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4 teams that had a worse 2021 season than the Toronto Raptors

By Jason Mills

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 11: Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics helps up Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, FLORIDA - SEPTEMBER 11: Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics helps up Kyle Lowry #7 of the Toronto Raptors (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
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Toronto Raptors
TORONTO, ONTARIO – OCTOBER 13: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls drives against Terence Davis (Photo by Mark Blinch/Getty Images) /

1. Chicago Bulls

The Bulls almost made their return to playoff basketball in 2021 but will ultimately come up short of the goal. They have a young star in Zach LaVine who is over some early-career injury trouble.

He has been nothing short of spectacular for the Bulls this season and has had an MVP-worthy type season. LaVine’s 50.7, 41.9, and 84 percent shooting splits on field goal%, 3-point shots, and free throw% led to him averaging 27.4 points a game.

The Nikola Vucevic deal won’t help the Bulls bully their way into the playoffs.

While Lavine is playing great basketball, the team in Chicago has been unspectacular. Even a midseason deal to acquire Vucevic to play center hasn’t helped. Chicago has won just 11 of the first 27 games he played in. The Bulls completed the season 31-41, 1.5 games back of the Charlotte Hornets who secured the final play-in playoff spot.

The Bulls dominated the Raptors in 2021, winning all three contests vs. the Raptors, highlighted by a 118-95 blowout victory on March 14. However, they do not own the rights to their own 2021 first-round draft pick as it was top-four protected in the Vucevic deal.

The Bulls will finish 2021 ahead of Toronto in the NBA’s Eastern Conference standings, but it cannot be considered a successful season for the Bulls, who have failed to make a playoff appearance since 2017.