Head coach Fred Hoiberg and star forward will be back to lead the team, but the rest of the supporting cast might be quite different. Derrick Rose and Joakim Noah now play for the New York Knicks. Pau Gasol signed with the San Antonio Spurs. But the franchise signed some decent replacements.
For starters, the loss of Gasol and Noah will likely transform into increased roles for both Taj Gibson and Nikola Mirotic. Rose’s departure led to Chicago signing Rajon Rondo as a free agent. And Dwyane Wade also chose the Bulls even though he could’ve stayed in Miami or joined the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Rose never returned to his MVP form and he struggled with injuries recently, so Rondo might be an upgrade. Same goes with Butler as he will be able to play in his natural forward role. And Wade will add a much-needed scoring threat in the perimeter.
Chicago will certainly look like a different team, partucularly in the perimeter with Rondo and Wade running the show. Rondo is one of the best point guards in The Association. Wade might be past his prime, but he remains one of the most dangerous scorers in the NBA. They can’t shoot from long range, though, so Chicago won’t become the Golden State Warriors overnight. Their still will be different, but they’re likely to rely on their trio of stars (Wade, Rondo and Butler) to be successful.
The interior defense will be pretty decent too. Both Noah and Gasol struggled on that end of the floor, and the presence of players like Robin Lopez and Bobby Portis should improve the franchise defensively.
Chicago might have a deep roster, but they need a more experienced coach and some of their best players will be past their prime. They’re not going to pose a major threat for the Cleveland Cavaliers, but they are good enough to reach the postseason with relative ease.
The Bulls will likely battle the Indiana Pacers, the Atlanta Hawks and the Boston Celtics for a Top 4 spot in the East. Even teams like the Detroit Pistons can become a threat overnight. We are not saying is going to be easy, but they should at least reach the playoffs.
For that to happen, though, Chicago needs to be at their best all season long. Having experienced players is a plus, but these veterans will likely need a few days off at times. And injuries can always happen so they need to monitor them accordingly. Chicago will be better than last year, but they might be an injury away from a complete disaster.
They’re likely to reach the playoffs with relative ease, and could even make the second round. They’re talented enough to make some noise based on talent alone. But can they challenge the Cavs, the Raptors or the Celtics?
That doesn’t seem likely at the moment. Everything would have to go their way for them to make a deep playoff run.