The 2006-07

Chicago Bulls The Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago. The Bulls compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division. The team was founded on January 1 ...

season was the 41st season for the franchise in the

National Basketball Association The National Basketball Association (NBA) is a professional basketball league in North America. The league is composed of 30 teams (29 in the United States and 1 in Canada) and is one of the major professional sports leagues in the United S ...

(NBA). The team finished with a record of 49-33 in the regular season and reached the second round of the NBA playoffs, making it, at the time, their most successful season since the retirement of

Michael Jordan Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963), also known by his initials MJ, is an American businessman and former professional basketball player. His biography on the official NBA website states: "By acclamation, Michael Jordan is the g ...

, but nevertheless leaving some doubt amongst fans as to whether the team could compete for an NBA championship in the near future. The Bulls had the best team defensive rating in the NBA. In the playoffs, the Bulls swept the defending NBA champion

Miami Heat The Miami Heat are an American professional basketball team based in Miami. The Heat compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference (NBA), Eastern Conference Southeast Division (NBA), Southe ...

in four games in the First Round, before losing to the

Detroit Pistons The Detroit Pistons are an American professional basketball team based in Detroit. The Pistons compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference Central Division and play their home games at Li ...

in six games in the Semifinals.

Offseason

Whereas previous seasons under General Manager

John Paxson John MacBeth Paxson (born September 29, 1960) is an American basketball administrator and former player who was vice president of basketball operations for the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA) from 2009 to 2020. He was th ...

focused mostly on allowing the young players which comprised the core of the Bulls' roster to develop, before the '06-'07 season Paxson made an expensive free-agent signing in the form of Ben Wallace. Many fans were excited about the veteran experience and star power Wallace brought to the team, though some questioned if he was the best fit for the team, as Wallace had always been known for his defense, and many believed that the Bulls' biggest problem was a lack of inside scoring. On July 20, the Bulls traded

Tyson Chandler Tyson Cleotis Chandler (born October 2, 1982) is an American former professional basketball player and coach. Chandler was drafted directly out of high school as the second overall pick of the 2001 NBA draft by the Los Angeles Clippers, then w ...

to the

New Orleans Hornets New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...

for

J.R. Smith Earl Joseph "J. R." Smith III (born September 9, 1985) is an American former professional basketball player who last played for the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Smith played high school basketball at New Jers ...

. However, six days later, Smith was traded again, this time to the

Denver Nuggets The Denver Nuggets are an American professional basketball team based in Denver. The Nuggets compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Conference Northwest Division. The team was founded as the D ...

, in exchange for Howard Eisley and two second-round draft picks.

NBA Draft

Regular season

The Bulls got off to a rocky start, posting a record of 3-9 in their first 12 games. The criticism by some in the offseason about the signing of Ben Wallace seemed to gain some validity, as Wallace appeared to show his age and was not always able to put up big rebounding numbers as he had been known for with the

Pistons A piston is an engineering component of engines and pumps. Piston(s) may also refer to: Science and technology * Piston (optics) * Piston (subcellular structure) * Piston valve * Fire piston, an ancient device for kindling fire * Gas-operated rel ...

. However, as they had in the 2004-05 season in which they started 0-9, the Bulls performed better as the season went on and finished 49-33. The record was good enough to receive the #5 seed among the 8 teams qualifying for the Eastern Conference Playoffs. The Bulls, however, lost their final game of the season to the

New Jersey Nets New is an adjective referring to something recently made, discovered, or created. New or NEW may refer to: Music * New, singer of K-pop group The Boyz Albums and EPs * ''New'' (album), by Paul McCartney, 2013 * ''New'' (EP), by Regurgitator, ...

ESPN - Chicago vs. New Jersey - Recap - April 18, 2007
/ref> which would have boosted them to a #2 seed and given them an easier path to the Eastern Conference Finals.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Playoffs

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Miami Miami ( ), officially the City of Miami, known as "the 305", "The Magic City", and "Gateway to the Americas", is a East Coast of the United States, coastal metropolis and the County seat, county seat of Miami-Dade County, Florida, Miami-Dade C ...

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Luol Deng Luol Ajou Deng (born 16 April 1985) is a British former professional basketball player. He was a two-time NBA All-Star and was named to the NBA All-Defensive Second Team in 2012. Born in what is now South Sudan, Deng fled the country with his f ...

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Ben Gordon Benjamin Ashenafi Gordon (born April 4, 1983) is an American former professional basketball player. Gordon played for 11 seasons in the National Basketball Association (NBA), and he played college basketball for the University of Connecticut, ...

(11) ,

United Center United Center is an indoor arena on the Near West Side of Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is home to the Chicago Bulls of the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League (NHL). It is named ...

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Kirk Hinrich Kirk James Hinrich ( born January 2, 1981) is an American former professional basketball player. He has also been a member of the USA National Team. Growing up in Sioux City, Iowa, Hinrich was exposed to basketball at an early age. His father, ...

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American Airlines Arena FTX Arena (known as American Airlines Arena from 1999 to 2021) is a multi-purpose arena located in Miami, Florida, along Biscayne Bay. It was constructed beginning in 1998 as a replacement for the Miami Arena and designed by the architecture f ...

