NBA Season Preview 2019-20: Every team’s biggest question

Chicago Bulls: Can they sneak into the Eastern Conference Playoffs?

Considering the organization’s general dysfunction over the past four seasons, it almost sounds silly to suggest the Bulls could be knocking on the door of their first postseason appearance since being eliminated by the Celtics in the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs. And yet, given the instability of the Eastern Conference, that exact possibility may be within their grasp.

Consider the following: The Bulls traded for Otto Porter Jr. on Feb. 7, and from that point onward, they almost looked like a competent basketball team, improving from a 12-42 start to go 10-18 over their final 28 games. That’s still a far cry from actual good basketball, but in this Eastern Conference, standards can be set a little bit lower. It may only take .500 basketball to earn a playoff spot this season, and with improvement in the right areas, the Bulls may have a chance.

By and large, the Bulls’ case for a postseason berth doesn’t look all that different from the Hawks’. It’s predicated on further maturation from young players like Wendell Carter Jr., Lauri Markkanen and Coby White. Where the Bulls separate themselves from Atlanta, though, is in their stronger cast of veteran talent. Offseason acquisitions Thaddeus Young and Tomas Satoransky look like savvy signings, adding valuable experience to the rotation without taking away touches from their blue-chip youngsters.

As improbable as it may sound, with their blend of youth and experience, the Chicago Bulls might just be good enough to play themselves into the mix for a lower seed and playoff berth.