Media Day

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media-day-2023

Media Day 2023

Sam Smith

- The newest Bull, Goran Dragić, was going to have to deal with it sometime, so may as well get it over with on media opening day, The Dunk!

Sorry, Michael, but it probably was the most powerful in Bulls history, Derrick Rose’s 2010 two-hand, double pump throwdown on Dragić in Phoenix. If Darryl Dawkins were around, you know he would have named it the, “Pooh flyin’, Dragon cryin’, rim bendin’, game endin’, cactus dyin’, I-ain’t-lyin, never-seen-anything-like-that jam.

It wasn’t a glorious Bulls season, a .500 second year for Rose who, nevertheless, was shocking the NBA. The play in the eventual 115-104 Bulls win led with a Kirk Hinrich steal. Tyrus Thomas gathered the ball, dribbled twice and threw ahead to Rose, who rose and rose and rose and made the 6-3 Dragić look about 5-9.

“I was young, when was that?” Dragić asked smiling through the interrogation. “That was my second year in the league. "First year I didn’t play much, so my second year I started to play a little bit. So I had to go for that play.”

Bad idea. He might have noticed there were no Suns teammates within five feet of him. Rose’s reputation was getting around.

When the subject was first raised at the end of Dragić’s session, Dragić immediately laughed and said, “Yes, this is my nightmare. The funny thing is this was the only time somebody dunked on me in my whole NBA career. It’s fine.&nbsp;I even talked to Derrick. We were together in Zagreb when we had an Adidas campaign and I came to him and I said 'You had to do it like that?' Of course, if I know now I would never go (for it).

"At least,” Dragić said with a laugh, “I'm on TV all the time.”

-Never to be confused with Bill Russell, Alex Caruso says he’ll probably switch from his jersey No. 6 after this season.

The NBA following the death of icon Russell July 31 announced players this season will wear a round No. 6 patch on their jerseys to honor Russell and his No. 6 will be retired permanently around the league like No 42 in baseball for Jackie Robinson. Players currently wearing No. 6 can retain it. Caruso at his Monday Media Day conference said he considered a change for this season, but the NBA barred him under its rule that a player with a top 75 selling jersey is not allowed to switch numbers without a one-year notice.

I know: who knew Alex Caruso had a best selling jersey.&nbsp;

So, yes, Alex Caruso is among the top 75.

The Bulls don’t have any players in the top 15, but Bulls team merchandise ranks No. 4 in sales behind the Lakers, 76ers and Warriors.

“I did give some thought to changing it this year,” Caruso said. “The NBA told me I couldn’t because I was in the top 75 of jersey sales (Caruso jokingly pats himself on the back). I want to honor him and his legacy and what he stood for. He’s one of the pioneers, a racial advocate for the game of basketball in general and just an all around great person. Probably next year I’ll look into getting another number.

“The No. 6 was chosen by me because I couldn’t be No. 4 because it’s retired here, obviously (for Jerry Sloan),” Caruso explained. “(No. 6) was just the best looking number in the single digits that was left. So that’s why I chose it. But I did give some thought to changing it this year.”

-No, they’re not trading him for Rudy Gobert.

Nikola Vučević continued to have fun with the summer rumors, reports and speculation, apparently specious, that the Bulls were trying to trade him for Utah center Rudy Gobert. When asked about it at the start of his media session Monday, Vučević cracked, “I was on Zillow every day for Salt Lake.

“I didn’t pay attention to it too much,” Vučević said. “I spoke to AK and Billy (Donovan) and knew what they were thinking. When Gobert got traded I made a little joke about it, having some good fun on Twitter. (on another topic, so you can have fun on Twitter?)”

When the Gobert trade to Minnesota was announced, Vučević sent a tweet which read: “Glad my offer for the house I found in Salt Lake got rejected.”

On to basketball matters, Vučević was asked about playing a “stretch four” position with free agent center addition Andre Drummond at center since Vučević despite some down numbers last season is a high level three-point shooter.