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Detroit Detroit ( , ; , ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is also the largest U.S. city on the United States–Canada border, and the seat of government of Wayne County. The City of Detroit had a population of 639,111 at th ...

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Wallace Wallace may refer to: People * Clan Wallace in Scotland * Wallace (given name) * Wallace (surname) * Wallace (footballer, born 1986), full name Wallace Fernando Pereira, Brazilian football left-back * Wallace (footballer, born 1987), full name ...

Deng Deng may refer to: * Deng (company), is a Danish engineering, electrical, solar power and sales company in Accra, Ghana * Deng (state), an ancient Chinese state * Deng (Chinese surname), originated from the state ** Deng Xiaoping, paramount leader ...

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The Palace of Auburn Hills The Palace of Auburn Hills, commonly referred to as the Palace, was a multi-purpose arena built in 1988 and located in Auburn Hills, Michigan. It was the home of the Detroit Pistons of the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Detroit Shoc ...

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Tyrus Thomas Tyrus Wayne Thomas (born August 17, 1986) is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for Louisiana State University (LSU) before being drafted fourth overall by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2006 NBA dra ...

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Awards and records

NBA Sportsmanship Award The NBA Sportsmanship Award is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) award given to a player who most "exemplifies the ideals of sportsmanship on the court with ethical behavior, fair play, and integrity." It is directly analogous to the ...

NBA All-Defensive Second Team The NBA All-Defensive Team is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) honor given since the 1968–69 NBA season to the best defensive players during the regular season. The All-Defensive Team is generally composed of ten players in two ...

* Ben Wallace, NBA All-Defensive Second Team *

NBA All-Rookie Team The NBA All-Rookie Team is an annual National Basketball Association (NBA) honor given since the 1962–63 NBA season to the top rookies during the regular season. Voting is conducted by the NBA head coaches who are not allowed to vote for playe ...

Second Team

Roster

Player statistics

Regular season

, - , , 60 , , 1 , , 10.6 , , .415 , , .000 , , .824 , , 2.0 , , .3 , , .3 , , .3 , , 4.0 , - , , 6 , , 0 , , 4.8 , , .500 , , . , , . , , .8 , , 1.2 , , .0 , , .0 , , 1.3 , - , , 72 , , 49 , , 20.2 , , .407 , , .000 , , .787 , , 4.8 , , .7 , , .3 , , .7 , , 6.1 , - , , style=";", 82 , , style=";", 82 , , style=";", 37.5 , , style=";", .517 , , .143 , , .777 , , 7.1 , , 2.5 , , 1.2 , , .6 , , 18.8 , - , , 78 , , 30 , , 24.4 , , .408 , , .359 , , .752 , , 2.2 , , 4.0 , , .9 , , .1 , , 7.2 , - , , style=";", 82 , , 51 , , 33.0 , , .455 , , .413 , , style=";", .864 , , 3.1 , , 3.6 , , .8 , , .2 , , style=";", 21.4 , - , , 54 , , 1 , , 10.8 , , .473 , , .000 , , .789 , , 2.0 , , 1.1 , , .6 , , .1 , , 2.5 , - , , 80 , , 80 , , 35.5 , , .448 , , style=";", .415 , , .835 , , 3.4 , , style=";", 6.3 , , 1.3 , , .3 , , 16.6 , - , , 33 , , 0 , , 7.0 , , .386 , , .000 , , .731 , , 1.7 , , .6 , , .3 , , .0 , , 2.2 , - , , 53 , , 31 , , 26.5 , , .467 , , .383 , , .848 , , 5.7 , , 1.1 , , .5 , , .5 , , 14.1 , - , , 71 , , 4 , , 12.2 , , .426 , , .357 , , .511 , , 2.2 , , .8 , , .5 , , .2 , , 3.6 , - , , 48 , , 0 , , 8.0 , , .433 , , . , , .561 , , 2.5 , , .6 , , .2 , , .2 , , 3.2 , - , , 72 , , 4 , , 13.4 , , .475 , , .000 , , .606 , , 3.7 , , .6 , , .6 , , 1.1 , , 5.2 , - , , 77 , , 77 , , 35.0 , , .453 , , .200 , , .408 , , style=";", 10.7 , , 2.4 , , style=";", 1.4 , , style=";", 2.0 , , 6.4

