Chicago comes into 2018-19 with heightened expectations thanks to the emergence of Lauri Markkanen and the offseason acquisition of Jabari Parker.
Last season, the Bulls endured their first true rebuild since the departure of Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Phil Jackson after their second three-peat of the 1990s. The trade of Jimmy Butler to Minnesota signified the waving of a white flag for the Bulls who had trouble recreating the success of the 2011-2013 Chicago Bulls. In trading Butler, the Bulls permanently closed the book on the Tom Thibodeau-era of Bulls history and charted a new path under third-year head coach Fred Hoiberg.
As expected, Hoiberg and the Bulls took their lumps with Chicago having their lowest win total since the 2003-04 season (27-55). Just to give you an idea of how long ago that season was: the Bulls leading scorer that season was a then 23-year-old Jamal Crawford.
How about one more? Current Bulls star Lauri Markennen was just six years old.
So, yeah, it’s been a while since the Bulls were as bad as they were last season.
This season, though, Chicago comes in with heightened expectations thanks to a relatively wide-open Eastern Conference, the emergence of rookie Lauri Markkanen and the offseason acquisition of Chicago native Jabari Parker. Those in and around Chicago aren’t thinking championship, of course, but can’t help but wonder if these Baby Bulls could find their way into the playoffs.
Projection models aren’t as optimistic.
Kevin Pelton’s summer win projections have the Bulls as the Eastern Conference’s second-worst team with only 28 projected wins. If Chicago is going to beat those projections it will take breakout performances from their starters, two of which have tremendously underperformed expectations and rookie Wendell Carter Jr. will have to be the breakout star many believe he can be.