Chicago Bulls: Stumbling Into A Playoff Contender?

After a crazy NBA offseason, the Chicago Bulls have somehow stumbled into a playoff contender after signing Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade

Fresh off the most disappointing season since the end of the Scott Skiles era, the Chicago Bulls looked to make some serious changes for the 2016-2017 season and beyond.

I know that a 42-40 record usually doesn’t mean blowing up a team, but after seven-straight playoff appearances, unrest between new coach Fred Hoiberg and players and the much publicized rocky relationship of former MVP Derrick Rose and new star Jimmy Butler, it was time for a major change in the Windy City.

Gone are Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah, and Justin Holiday, who are all now with the Knicks. Departing along with them are Pau Gasol, Mike Dunleavy, E’twaun Moore, and Aaron Brooks.

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To replace a former MVP (Rose), a former DPOY(Noah), the second-leading scorer (Gasol) and bench depth, Gar Forman and the Chicago Bulls obtained former finals MVP Dwyane Wade, four-time all-star Rajon Rondo, Robin Lopez and Jerian Grant from the Knicks trade and drafted former Michigan State star Denzel Valentine.

This is how the Bulls depth chart will look like in 2016-17:

PG: Rajon Rondo, Jerian Grant
SG: Dwayne Wade, Tony Snell
SF: Jimmy Butler, Denzel Valentine, Doug McDermott, Paul Zipser
PF: Taj Gibson, Nikola Mirotic, Bobby Portis
C: Robin Lopez, Cristiano Felicio

On paper, it’s an appealing squad – full of big names, big-time playmakers, a gritty frontcourt and rising youth. The biggest question will be, how will this new group play together?

I don’t think anyone in the Bulls front office was thinking “Hey how about we sign Rondo, Wade and move Jimmy to small forward”. I truly believe this Bulls lineup fell into Chicago’s lap and they are running with it.

Rondo at point guard is a question. Despite being last year’s leader in assists, his multiple time all-star appearances and being a former NBA champion, Rondo is on the back end of his career who struggles to run an offense, tends to dribble around until scoring chances form and has slowed on the defensive end.

It appears that before the signing of Dwyane Wade, this was finally Jimmy Butler’s team. Questions will now rise around who will be the primary scorer? Butler surly will learn from Wade plenty and perhaps Wade will have no problems being second fiddle to Butler, who is still the future of this franchise.

After Wade and Butler, who will score for this team? Butler can obviously shoot, Wade can drive to the basket (really poor outside shooter, though) and Rondo will not be putting points up – insert the youth movement of the Chicago Bulls.

Nikola Mirotic and Doug McDermott might be the best shooters on the team, whose roles will be spacing the floor and finding their shots. Third-year player Tony Snell will get an opportunity, as well as first-round draft pick Denzel Valentine, who shined in the Summer League as he lead the young Bulls to a championship.

The frontcourt is composed around grit and grinders Taj Gibson, Robin Lopez and front office favorites Bobby Portis and Cristiano Felicio. Gibson, who finally grew out of Joakim Noah’s shadow, will get the minutes and opportunity to show what many have felt he has and deserves for the last couple seasons.

Chicago Bulls fans are hoping that the second year for Fred Hoiberg and his new look team will have a much better outcome then the season prior. The Eastern Conference is on the rise, but this team hasn’t necessarily taken a step back.

must read: NBA: Predicting The Eastern Conference Playoff Field

I love the frontcourt and their bench depth might end up being underrated. The biggest questions will be Rajon Rondo at the point and how Butler and Wade work together. A playoff appearance isn’t out of the question for this Bulls squad and the city is ready to see success again.

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