Chicago Bulls: 5 bold offseason predictions

4. Bulls have no choice but to bring Rajon Rondo back

Rajon Rondo certainly had his fair share of memorable moments during the 2016-17 campaign. First, there was the one-game suspension he was served following a verbal altercation with assistant coach Jim Boylen.

Then, there was the infamous Instagram post in response to Wade and Butler’s critical comments about the younger players on the roster after the Bulls coughed a double-digit lead in a 119-114 loss to the Atlanta Hawks in late January.

Let’s not forget about the fact that he met with the front office about not being satisfied with a reduced role, as well as the five-game stretch in which he was removed from the rotation altogether.

These events could have soured his attitude and resulted in Rondo potentially distancing himself from his teammates and the coaching staff. Instead, he remained professional for the most part and performed at a high level when he returned to the lineup.

In those two wins against the Celtics, Rondo posted averages of 11.5 points, 10.0 assists, 8.5 rebounds and 3.5 steals per game. Even more important, the Bulls offense produced 108.5 points per contest.

After he went down with an injury towards the end of Game 2, though, the wheels fell of the wagon sort to speak. Not only did the Bulls lose the next four games, they averaged just 90.5 points per outing.

The lack of production from the other quartet of point guards — along with standing up for his younger teammates — dramatically boosted Rondo’s stock within the organization. At this point, it would be shocking if he was not in a Bulls uniform next season.