The Chicago Bulls are drawing inspiration from the Indiana Pacers' roster-building approach, particularly their emphasis on pace and key acquisitions. However, experts argue that copying another team's blueprint rarely leads to superior results in the NBA. Chicago's early season struggles highlight the difficulties in replicating Indiana's organic development.
The Chicago Bulls began the 2025-26 NBA season with a promising 6-1 start, building on momentum from the previous year. However, they have since lost nine of their last 12 games, prompting questions about their identity. According to an ESPN feature, multiple sources within the Bulls organization point to the Indiana Pacers as a model for their roster construction, especially in adopting a fast-paced style.
Head coach Billy Donovan emphasized this influence, stating, "That's who we have to be. We have to be better than the sum of our parts. ... Everybody sees Indiana play, and the thing that everybody goes to right away is oh, their pace, their pace, their pace."
The Pacers' success stems from players like All-Star Tyrese Haliburton and forward Pascal Siakam, acquired through opportunistic trades. A Bulls source suggested Josh Giddey could develop into a Haliburton-like figure, questioning, "If Giddey can develop into an All-Star and be what Hali was, when do we pull the trigger to get our Siakam?"
Yet, the article argues that emulating top teams often results in pale imitations. The Pacers built organically around available talent, including 'second draft' players like Aaron Nesmith and Obi Toppin. Chicago has pursued similar moves, acquiring Giddey and Isaac Okoro, but faces hurdles. Giddey shares transition skills with Haliburton but lags in pull-up threes (35 total over four seasons vs. Haliburton's 39 in last playoffs alone) and two-point efficiency (50.9% this season vs. Haliburton's 58% over three full seasons).
Defensively, the Bulls allow the second-most paint points per game, contrasting the Pacers' strategy of limiting three-point attempts. Internal options like Matas Buzelis offer potential, but acquiring a Siakam-level forward remains uncertain. The piece concludes that contenders like the Thunder, Nuggets, and Rockets succeed as trendsetters, advising the Bulls to forge their own path rather than out-Pacers the Pacers.