C H I C A G O   B U L L S
Go-To Guy | Weakest Link | Burning Question | Outlook

Bulls at a Glance Coach: Bill Cartwright Last Year: 21-61 (Stats) Key Additions: F Corie Blount, F Donyell Marshall, G Jay Williams Key Losses: G A.J. Guyton, F Charles Oakley Projected Starters PG Jay Williams SG Jalen Rose SF Donyell Marshall PF Tyson Chandler C Eddy Curry Key Subs PG Jamal Crawford SG Eddie Robinson PF Marcus Fizer PF Corie Blount

By John Hollinger, CNNSI.com

The Bulls have floundered mightily since Michael Jordan skipped town, but after four brutal years they finally have enough talent in place to climb out of the Central Division cellar.

The Bulls started on the path to respectability last year. While the draft-day trade of Elton Brand for Tyson Chandler may have been a step backward, the Bulls made up for it by selecting promising center Eddy Curry and seeing a return to health from guard Jamal Crawford. The Bulls also parted ways with overmatched head coach Tim Floyd at midseason, replacing him with a more seasoned NBA hand in Bill Cartwright. The mid-year acquisition of Jalen Rose sent out at least as much talent as it brought in, but it also filled a glaring need for a perimeter scorer to take the heat off Curry and Chandler for a year or two.

There are more reasons for hope. This year's draft brought in Duke star Jay "please don't confuse me with those guys named Ja(y)son" Williams, who should provide immediate dividends at the point guard spot. Additionally, the return of Eddie Robinson from injury and the signing of free-agent forward Donyell Marshall will bolster the Bulls' attack.

Jalen Rose, G/F -- At least for now. Curry or Williams almost certainly will be the focal point of the offense by this time next year, but until then the Bulls need Rose to be their primary offensive weapon. Rose isn't a big-time scorer, but he'll deliver in the high teens consistently. More important, his passing skills will allow him to set the table for the Bulls' youngsters and let them grow into their roles without any undue pressure.

Long-term, he could become a problem. Rose turns 30 in January, and as his skills start to wane, the young studs in Chicago's lineup are certain to take away his primary role in the offense. It may not happen this year, but it's exactly what happened to Rose in Indiana, and one of the reasons he was available in a trade was because he handled the situation so poorly.

Interior defense -- Chicago has a lot of promise and a lot of talented wing players, but it doesn't have much in the way of bulk, and its two starting big men are still learning how to play NBA defense.

Chandler has a chance to become a fantastic defensive player, but he still needs to develop a stopper's mentality and get more aggressive on the glass. Curry isn't a shot-blocker at the center spot and also has quite a bit of learning to do. Making matters worse is the Bulls' lack of other viable options in the frontcourt. Corie Blount, brought in to play backup center, is a 33-year-old journeyman whose natural position is power forward. The Bulls were forced to sign him because their only other true center, Dalibor Bagaric, was so unsightly last season. At power forward, Marcus Fizer is undersized and does nothing to make up for it. Donyell Marshall also should see time at that spot, but is noted for his propensity to loaf on defense.

Overall, there's not a single player in the frontcourt who can be pointed out as a particularly strong defender or a particularly strong rebounder. Chandler and Curry could change that depending on how they develop, but heading into the season it's a serious concern.

How will the Baby Bulls develop?

Chicago's future hinges on the development of two players who will be just 19 years old when camp opens: Curry and Chandler.

Both players struggled mightily during the first half of last season but dialed it up a notch during the second half. Chandler still needs to put on muscle, but at 7-foot-1 and with good athletic skills, he drew comparisons to a young Ralph Sampson. Best of all, he became more aggressive on the glass as the year went on, and is learning how to use his length to dominate defensively.

Curry was even better last season, flashing a surprisingly effective mid-range jumper and turning into a bona fide scoring threat down the stretch. He has the opposite problem of Chandler -- keeping his weight under control will be his biggest struggle. If he can stay in shape, he has a bright future, because his offensive skills could make him a star. Even with his struggles out of the gate, he finished last year at 50 percent from the floor.

Improving

Fast Facts • Because Chicago had played fewer games at the time of his trade from Indiana, Jalen Rose played a league-leading 83 games last season. • The Bulls were the league's worst field-goal percentage defense last season, allowing opponents to shoot 46.5 percent.

The Bulls won't be a laughingstock. After the nightly embarassments of the Tim Floyd era, that alone will make this season feel like a wild success.

Curry and Chandler will be extremely important, obviously. Not only is the duo the key to the team's long-term plans, but the Bulls also need the two to play a lot of minutes this season, because Chicago's frontcourt depth is pathetic. Along with the rookie Williams, they should be a fun gang for Chicago fans to watch grow over the next few seasons.

While the two big men develop, the Bulls finally have a perimeter game capable of holding down the fort. Rose, Marshall, Williams and Robinson should all score in the mid-teens, giving the team more viable options than it had last season.

The soft frontcourt and absence of a superstar means the Bulls will need everything to break perfectly to make the playoffs. However, 30 wins looks quite attainable. Anyone who watched this team over the past four years will take that in a heartbeat.