Editing Chicago Bulls (section)

====2004–2009: Continued rebuilding====
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| caption1 = Joining the Bulls in 2004, [[Luol Deng]] made his first All-Star appearance with the team in 2012 and his second in 2013
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Between 2004 and 2008, the Chicago Bulls underwent notable roster transformations and fluctuating on-court results in their efforts to rebuild as a competitive team. In the 2004 NBA Draft, General Manager John Paxson acquired [[Ben Gordon]], [[Luol Deng]], and [[Chris Duhon]] while also signing [[Andrés Nocioni]], a gold medalist with Argentina.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nba.com/bulls/news/paxson_feature_060921.html |title=Bulls: Construction of a Contender Part I |last=Fluck |first=Adam  |date=20 September 2006 |website=NBA.com |publisher= |access-date=18 November 2024 |quote=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.nba.com/bulls/news/paxson_feature_060925.html |title=Bulls: Construction of a Contender Part II |last=Fluck |first=Adam  |date=25 September 2006 |website=NBA.com |publisher= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091222215344/https://www.nba.com/bulls/news/paxson_feature_060925.html |access-date=18 November 2024 |archive-date=December 22, 2009 |quote=}}</ref> Despite beginning the season with nine consecutive losses, the team recovered to finish 47–35, making their first playoff appearance since 1998. However, injuries to Deng and Eddy Curry contributed to a first-round exit against the Washington Wizards. Ben Gordon received the NBA Sixth Man of the Year award.

During the 2005 offseason, Curry’s heart condition raised concerns, leading to his trade to the New York Knicks in exchange for [[Michael Sweetney]], [[Tim Thomas (basketball)|Tim Thomas]] and future draft picks.<ref>{{cite news |last=Beck|first=Howard |date=8 October 2005 |title=With Doctors' O.K., Curry Joins the Knicks |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/08/sports/basketball/with-doctors-ok-curry-joins-the-knicks.html |work=[[New York Times]] |location= |access-date=18 November 2024}} </ref> The Bulls struggled without a significant post presence but managed a 12–2 late-season run, finishing 41–41. They qualified for the playoffs but were defeated by the Miami Heat, who went on to win the championship. Despite the loss, key players gained valuable postseason experience.

In the 2006 NBA Draft, the Bulls traded for [[Tyrus Thomas]] and [[Thabo Sefolosha]] and signed veteran defensive player Ben Wallace to a four-year deal.<ref>{{cite news |author=[[Stephen A. Smith]] |date=4 July 2006 |title=Bulls land Free-Agent Ben Wallace |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2006/07/04/bulls-land-free-agent-ben-wallace/ |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |location= |access-date=18 November 2024 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20241118060420/https://www.chicagotribune.com/2006/07/04/bulls-land-free-agent-ben-wallace/ |archive-date=18 November 2024}} </ref> Tyson Chandler, the last player from the Krause era, was traded to the Hornets.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=6 July 2006 |title=Bulls Trade Chandler |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/06/sports/basketball/06sportsbriefs7.ready.html |work=[[New York Times]] |location= |access-date=18 November 2024}} </ref> Chicago recovered from a poor start to finish the season with a 49–33 record. In the playoffs, they swept the defending champion Miami Heat, marking their first series victory since 1998. Their postseason ended in the next round with a 4–2 loss to the Detroit Pistons.

The 2007 offseason brought speculation of major trades involving players like [[Kevin Garnett]], [[Pau Gasol]], and [[Kobe Bryant]], but none materialized.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/94094-ten-years-of-rebuilding-are-the-bulls-in-any-better-shape |title=Ten Years of Rebuilding: Are the Bulls in Any Better Shape? |last=Nitzberg |first=Jacob |date=17 December 2008 |website=[[Bleacher Report]] |publisher= |access-date=18 November 2024 |quote=}}</ref> The Bulls began the 2007–08 season poorly, leading to the dismissal of head coach Scott Skiles in December. Interim coach [[Jim Boylan]] was appointed but could not reverse the team’s fortunes, and they ended the season with a 33–49 record. In a midseason trade, the team acquired [[Drew Gooden]], [[Larry Hughes]], and others in exchange for Ben Wallace and Joe Smith.<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date= |title=Bulls deal Wallace, Smith, Griffin, draft pick in three-team trade |url=https://eu.rrstar.com/story/sports/2008/02/21/bulls-deal-wallace-smith-griffin/44627114007/ |work=[[Rockford Register Star]] |location= |access-date=18 November 2024}} </ref> Following the season, Boylan was not retained, and the search for a new head coach culminated in the hiring of [[Vinny Del Negro]], a rookie coach supported by experienced assistants [[Del Harris]], [[Bernie Bickerstaff]], and [[Bob Ociepka]].<ref>{{cite news |last= |first= |date=11 June 2008 |title=Bulls: Suns assistant GM Del Negro hired as coach  |url=https://www.dailynews.com/2008/06/11/bulls-suns-assistant-gm-del-negro-hired-as-coach/ |work=[[Los Angeles Daily News]] |location= |access-date=18 November 2024}} </ref>