NBA Season Preview 2019-20: The one reason to watch each and every team

Chicago Bulls: On the playoff prowl

Among the dark horses with a chance of sliding into the Eastern Conference playoffs’ DMs this year, the Chicago Bulls join the Hawks as the most likely candidates. With a healthy Wendell Carter Jr., Tomas Satoransky capably filling in the 1-spot and another year of growth from Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen, things in the Windy City have stabilized from the days of near-mutiny.

Otto Porter Jr. is a terrific wing complement given LaVine’s defensive flaws. Kris Dunn is no longer the only conceivable option at point guard. Denzel Valentine is back, and rookie Coby White will be hungry to prove himself off the bench.

Head coach Jim Boylen has caught a lot of flak for his team’s poor numbers on both ends of the floor, but the Bulls showed signs of life down the stretch last season and there’s ample room for growth here. Adding NBA vets like Satoransky and especially Thaddeus Young brings a sense of composure Chicago just didn’t have with such a young group before.

If Carter can get back into a groove quickly, this team might just be good enough to sneak its way into a wide-open Eastern Conference playoff picture. LaVine is dynamite in a bottle, and all these youngsters are worth monitoring, but it’s their potential to be competitive that will really make them fun to watch.