Based on their season’s record so far, the Chicago Bulls have made stunning improvements in comparison to past seasons and are climbing their way up to the top. They have a current record of 19-23 and have continued to progress little by little as they try to squeeze their way into the top 8 of the Eastern Conference.

Shooting guard Zach LaVine also reached his goal of achieving the All-Star status while carrying the Bulls’ offense at 28.7 ppg, 5.2 RPG, and 5.1 APG. With all his success, he even moved up the ranks to being apart of the 50/40/90 percent club of elite shooters.

The Bulls have a promising future for the rest of the season as their bench is loaded with veterans such as Garrett Temple and Thaddeus Young. The two have been the best unit for many games and will continue to do so. Newcomers Billy Donovan and Arturas Karnisovas, interact with one another already as if they’ve been working together for years rather than just months. Donovan’s patience and leadership have drawn praise from players who are maturing as people and players day by day.

As for other players, Coby White has established himself as a starter, and even if he isn’t a classic playmaker with 5.0 APG, his foul shooting and scoring in the clutch put high pressure on defenses. Lauri Markkanen and Wendell Carter Jr. have had more accidental and unlikely injuries than career-jeopardizing setbacks, but Markkanen’s 19.1 ppg in just 14 games looks more like an opulence than an essential piece.

As for the trade deadline, it’s most likely not to happen, but it’s never too late to see if things might change or not as the date approaches closer and closer. There are, however, three possible landing spots for Markkanen which could be considered at the trade deadline.

The Bulls’ schedule in the second half, both in quantity and quality of opponents, looks too rigorous for them to climb beyond a play-in spot. The team needs that sense of the postseason vibes as a developmental step. They could potentially scare somebody in the first round, with White or Lavine getting hot and a nothing-to-lose mentality. The Bulls have been one of the NBA’s happiest surprises so far in the 2020-21 season.