Three consecutive years of making the playoffs, culminating in a 49-win season and the first playoff series victory since the days of Michael Jordan; the Bulls we're back. The Bulls were a young team, but they were talented too, a gritty defensive team full of shooters who would get red-hot from the field -- what a difference a year makes. This past season the Bulls turned into one of the worst offensive teams in the league, finishing a very disappointing 33-49. Players lashed out, and there were plenty of internal troubles for the organization. After a very surprising season which included the firing of a coach, a blockbuster trade, and the turning down of contract extensions by both Ben Gordon and Luol Deng, its time for a fresh start.
First time Head Coach Vinny Del Negro hopes to put the Bulls back on track
The Head Coach
The off-season has been long and tiring for Bulls fans, albeit with bright spots, long non-the-less. For a while, Chicago expected to land Phoenix Suns former Head Coach Mike D'antoni, inventor of the famous "Seven Seconds or Less" offensive scheme, but he opted to go to the Knicks to win 20 games next year -- (no, I'm not bitter at all). But finally, after a seven-plus week search for a new head coach, Chicago decided on Phoenix assistant GM Vinny Del Negro.; and although he has no coaching expirence, feel free to buy into the new guy. Chicago has already been through the hard-nosed expirienced coach in Scott Skiles, and they've learned the intangibles and how to play hard, but this team, who is STILL one of the youngest in the NBA, may now need a young coach who they can feel compatible with. Even though he may be a coaching rookie, Del Negro knows his basketball -- Del Negro played under Jim Valvano at N.C. State before going on to play 13 seasons in the NBA. In 1992 Del Negro was the Italian League MVP and led Benetton Treviso to their first Championship, so he knows how to win.
Returning Key Players
After a year as one of the most inefficient teams offensively its safe to say the Bulls should only improve; and its best to think that Chicago's shooters were just on a cold streak - an 82-game cold streak. With the draft and free agency and a new coach, its hard to predict what next year's roster will look like, but hes what to expect from some key players who currently hold a roster spot.
Kirk Hinrich
One of the Captains of next year's squad, is that a sign on who the Bulls will draft this year? Who knows, but Hinrich has improved every year except for last year and already signed a contract extension last year. John Paxson once said "Kirk Hinrich is imperative to the foundation of our organization," so take that as you will, and if Kirk good enough to play for the U.S. Senior National Team, then he should be good enough to play for the Bulls.
Luol Deng
Another Captain next year, Luol may have the most pressure on him to perform than any other Bull. After turning down a lucrative contract extension and playing so poorly, he needs to take his game to the next level to justify paxsons refusal to trade him for Kobe Bryant.
Ben Gordon
After three years of "is he a starter or is he a reserve?" we should finally have out answer - Reserve, and a damn good one. Gordon is much more valuable to Chicago coming off the bench, keeping the teams offense flowing and acting as a huge scoring threat while the opponents have their subs in. Gordon also refused a contract extension, so his future with the Bulls even next seaon is still uncertain.
Andres Nocioni
It looks like taking that contract extension now was a great idea, Nocioni's value was as high as it would get, especially after last years disappointing season by the Bulls in general. Nocioni is a fan favorite and a hard-nosed professional, the kind of player teams NEED to succeed down the road.
Drew Gooden
Other than getting rid of Ben Wallace's contract, Gooden was the other bright spot in last years blockbuster trade. Gooden isn't going to take many people to the basket and dunk on them, but hes a good low post presence and has a good enough jump shot to make defenders pay for playing loose. Even if he isn't extremely productive right now, at 26-years-old theres still time for improvement.
And Don't Forget...
Barring a shocking turn of events, either Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley will be on their way to Chicago on June 28th.
Returning Key Players
After a year as one of the most inefficient teams offensively its safe to say the Bulls should only improve; and its best to think that Chicago's shooters were just on a cold streak - an 82-game cold streak. With the draft and free agency and a new coach, its hard to predict what next year's roster will look like, but hes what to expect from some key players who currently hold a roster spot.
Kirk Hinrich
One of the Captains of next year's squad, is that a sign on who the Bulls will draft this year? Who knows, but Hinrich has improved every year except for last year and already signed a contract extension last year. John Paxson once said "Kirk Hinrich is imperative to the foundation of our organization," so take that as you will, and if Kirk good enough to play for the U.S. Senior National Team, then he should be good enough to play for the Bulls.
Luol Deng
Another Captain next year, Luol may have the most pressure on him to perform than any other Bull. After turning down a lucrative contract extension and playing so poorly, he needs to take his game to the next level to justify paxsons refusal to trade him for Kobe Bryant.
Ben Gordon
After three years of "is he a starter or is he a reserve?" we should finally have out answer - Reserve, and a damn good one. Gordon is much more valuable to Chicago coming off the bench, keeping the teams offense flowing and acting as a huge scoring threat while the opponents have their subs in. Gordon also refused a contract extension, so his future with the Bulls even next seaon is still uncertain.
Andres Nocioni
It looks like taking that contract extension now was a great idea, Nocioni's value was as high as it would get, especially after last years disappointing season by the Bulls in general. Nocioni is a fan favorite and a hard-nosed professional, the kind of player teams NEED to succeed down the road.
Drew Gooden
Other than getting rid of Ben Wallace's contract, Gooden was the other bright spot in last years blockbuster trade. Gooden isn't going to take many people to the basket and dunk on them, but hes a good low post presence and has a good enough jump shot to make defenders pay for playing loose. Even if he isn't extremely productive right now, at 26-years-old theres still time for improvement.
And Don't Forget...
Barring a shocking turn of events, either Derrick Rose or Michael Beasley will be on their way to Chicago on June 28th.
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