“I’m open to see how it works,” Vučević said referencing playing some with Tristan Thompson late last season. Though coach Billy Donovan never discloses lineup plans, he appeared to wince in pain when the possibility was suggested.&nbsp;

The unusually candid Vučević also offered one of the best responses, honest and most realistic I’ve heard from a player entering the last year of his contract.

“It (contract year) doesn’t weigh on me at all,” said Vučević. “It’s not my first contract. I’ve been in the NBA for 12 years. I’ve established a very good life for even post career, so I don’t think about that too much.” According to Basketball Reference, Vučević has grossed $134 million in NBA contract salary going into this season.

-In the still-got-that-chip-on-his-shoulder department, DeMar DeRozan quickly dug into his familiar bag of sometimes esoteric metaphors when he was asked about the latest narrative that now at 33 no way he can do what he did last year at 32.

“At this point, I always find humor in it,” said DeRozan. “You always try to find reasons to be motivated. At this point, I have so many other motivational factors that it becomes laughable. It’s kind of like free energy. I indulge in it and just let them eat their words whenever they eat it. But it’s never my main focal point on driving me. But it do irk me here and there. It’s like, “Damn, what did I do to you all? Who comes up with that theory? I always wondered that. It ain’t like I’m 48. As long as I got wheels on this car, I’m going to ride it until these wheels don’t work anymore. While I’m driving this thing, I’m going to figure out how to be the most effective and efficient driving machine that I can be. I never put those thoughts in my mind, saying, ‘Oh, I’m going into my 14th year. Maybe I’m slowing down or can’t do this.’ I have a lot of conversations with a lot of guys that are older than me in this league, like Chris Paul. Being this motivation factor of this whole age thing that people love to put on people, it’s like why? As long as you take care of yourself, as long as you work, technology is completely different. It’s not like I’m Kevin Willis out here or anything like that. Shoutout Kevin Willis. I love getting older just to show people you still can get better the older you get.”

Willis, by the way, was a rugged center known for his angry stare and the shortest arms for a seven footer who played 22 years with nine teams, mostly in Atlanta, and retired in 2007 after a few games in Dallas. “Shout out to Kevin Willis,” DeRozan added.

So who went to Europe on vacation this summer? Billy Donovan, raise your hand. It seems Donovan took a side trip to Slovenia to meet with new free agent Dragić just before the European national tournament began. Recalled Dragić: “Billy came to visit me in Slovenia. At that time, I had my basketball camp for my kids. He came just to see and try to talk in person a little bit. I was surprised and grateful that he came so far; we were just talking about life, about basketball, about how he thinks we’re going to play and what he thinks I can bring; was a really positive conversation and that’s why I’m really glad and happy I can be here and work with him.”

Dragić said the Bulls did not ask him to skip the grueling EuroBasket tournament earlier this month, though Dragić admitted he had doubts. But he said it’s not something you do at home.

“Arturas asked me if I’m gonna play and I said yes and was no more discussion,” Dragić revealed. “Of course, I understand every organization is afraid of their players (being injured) when they sign a deal and it’s a long summer. But as an international player when you don’t play for your national team it’s really tough to go back home. When you walk on the street and the fans are yelling at you, 'Why you don’t play? You got enough money,” and this and that; it's tough. I was always that guy I didn’t only play for my country and my national team only because I have to but because this was a great opportunity to prepare myself for the NBA season.”

