Chicago Bulls · Franchise era 7 of 7
Searching for the next era: the Chicago Bulls story
The story in one sentence
Chicago moved from Butler's final season through the LaVine–DeRozan teams and into another attempt to build a sustainable young core.
Short-term bets and another young foundation
Jimmy Butler, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan and Coby White gave the era its recognizable core.
Its final meaning is still being written.
Timeline
How it unfolded
Before 2016–17
What came before
Rose became the youngest MVP, Chicago won 62 games and reached the 2011 conference finals. His ACL injury changed the ceiling, but Noah, Butler and the defense kept the era competitive.
- 27TradeJune 22, 2016
June 22, 2016
The trade that ended Derrick Rose's Chicago chapter
The Knicks wanted another creator beside Carmelo Anthony and Kristaps Porziņģis; Chicago chose a cleaner transition away from the Rose era.
To NYK20172NDround asset
To CHIDraftPICKround assetDerrick Rose to New YorkNYK receives Derrick Rose, Justin Holiday, 2017 2nd-round pickCHI receives Robin Lopez, Jerian Grant, José Calderón6 original assets · 1 outcomes tracedOpen trade → 2017
Eastern Conference First Round: Chicago Bulls vs Boston Celtics
- 22TradeJune 22, 2017
June 22, 2017
The draft-night deal that sent Jimmy Butler to Minnesota
The Timberwolves accelerated around Karl-Anthony Towns and Andrew Wiggins; the Bulls chose a full reset around young talent.
To MINDraftPICKround assetTo CHIDraftPICKround assetJimmy Butler to MinnesotaMIN receives Jimmy Butler, Rights: Justin PattonCHI receives Zach LaVine, Kris Dunn, Rights: Lauri Markkanen5 original assets · 1 outcomes tracedOpen trade → 2022
Eastern Conference First Round: Chicago Bulls vs Milwaukee Bucks
Still unfolding
Where the story stands
This chapter remains active, so its final place in franchise history is still being written.
The core