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Jul 10 3:08 pm

News - Chicago Bulls - JonathanJ182

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Bulls Looming Decisions

After an up and down rookie campaign as GM of the Chicago Bulls, Jonathan, entered the 2024–25 season with something to prove—not just to the NSL community, but to himself. We sat down with the Bulls’ general manager to reflect on the season, discuss the challenges ahead, and get a glimpse into Chicago’s strategy moving forward.


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Q: When you look back at the 2024–25 season, what stands out the most?

Jonathan:

I think the progress. We took a real step forward this year. In my first season as GM; coming off the Anthony Davis trade, the team struggled, and honestly, a lot of that was due to injuries. So coming into 2024-25, there were questions. Some people didn’t see us as a playoff team. But internally, we believed in the roster. We knew if we could stay relatively healthy and build on the continuity we’d started, we had the talent to compete. I’m proud of how the group responded and how far we came despite more adversity.

Q: Injuries struck again last season, especially down the stretch. How much did that impact things?

Jonathan:

It was huge. We knew LaMelo might miss some time, and we tried to prepare for that. But losing both LaMelo and Jalen Suggs for most of the season, there’s just no blueprint for that. It completely disrupted our identity on both ends of the floor. You try to build depth, but losing two high level guards like that? It changes everything.

 

Q: So how do you prepare for something like that in the future?

Jonathan:

Honestly? You don’t. Not really. You prepare what you can. you trust your medical staff, invest in player development, emphasize recovery. And then you trust the odds. Like that line from The Crow—“It can’t rain all the time.” Eventually, things even out.

 

Q: Financially, you’re in a tight spot. The second apron is looming, and this roster is only getting more expensive. How do you plan to navigate that this offseason?

Jonathan:

It’s definitely something we’re aware of. I wouldn’t say we have to make changes, but we are doing our due diligence. The current financial structure isn’t sustainable long term, so at some point we may have to make tough calls. What we won’t do is make panic moves just to save money. Every decision we make comes down to two things: building a winning team, and keeping the flexibility to keep improving.

 

Q: You don’t currently have a pick in this year’s draft. Are you looking to change that?

Jonathan:

It’s on the table, but it’s not a top priority. That said, we do view this as an “incoming rookie” class of sorts. We expect James Nnaji to join us this year. He’s someone we drafted in 2023, and we’ve been tracking his development closely overseas. He’s got rare tools: size, strength, athleticism, motor. Those guys don’t come around often. We also drafted Nikola Djurisic last year, and we’re in talks to bring him over, whether that’s on a full deal or a two-way, we’re still sorting out. But we believe in both of them.

 

Q: Last question - Ty Jerome is hitting free agency after a breakout year. With the financial constraints, how do you handle that situation?

Jonathan:

We’d love to bring Ty back. He’s been a great story and a great fit. But we know it’ll take some creative cap management to make that happen. If it doesn’t work out, we won’t be caught flat footed. We believe in our depth. Josh Green, Jordan Goodwin, Tyler Kolek, Justin Edwards. Those are guys we’re excited about. And of course, we’re always evaluating the trade market. If something opens up, we’ll be ready to pivot.

The Bulls enter the offseason with key decisions looming: financial constraints, a deep roster, and the potential loss of breakout guard Ty Jerome. But if the last two years have shown anything, it’s that this front office isn’t afraid of the long road. As the NSL landscape shifts once again, all eyes will be on Chicago to see whether they can build on their momentum or if tough choices will reshape their path forward.

 Page 1/43 2025-07-07 06:15:34 Next Article
  Comments (1) 
jmac
07/07 08:04 pm
Go Bulls! 

 

 

 

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