-Patrick Williams attended DeRozan’s workout boot camp, an apparently similar offseason program like Jimmy Butler did with some Bulls players. Williams didn’t want to get into specific detail so not to reveal DeRozan’s aging secrets, but he did offer the timing. Said Williams, who seemed a bit slimmer: “The workout starts at 5 a.m. Starts at 5 on the dot, not 5:01, not 4:59 – 5 a.m. You can't be pulling in the parking lot at 5 a.m.; we probably got there at 4:30. I was still sleepy when he came to pick me up, so I don't know exactly what time. But we definitely got there around like 4:30. Started to work out, the lift at 5. It's a tough lift, for sure. It's mostly like core, pushing yourself to exhaustion and then seeing what you can do after that. Then after that, it's on to the court. Do court workout. He puts himself through every situation he can possibly be in the game, every double-team, triple-team. It's different. One on one, one-on-three; it’s just different. Then of course he has a family. He goes home and tends to them, be with them, still be a father. Kind of seeing he gets his work done early and now he has the rest of the day to be a dad, a family member, a brother or whatever. Then we go back in the afternoon for more.

“The fun part for me was the workout,” Williams said. “I didn't really get introduced to celebrities. Meeting celebrities to me isn't really fun. I guess the basketball part is.”

-Zach LaVine on the upcoming season expectations: “If they’re not high then what are we doing here? Obviously, we’re a team that held a top seeded record in the East all the way until a little bit after All-Star break. Made our first playoff berth, got our feet wet. But our expectations have to be really high. So if we’re not thinking we can compete for championships then we’re selling ourselves short.’’

-DeRozan on the scary East now a Beast: “This is the toughest the East has been since I’ve been in the league. That makes it exciting. I can’t wait to get to practice tomorrow. That’s what it’s all about. You want to compete at the highest level against the best. That’s fun. There are no nights off. That’s how you want it. You don’t want to go to the movies and watch 10 movies and they all crappy movies. I want to see all blockbuster thrillers.”

Got a question for Sam?Submit your question to Sam at&nbsp;asksam@bulls.com

The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Chicago Bulls. All opinions expressed by Sam Smith are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Chicago Bulls or its Basketball Operations staff, parent company, partners, or sponsors. His sources are not known to the Bulls and he has no special access to information beyond the access and privileges that go along with being an NBA accredited member of the media.

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Bulls Media Day notes: Dragić talks D-Rose dunk, LaVine on expectations, and more

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media-day-2019

Media Day 2019

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Behind the Scenes at Bulls Media Day

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The Chicago Bulls have signed free agents Perrion Callandret, Milton Doyle and Justin Simon to round out their 2019-20 training camp roster. In accordance with team policy, terms of the contracts were not announced.

Callandret (6-2, 180) played in four games on the Bulls' 2019 MGM Resorts NBA Summer League team, averaging 2.3 points per game. Prior to his Summer League experience, Callandret played five seasons at Idaho from 2013-18 after qualifying for a medical redshirt in the 2016-17 season due to a knee injury. Overall, he appeared in 113 games (48 starts) for the Vandals with career averages of 8.0 points, 2.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists per game. As a junior, Callandret averaged 14.0 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists per game, scoring in double-figures in 17 contests. A native of Bothell, Wash., Callandret sustained a season-ending injury just two games into his senior campaign. He appeared in 27 games (21 starts) in his redshirt senior season (2017-2018), shooting .440 from the floor and .407 from behind the arc.

Doyle (6-4, 180) returns to the NBA after spending the 2018-19 season with UCAM Murcia in Liga ACB (Spain), where he averaged 11.1 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists in 23.0 minutes per game. Prior to playing overseas, Doyle saw time in a 10-game stint with the Brooklyn Nets in 2017-18. He averaged 3.4 points, 1.8 rebounds and 1.0 assists in the NBA while also spending time with the Long Island Nets of the G League. With Long Island, Doyle averaged 20.5 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game and was named to the G League All-Star Game. A Chicago native, Doyle became the first player in Loyola University Chicago's program history to be named First Team All-Missouri Valley Conference in his senior season (2016-17).

