“Champagne and Cam Payne” was fun while it lasted, and while Payne himself didn’t give us too many highlights, he symbolized the Bulls this season: struggling hard against a tide of foibles and deficiencies.

The only thing of significance to look forward to for Chicago Bulls players and fans alike is the February 7 trade deadline. The Bulls will be sellers, obviously, but who will be sold off is a tougher question to answer.

It’s getting more and more certain that Jabari Parker’s time as a Chicago Bull will end with the beloved Chicago native being traded away from his hometown team.

It’s an awful situation when the sports franchise you follow is in a state of disarray. Watching the Bulls’ inner turmoil fully exposed to the world like a pulsing wound has been painful, but mostly for the amount of empty talk and posturing it has generated.