Predicting the Chicago Bulls' starting five for the 2022-23 season

Predicting the Chicago Bulls’ starting five for the 2022-23 season

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MARCH 07: Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls talks with Ayo Dosunmu #12 and DeMar DeRozan #11 against the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center on March 7, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The 76ers defeated the Bulls 121-106. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

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Nikola Vucevic, Chicago Bulls. Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images /

Chicago Bulls projected center: Nikola Vučević

In hindsight, sending multiple first-round picks (one of which turned into Franz Wagner) and Wendell Carter for Nikola Vučević doesn’t look like the best deal.

To be fair, Vučević didn’t have a terrible season; he averaged a double-double (17.6 PPG, 11.0 RPG) and EPM was pretty bullish on his offense (plus-0.2, 71st percentile) and defense (plus-0.5, 74th percentile), but his subpar efficiency (53.3 true shooting percentage), inability to get to the foul line (10.5 free throw attempt percentage) and his lack of defensive versatility (15th percentile in BBall Index’s on-ball defense metric) cause this feeling of buyers remorse among the fanbase.

Of course, none of this will matter if Vučević shoots better than 31.4 percent from 3 and increases his effectiveness as a screener (93rd percentile in screen assists per 75, but 25th percentile in PPP as the roll man). It would also make his already-good pairings with LaVine and DeRozan (both pick-and-roll tandems average 1.13 PPP) even better.

Can DeMar sustain his production for the Bulls?. dark. Next

If we get a repeat of last year, though, it will curtail any plans the Bulls have to advance past the quarterfinals.

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