Before we can talk about Wendell Carter and Chandler Hutchison and how each affects the Bulls’ present and future, we first have to discuss the player that led the franchise to both, even if he’s long gone now. That’s Nikola Mirotic, who continues to hang over this franchise like a ghost months after he was traded.
The Bulls were 3-20 and proud owners of the worst record in the NBA when Mirotic mercifully recovered from his broken face. The Bulls immediately reeled off seven straight wins upon his return, and didn’t stop there. Niko played 25 games in total and the Bulls won 14 of them.