The Chicago Bulls have great roster on paper, but can all of the different pieces co-exist? Here are the best case scenarios for 2016-17.
It now seems like a lifetime since the days that the Chicago Bulls were looked at as true contenders in the Eastern Conference and were the favorites to dethrone any LeBron James led team.
But realistically, those days were six seasons ago. Back when Derrick Rose emerged as the next perennial superstar of the league, becoming the youngest MVP winner at 22 years and six months old.
Joakim Noah was one of the most dynamic big men in the NBA at the time with the ability to hang a triple-double any given night.
Tom Thibodeau had Chicago as one of the elite defensive teams in the league and it seemed like only a matter of time until they eventually lifting up the Larry O’Brien Trophy sooner rather then later.
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Oh, how the times have changed. While their off-season additions this summer may look pretty on paper (or fantastic on NBA 2K), the signings of Dwyane Wade and Rajon Rondo certainly don’t help for the team’s lack of outside shooters.
To make things even worse, they lost Pau Gasol to the San Antonio Spurs in free agency. The 36-year-old certainly isn’t what he once was when he helped Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers to a couple of NBA titles, but he can still be a big piece of putting together a playoff roster.
Heading forward for this team, there are number of puzzle pieces to put together and factors that need to be handled correctly from head coach Fred Hoiberg if they want to return back to the postseason.
Let’s take a look at some best-case scenarios for the Bulls this season.