CHICAGO _ How you view this Bulls' season that concluded with Wednesday's 119-87 loss to the Pistons and a 27-55 record depends on whether your glass is half-full or half-empty.
On the plus side, Lauri Markkanen, who broke Kirk Hinrich's rookie franchise record by one with 145 made 3-pointers, established himself as a bona fide starter and potential star. The rookie, who also fell just six 3-pointers shy of Dirk Nowitzki's record for 3-pointers by a 7-footer, displayed much more skill than just shooting and an edge that should serve him well.
Kris Dunn pushed his disappointing rookie season into the background, flashing closing abilities offensively and disruptive defense as he averaged 2 steals per game.
Zach LaVine returned from left ACL surgery to show flashes of the effortless offensive ability that helped management part with All-NBA two-way force Jimmy Butler last June.
Denzel Valentine doubled his underwhelming rookie averages. Bobby Portis proved a consistent reserve scoring force. The Bulls entered today's NBA by averaging double-digit made 3-pointers per game for the first time in franchise history and shattering the franchise record for 3-pointers, 906 to 651.
But beyond the lots of losing, which was expected, the Bulls never established consistent chemistry with LaVine, Dunn and Markkanen. They played just 12 games and 255 minutes together. And they weren't good ones; the trio posted a minus-21.5 net rating.
The Bulls, who privately pined for a top-three pick in the direct aftermath of the Butler trade, also only own the seventh-best odds at the May 15 draft lottery, pending the late outcome of the Kings-Rockets game. Seventh place gives them a 15 percent chance at a top-three pick and a 4.3 percent chance at the No. 1 pick.
If the Kings win, the Bulls tie for sixth and those odds increase to an 18.2 percent chance at a top-three pick and 5.3 percent chance at No. 1. Plus, the league will hold a coin flip Friday to break the draft-order tie should neither team vault into the top-three.
The Bulls trotted out their 25th different starting lineup for the, well, must-lose game. Sean Kilpatrick started for Justin Holiday, who, like Robin Lopez, didn't play again. Markkanen's 20 points and eight rebounds came in just 21 minutes, 31 seconds.
The Bulls will add two first-round picks but otherwise project to have an offseason of continuity, from their young core to coach Fred Hoiberg to management. Unsurprisingly, Hoiberg, who maintained the positivity needed for a young team throughout, put a positive spin on the campaign.
"Our young group experienced a month where they had the second-best record in the Eastern Conference," Hoiberg said, citing December. "When you look at our lineups, you look at the Lopez-Dunn-LaVine-Markkanen combination, those guys only played six games together. And Zach was on a minutes restriction for three of those. So it will be an important offseason to build off that (month) and build chemistry.
"We still have a lot of work to do. For the most part, our guys competed at a high level. We played an exciting style of basketball with a young group of guys who really bought into what we were trying to do."
