If the Chicago Bulls want to compete for a playoff spot next season, they need to make some significant changes to the roster. Arturas Karnisovas has made his intention to keep the current core together clear, and if that’s the case, Chicago will have to add some serious help around their key guys.
Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic are solid players, but they need the right group around them if they want to effectively compete for a playoff spot. According to Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report, it’s “unbelievable” that this group was a top-five defense this past year, and they should always be looking for defensive help.
None of Chicago’s core three players are great defenders, so putting quality defensive players around them will be key moving forward, according to Buckley.
“Assuming the Bulls plan to keep running with this Big Three, they’ll forever be on the lookout for defensive-minded support players,” Buckley wrote. “And since at least three of their five starters will be less than elite stoppers, they need defenders who can kick around to multiple positions and silence whoever the opposition’s top scoring threat is night after night.”
Buckley also gave a ton of credit to Chicago’s coaching staff for leading this past season’s team to defensive success.
“It’s a huge credit to this coaching staff and Chicago’s role players that the Bulls had this season’s fifth-most efficient defense, per NBA.com.
“That’s a big accomplishment for any club, but it’s an almost unbelievable one for this group,” Buckley wrote.
If defense can be the Bulls’ calling card, they should be in good shape heading into next season. But if they want to do that, adding the right defensive-minded role players will be crucial.
