Bulls projected lineup and rotations heading into 2023-24 season

Chicago Bulls starting center: Nikola Vucevic

The Bulls signed Nikola Vucevic to a three-year, $60 million contract over the summer. That was when it became clear no foundational changes were being made. From a front-office perspective, it’s probably better to have Vooch under contract than to lose him for nothing. That said, it’s borderline malpractice to run back the same group as last season and Chicago will struggle to find eager trade partners for Vucevic at that dollar amount.

Vucevic is a two-time former All-Star who can still put up numbers. He averaged 17.6 points and 11.0 rebounds on 59.4 TS% last season, a boon to fantasy teams everywhere. He’s a better-than-average passer for his position and the Bulls generated a lot of offense out of Vucevic dribble-handoffs.

That said, Vucevic is another relatively weak point in the defense. He can handle physical matchups in the post and there’s certain defensive value in ending possessions with a rebound, but Vucevic can’t really stick with ball-handlers in space. Opposing offenses make an effort to involve Vucevic in actions that draw him away from the rim and that will only increase in frequency if the Bulls can scrape together a postseason berth.

Now 32 years old, Vucevic is on the back end of his prime — if not fully in the downfall stage of his career. The Bulls could be spending over $20 million on a 35-year-old defensive liability once Vucevic’s contract runs its course. That has the potential to not age well.

Primary backup center: Andre Drummond

It’s impossible to complain about the value of Andre Drummond on a $3.4 million contract, but it’s fair to question the Bulls’ general roster-building philosophy. Drummond feels out of place on a non-contender at this point in his career, but he’s a vigorous rebounder who provides enough rim protection to empower the quality guard defenders stationed around him in Chicago.

Drummond has a knack for doing a little too much on offense every now and again, but he’s an undeniable talent — maybe the best rebounder in the NBA, blessed with unreal strength and supernatural sonar ability on the glass — and the Bulls will rely on him heavily. He may even close some games over Vucevic depending on what certain matchups demand defensively.

Other players who could receive minutes at center: Patrick Williams, Torrey Craig