Simon (6-5, 215) played in five games on the Bulls' 2019 MGM Resorts NBA Summer League team and averaged 6.8 points, 4.0 rebounds and 1.40 steals per game. Prior to his Summer League experience, Simon played a combined three seasons at Arizona and St. John's University (2015-19) where he averaged 8.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 1.53 steals per contest in 91 games (66 starts) while shooting .470 from the field and .351 from three. After transferring from Arizona to St. John's following his freshman campaign, the Los Angeles native's averages in points (11.3), rebounds (6.1), assists (4.1) and steals (1.97) across his two years in Queens, NY, were among team highs and his 132 total steals over that span ranked in the top 20 nationally. His collegiate career was capped off by helping the Johnnies reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in five years on his way to being named 2018-19 BIG EAST Defensive Player of the Year.

The Bulls will open training camp with Media Day at the Advocate Center on Sept. 30.

bulls-finalize-2019-20-training-camp-roster

Bulls Finalize 2019-20 Training Camp Roster

The 2019-20 NBA regular season seven-month marathon begins for the Bulls Monday with the "media day" official opening of training camp. For the players, it means interviews and posing for their yearbook photos, and for management the hope is no one gets injured by a photo light.

The last two seasons have mostly been a marathon for the training staff as the rebuilding core of Lauri Markkanen, Kris Dunn and Zach LaVine missed a combined total of 187 games primarily due to injury, an average of more than 60 games for each player over the last two years.

Thus "assuming good health" becomes the Bulls' leitmotif if the team intends to play some sweet string music with the nets this season.

There's actually reason for hope, if not also optimism, despite the third fewest wins in the league during the last two seasons.

Good health is not a given for anyone, so that goes into the luck category.

Though quietly — which these days generally means not having been seriously involved in tampering — the Bulls have assembled a competitive roster with depth and experience that in a diminished Eastern Conference could prove to be among the competitors for the playoffs. The Bulls generally are not regarded among that group, and true, this is the team's web site. But the team's web site did not suggest playoffs the last two seasons.

Nothing personal, but there's no more Cameron Payne, Quincy Pondexter, Sean Kilpatrick, Kay Felder, Jerian Grant, Paul Zipser, Wayne Selden, Rawle Alkins and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot. Most were high character people, but still part of an audition process.

Rehearsals are over; Madison Street may become Broadway again.

The Bulls were not primary participants in the summer free agency madness. It started for the Bulls in February with the acquisition of Washington's Otto Porter, the 6-8 forward who would have been a top second tier free agent if he were available in the summer. Then came the furtive additions of veterans like forward Thaddeus Young and point guard Tomas Satoransky. So suddenly without the big name addition or the so called winning the press conference signing, the Bulls replaced tryouts with tried and true. Maybe not great, but parts that could fill the gaps.

The enhancements provide depth, playoff experience, potential leadership, shooting and perhaps a neat fit with the efficient Porter, the versatile Young and the unselfish Satoransky.

Still, LaVine and Markkanen represent the team's aspirations.

The high scoring LaVine and long distance shooting seven-foot Markkanen project as possible All-Stars, and perhaps even this season with the annual All-Star game coming to Chicago in February for the first time since 1988. Though there are exceptions, like the 2004 Pistons, 2011 Mavericks and last season's Toronto Raptors (hey, that's a lot for being exceptions), elite teams usually require multiple stars.

LaVine was among the league's leading scorers last season, a group that includes the league's poorest defenders like James Harden and Russell Westbrook. And Markkanen can be almost a matchup impossibility with his size and skills. They could evolve to stardom. It's the team's hope, if not certain promise.

Especially in a modest Eastern Conference in which All Stars Kawhi Leonard and D'Angelo Russell went to the Western Conference, two others in Kyrie Irving and Kemba Walker changed teams, and another, Victor Oladipo, remains injured going into the season. Plus, players like Kyle Lowry seemed to benefit by playing next to an All-Star like Leonard. The East All-Star roster seems wide open as does the conference and the Bulls possibilities for this season.

Though this is Year 3 of the latest construction project, it's really the first season when the goal is less about who else to add and how much you can achieve.

Still there are questions; here's 10 to consider for the next several months.