Playoffs

, - , , 5 , , 0 , , 6.8 , , .167 , , . , , . , , 1.4 , , .2 , , .2 , , .2 , , .8 , - , , style=";", 10 , , style=";", 10 , , 22.8 , , .493 , , . , , .739 , , 4.7 , , 1.2 , , .8 , , .2 , , 8.3 , - , , style=";", 10 , , style=";", 10 , , style=";", 41.0 , , .524 , , .000 , , .807 , , 8.7 , , 2.4 , , 1.0 , , .7 , , style=";", 22.2 , - , , 9 , , 0 , , 19.1 , , .290 , , .316 , , .800 , , 1.8 , , 2.3 , , .3 , , .1 , , 3.6 , - , , style=";", 10 , , style=";", 10 , , 39.5 , , .415 , , .436 , , style=";", .921 , , 3.8 , , 3.8 , , .9 , , .1 , , 20.4 , - , , 4 , , 0 , , 2.3 , , .000 , , . , , . , , .3 , , .0 , , .3 , , .0 , , .0 , - , , style=";", 10 , , style=";", 10 , , 36.2 , , .376 , , .302 , , .769 , , 4.2 , , style=";", 7.5 , , .9 , , .3 , , 12.1 , - , , style=";", 10 , , 0 , , 19.7 , , .360 , , .333 , , .722 , , 3.5 , , .8 , , .2 , , .5 , , 8.8 , - , , 9 , , 0 , , 11.0 , , .385 , , .375 , , .583 , , 1.9 , , .8 , , .2 , , .0 , , 3.3 , - , , 1 , , 0 , , 3.0 , , .500 , , . , , .000 , , .0 , , .0 , , .0 , , .0 , , 2.0 , - , , style=";", 10 , , 0 , , 12.2 , , .390 , , . , , .633 , , 3.4 , , .6 , , 1.0 , , .5 , , 5.1 , - , , style=";", 10 , , style=";", 10 , , 36.9 , , style=";", .566 , , .000 , , .500 , , style=";", 9.5 , , 1.4 , , style=";", 1.5 , , style=";", 1.7 , , 8.7

Transactions

* June 28, 2006: Drafted F

LaMarcus Aldridge LaMarcus Nurae Aldridge (born July 19, 1985) is an American professional basketball player who last played for the Brooklyn Nets of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played college basketball for two seasons with the Texas Longhorns. ...

in the first round (2nd overall) of the 2006 NBA Draft * June 28, 2006: Drafted F

Rodney Carney Rodney Dion Carney (born April 15, 1984) is an American former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for the University of Memphis and was selected in the 2006 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls and shortly afterwards traded to ...

in the first round (16th overall) of the 2006 NBA Draft * June 28, 2006: Traded F LaMarcus Aldridge and a second-round draft pick to the

Portland Trail Blazers The Portland Trail Blazers (colloquially known as the Blazers) are an American professional basketball team based in Portland, Oregon. The Trail Blazers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Western Con ...

for F

and F

Viktor Khryapa Victor Vladimirovich Khryapa (also trans. Viktor; russian: Виктор Владимирович Хряпа; born August 3, 1982) is a Russian former professional basketball player who spent the majority of his career playing for CSKA Moscow of t ...

* June 28, 2006: Traded F Rodney Carney, a second-round draft pick and cash to the

Philadelphia 76ers The Philadelphia 76ers, colloquially known as the Sixers, are an American professional basketball team based in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The 76ers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eas ...

for G

Thabo Sefolosha Thabo Patrick Sefolosha (; born May 2, 1984) is a Swiss former professional basketball player. He has also played in the NBA for the Chicago Bulls, Oklahoma City Thunder, Atlanta Hawks, Utah Jazz and Houston Rockets, in the Turkish Basketball ...

* July 7, 2006: Waived F

Othella Harrington Othella Harrington (born January 31, 1974) is an American former professional basketball player. After he finished his high school career at Murrah High School, he played in college at Georgetown University where he teamed with future NBA supers ...

* July 13, 2006: Signed free agent C Ben Wallace * July 14, 2006: Traded C

to the

for F P. J. Brown and G

J. R. Smith Earl Joseph "J. R." Smith III (born September 9, 1985) is an American former professional basketball player who last played for the Los Angeles Lakers in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Smith played high school basketball at New Jers ...

* July 20, 2006: Traded G J. R. Smith to the

for G

Howard Eisley Howard Jonathan Eisley (born December 4, 1972) is an American former professional basketball player and current coach. Born in Detroit, Eisley played college basketball at Boston College and was drafted in 1994 by the Minnesota Timberwolves. Eisl ...

and two second-round draft picks * July 31, 2006: Signed G

Adrian Griffin Adrian Darnell Griffin Sr. (born July 4, 1974) is an American professional basketball coach and former player who is an assistant coach for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). He played in the NBA as a shooting guard ...

* August 18, 2006: Traded G

Eddie Basden Edward Richard Basden (born February 15, 1983) is an American professional basketball player who formerly played in the National Basketball Association (NBA). College career Basden, born in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, played competitive basketball ...

to the

Cleveland Cavaliers The Cleveland Cavaliers (often referred to as the Cavs) are an American professional basketball team based in Cleveland. The Cavaliers compete in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as a member of the league's Eastern Conference (NBA), Ea ...

for C

Martynas Andriuskevicius Martynas is a Lithuanian language, Lithuanian masculine given name. It is a cognate of the English language name Martin (name), Martin. List of people named as *Martynas Andriukaitis (1981–2014), Lithuanian professional basketball player *Mar ...

* October 30, 2006: Waived C

Luke Schenscher Luke Dean Schenscher (born 31 December 1982) is an Australian former professional basketball player. He played four years of college basketball for Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets men's basketball, Georgia Tech before having stints in the National B ...

* October 31, 2006: Re-signed G

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:2006-07 Chicago Bulls Season

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

Chicago Bulls seasons

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...