06/02/chicago-bulls-3-players-return-season/"https://hoopshabit.com/2021/05/31/chicago-bulls-3-make-break-seasons/"> <span class="call_to_action">Next:</span> 3 players trying to impress Bulls </a> </div>
</div><!—pageview_candidate—>">