Yes. Will they? That's not as certain. But with the veteran acquisitions and the experience of LaVine and Markkanen, the Bulls should be in the mix for at least the last four playoff spots. Along with perhaps six other teams. Which will leave out three who on media day didn't see why they couldn't have been one of them.

Not yet, at least. Or so it seems. Dunn was the third part of the 2017 trade for Jimmy Butler, and truth be told, he was the primary target at the time. The Bulls had been enamored of and seriously scouting Dunn for at least two years. His injuries from his first Bulls training camp were devastating when it looked like he was about to become an elite guard. And then amidst the personnel parade and coaching change, he seemed to fall out of favor. Coaches love to say coming into camp that all positions are open to competition. Dunn likely will have a chance to retain the starting point guard spot. Remember, he had to win it from Grant two years ago. And the Bulls certainly could use a force at the point of the defense. Perhaps only Dunn could supply that. He's talented and almost 6-5. He should be motivated in a contact season. The starting point guard competition between Dunn and Satoransky should be the best — and maybe truly the only — in training camp.

Zach. Though there's a difference with this Bulls team between the best talent and the leader. The presumption usually is the best player should be the leader. Ideally, that would be the case, like with LeBron with the Lakers or Giannis with the Bucks. Though there's also sentiment for Markkanen to be that figure, his personality is subdued and he too often has lacked enough physical component in his game to challenge the defense and get to the free throw line. He seems to be more comfortable in the skilled aspects of the game and being a support player. LaVine is better at seeking out contact, and he seems more driven to be a star. Though with this Bulls team, you get the sense it will be driven more by players like Young, especially, as well as Satoransky and perhaps Porter. Young is vocal with playoff experience and an outgoing personality. Satoransky clearly was the leader of his national team. Those three are serious competitors who seem capable of dominating a locker room. Zach's likely to be the main scorer. If those guys can help the team get the victories, it should give Zach and Lauri a chance to be the All Stars they want to be.

No, though it probably won't matter enough to be fatal. After all, this isn't the title-or-bust season. Carter could be the unexpected breakout player while more eyes are on LaVine and Markkanen. True, he's more Al Horford-as-center size. Horford often played with a center in Boston, and certainly now in Philadelphia. And Carter did have difficulties with the active seven footers, like the Nets' Jarrett Allen and the Pistons' Andre Drummond. Carter, before missing the second half of last season injured, was unusually deferential. He's an especially high character person, and he clearly wanted to set a first impression as an unselfish, quality teammate. He should have looked around and decided he better shoot. He's surrounded by better teammates this season, but he also should take more initiative on offense to offset his lack of size. He figures, like Markkanen, to be another matchup conundrum for defenses. The Bulls still need an athletic seven footer, at least for defense. Though it's still premature for the contending portrait to be complete.

Not that much, it seems to me. That could change depending on the status, circumstances and use of Kris Dunn. Though with four point guards and Ryan Arcidiacono seemingly the most comfortable in the offense, it might not be a high usage season for Coby White. I believe he'd be better served taking advantage of the G-league, where he could practice being a point guard and gain confidence. I don't know what plans the Bulls have for him. But coming in to play the game's most difficult position against the game's best talent for a kid who doesn't turn 20 until late this season is asking way too much, especially with a team that should have playoff aspirations. If things don't go well, sure, play him. But if the Bulls are competing for a playoff spot into April, it will be difficult — and unfair — to be patient with the mistakes of a natural scorer being asked to run a team with so many young veterans. Second round pick Daniel Gafford might fit in more quickly for spot minutes given fewer offensive expectations.

Denzel Valentine and Chandler Hutchison. If those two are hale and hearty, especially because they are wing players where the Bulls are thin, the Bulls could be one of the league's deepest teams. Though neither has been healthy. Valentine seemed to be just breaking through in 2017-18 averaging about 10 points and shooting 39 percent on threes when he missed last season with ankle surgery. Similarly, Hutchison, also a four-year collegian, seemed to be getting comfortable last January when he went out for the rest of his rookie season. He was on a minutes limit in Summer League, and then was injured again, a hamstring strain in workouts earlier this month. Porter lines up to start at small forward. Young probably can play some small forward. Satoransky can play off the ball and Dunn probably can play some at guard and small forward. But it's straining their regular positions if Valentine and Hutchison cannot contribute. If they can, they give the Bulls a sophisticated and deep reserve unit.

