Via Chicago Sun Times
Key Players: Kris Dunn, Zach Lavine, Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr., Jabari Parker, Bobby Portis
Go ahead and read this article. Don't worry the Bulls' '31in30' will be here when you get back.
What a difference a year can make. Around this time last year, thanks to trading a homegrown star in Jimmy Butler, all hope in Chicago was gone. Kris Dunn, the "4-year college player coming off an awful rookie season", proved in just 52 games that he was worthy of being the fifth overall pick two years ago. The player Chicago Bulls draft experts called their "least favorite player in the (draft's) top-10" put the league on notice in his inaugural campaign, averaging 15.2 points and 7.5 rebounds on his route to becoming the fastest player in NBA history to hit 100 three-pointers and earning a spot on the NBA's All-Rookie First Team.
Meanwhile, the Timberwolves have been shopping Jimmy Butler for the past few weeks.
Last season's Jimmy Butler trade blessed the Bulls with a promising young core, but the organization's 2018 offseason anointed Chicago with dynasty potential. The draft night selection of Duke big man Wendell Carter Jr. along with the two-year, $40 million signing of another Blue Devil, Jabari Parker, made the Chicago rebuild look like even more sanctified.
The other somewhat notable offseason addition for the Chicago Bulls came in the form of the 2017-2018 G-League scoring champion (32.0 ppg), Antonio Blakeney, signing a two-year deal.
Chicago's Best Case Scenario
Via HoopsHype
ESPN.com currently has the Chicago Bulls projected to finish with a 28-54 record; but, even with their low expectations the sports powerhouse couldn't help but admit, "Say this about the Bulls: They don't seem content to stand pat. Chicago paid to retain Zach LaVine, nabbed free agent Jabari Parker and drafted Wendell Carter Jr. With Lauri Markkanen and Kris Dunn, the Bulls have an intriguing mix of talent -- or at least more than 28 projected wins might suggest."
Out of fear of Herm Edwards making a Kool-Aid man appearance into my dorm, I won't say winning doesn't matter for this year's Bulls team. But, it doesn't.
At an average age of 24.7, the Chicago Bulls are the second youngest team in the NBA (Portland Trail Blazers, 24.6); yet, they possess one of the more impressive starting lineups in the Eastern Conference.
At point guard, Chicago has one of the most improved players of last season. Kris Dunn increased his scoring by almost 10 points (3.8 to 13.4), more than doubled his assists (2.4 to 6.0), and showed the two-way ability that had scouts raving over him in the draft process, tallying two steals a night. The 24-year-old's increase in efficiency shows that his improvement is only the beginning rather than a one season outlier.
Filling in as the starting shooting guard, Zach Lavine had a bit of a down season last season as his scoring and efficency dropped; but, that can be credited more to a natural slump following an ACL injury. The Bulls clearly still have faith in the 23-year-old highflyer, extending his contract for the next four years at an $80 million value.
Jabari Parker is expected to be the team's starting small forward. Much like Zach Lavine, Parker had a tough return from an ACL injury, watching his scoring averages decrease from 20.1 points a night to just 12.6. If the 23-year-old can return to his 2016-2017 form he'll play a pivotal role in making Chicago have one of the most promising frontcourts in the NBA.
The star of that frontcourt comes in the form of the seven-foot power forward, Lauri Markkanen. Markkanen has received comparisons from Kristaps Porzingis to what fellow seventh overall pick Charlie Villanueva should have been. The University of Arizona product has the shooting ability paired with the athleticism that naturally generates the unicorn nickname.
If Markkanen is a baby unicorn the Wendell Carter Jr. is a baby Minotaur. The Minotaur is described as "half man, half bull", and is one of the most underrated creatures in all of mythology. Watching Carter drain an open shot or blow by a big man shows the man aspect, while his ability to dominate the paint displays his bullish side. Throw in the fact that he was able to share touches with the number two overall pick, Marvin Bagley III, and still dominate the game proves that he could shine even next to a unicorn.
Last but not least, there's the sixth man Bobby Portis. Portis punching Nikola Mirotic 927 miles south to New Orleans overshadowed an impressive season from the 23-year-old. In just 22.5 minutes of nightly play last season, Portis managed to average a statline of 13/7/2. Expectations for the versatile forward are sky-high coming into this season, as many analysts have him as a legitimate Sixth Man of the Year candidate.
Chicago's Worst Case Scenario
Via Jim Young
The scary thing about potential is that it isn't always met. Expectations form based around what a player or team could be rather than what they are. The Bulls have a number of potential-killing red flags.
The first and most obvious killer of potential is the team's injury history. Kris Dunn missed significant time last season with a toe injury. Zach Lavine and Jabari Parker have a history of ACL tears. Lauri Markkanen is out for at least the next six weeks with a sprained elbow on his shooting arm. Players can't develop if they can't play.
The next and most scary possibility for the Bulls and their fans should be what if their players genuinely can't play. While every member of Chicago's core has star potential, they each have noticeable holes in their game.
Despite being brilliant on the defensive end, if his shot isn't falling, Kris Dunn is a nonfactor on offense. Zach Lavine and Jabari Parker are streaky scorers, to say the least, and both couldn't seem to care less what happens when the ball isn't in their team's hands. In fact, Parker gave this gem of a quote, "they don't pay players to play defense." Lavine and Parker are guaranteed a combined $100 million, placing no pressure on them to improve defensively.
The biggest issue in the team's big man duo of Markkanen and Carter will be if the two have the offensive aggression to demand their touches. Markkanen is described by Bulls' writer Luke Askew as falling victim to the "Kevin Love Effect", an effect that causes players to go unnoticeable for stretches at a time. Meanwhile, as Wendell Carter Jr.'s eight attempts a night at Duke suggest, he's not going to force his way into the offense; for arguably the team's second-best offensive option, that's not a good thing.
Whether it be injuries or a lack of growth, Chicago's young core not developing would be as bad as it gets for a team in year two of the rebuilding process.
Record Prediction: 34-48; The 2018-2019 season is the appetizer to the Bulls' future breakout.