Who'll have the most impact of the new guys?

Probably Satoransky even as he's not considered a starter, at least not yet. Though Dunn figures to get a chance to win the starting job, Satoransky seems to be a better backcourt fit with Zach LaVine. There didn't seem to be any personal issues, but LaVine and Dunn have been an uneasy playing fit. Dunn seemed to be his most aggressive when LaVine was out. And then he'd often defer too much playing with LaVine. Satoransky is more of an old style facilitating guard. He's an excellent shooter who looks more to set up the offense and pass. Young could have substantial impact, though perhaps more so as a locker room leader and hustling inspiration to drive the players through those fallow periods during games that have stymied the team the last two seasons and led to long losing streaks. His voice may be the most prominent with this group.

A fast start. Coming off two sub-30 wins seasons, not much is going be expected of the Bulls. The basketball world has mostly been positive about the team's offseason additions and the gambling sites generally have projected a 50 percent win improvement. Which would be impressive, except it gets the Bulls to 32 wins. Most of the prediction sites have the Bulls winning 30-35 games. That's far from playoff contention. The aberration, however, is the surfeit of injuries and, let's say, interest in the draft process the last two years. No more. This season's Bulls schedule is heavily weighted in the second half with the longest road trip in April and many of the top teams in the last two months. Half the opponents the first month were not playoff teams last season. With so many new players, this may be a hit-the-ground-running type season for the Bulls in which they could gain substantial confidence with a good start and while quieting the doubters. The first two months could be crucial.

Who represents the Bulls at the All-Star game in Chicago?

Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen. They just don't want it to be in the dunk contest for two-time champion Zach and in the three-point contest for marksman Lauri. Either or perhaps both given the exoduses in the conference could be All-Stars if the Bulls have a winning first half season. With Victor Oladipo, John Wall and Kevin Durant injured and Kawhi Leonard, D'Angelo Russell and LeBron having gone west, the East All-Star team is open for some new arrivals. Here's a guess at the starters from the combined voting: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kyrie Irving, Jimmy Butler, Bradley Beal and Joel Embiid. It will be tough to unseat that five. There's seven more spots (eight if Dwyane announces another farewell tour). The most likely reserves figure to be Blake Griffin, Kemba Walker and Ben Simmons. So that should be four open spots for which LaVine and Markkanen would compete most likely with Khris Middleton, Trae Young, Al Horford, Tobias Harris, Pascal Siakam, Jayson Tatum, Gordon Hayward, Derrick Rose, Nikola Vucevic, Aaron Gordon, John Collins and Julius Randle. The tiebreakers will be wins.

The least in a very long time. The talk about reseeding the playoffs to the best 16 records from both conferences is going to be on a fast track this season with maybe eight Western Conference teams better than everyone in the East other than the 76ers and perhaps the Bucks. Commissioner Adam Silver likes to innovate and has been looking for something to get fans debating more about the playoffs. I prefer the geographical divisions and don't care for the All-Star game pickup teams concept, either. Some will complain about travel and uneven schedules. And then the league may say so what and give it a try. Silver likes outside the box. But this East this season bodes well for a more competitive Bulls team. There will be assumptions about the Raptors because they are defending champions, but without Leonard they seem ordinary. Gasol and Lowry are slowing and Siakam will find leading without Leonard is difficult. No way Khris Middleton is an All-Star without Giannis. Those Jaylens and Jaysons have come back to earth in Boston. A .500 record wins the Southeast Division. Let's see Kyrie without Durant. The 76ers and Bucks, assuming Giannis for the later remain healthy, look good for the top two spots. But three through eight seems available to 10 teams, including the Bulls. Though, as it's said, that's why they play the games. It's time.

what-are-the-10-biggest-questions-facing-the-bulls-this-season

What Are the 10 Biggest Questions Facing the Bulls this Season?

2018-19-bulls-media-day

2018-19 Bulls Media Day

The NBA season often is likened more to a marathon than a sprint, but it's still a race. The Bulls Monday opened their 2018-19 season—the second day of the next part of their lives in the second season of their rebuild—with their own race.

No one actually mentioned it that way, and Bulls executives were anxious to maintain limited expectations.

"I said earlier this summer after we went to the draft and through free agency that we were pleased in terms of where we are in the rebuild," said Bulls Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations John Paxson. "With that said, we
  also understand that we have a lot of work to do. There is an excitement with the group. (But) you're not going to hear us talk about wins or anything like that; the expectations for us are to see this team come together. Our goal is to be the best
  basketball team we can be, and that's through this group coming together. We have talent, I believe that, and how it comes together, how we play, will determine what kind of win total we end up with, but we're not going to focus on that.'

The players generally tried to offer the right balance between competitive nature and company narrative.

"I think expectations for us is just going to be taking it day by day and being competitive," said Zach LaVine. "I think we'll be fine because we're going to be so excited. We're really hungry. We hear the outside expectations (about another
  27-win season). But I think we use that as fuel. We're going to get off to a hot start with training camp coming. We've all been here and it's going to be fun. That's why I think we're all able to get a jump on the season because we're all healthy now.
  Obviously, we're going out there to win. That's what we do. That's the only way you can get better and that's how you compete; that's how you progress as a team. As players, we're going out there to win and compete every game. I'm not putting expectations
  on this season. Obviously we want to make the playoffs, we want to compete for championships. So that's what we're going to start with, starting tomorrow. Build those championship habits."

"Hopefully," added Lauri Markkanen with a smile, "get more wins than 27 like last year."

Betting the over, which probably is OK now that the NBA has an official betting partner in Las Vegas, sounds right for the Bulls.

It's a team that could/might/should compete for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. It's not a promise, though also not an unreasonable expectation.

Consider that a year ago with the preseason starting, Kris Dunn was behind Jerian Grant on the depth chart, LaVine was three months away from playing 18 minutes, Jabari Parker was in Milwaukee trying to return from a second ACL surgery, Markkanen was
  being eased into the season after playing much of the summer for native Finland and Wendell Carter Jr. was wondering where the heck Marvin Bagley Jr. came from and where his shots were going.

That's probably the finishing five with veteran Robin Lopez likely the starting center based on seniority more than his new goatee. But it's also a group of five, young, talented lottery picks, most of whom have had uncertain NBA debuts. Which also is
  why most are in Chicago. The second time around often works as well.

But it's also a race for these five potential thoroughbreds to becoming a star or stars.

Rebuilding with young players isn't guaranteed. The Bulls will probably be the youngest team in the NBA. That's not necessarily a great thing, at least for the coming season. Raw fruit isn't that appealing; nor really is steak tartare. There aren't many
  rookies in the Finals. So you need to grow and grow together. But a team, you also need a star before the growth matters much.

Perhaps the most intriguing element of this Bulls season is that they have five players who could become stars based on their talent and draft status. Most of the NBA believed all were potential stars at some point given their draft lottery placement.
  But all won't be or can't be. The hope of the team is someone—or three—are. Partly because most successful teams develop or acquire a star and fit a team around that talent.

Of course, everyone will say it's great to have multiple top players who can all take and make those last shots and the big plays; though the fact is a team needs that mega talent or two not so much for that last shot, but so that everyone else can get
  their shots and find their place. Make the defense watch someone else and it opens things for everyone else.

"Great teams seem to have a pecking order," agreed Paxson. "In terms of our leadership, that's something that will play itself out. We didn't have this group play together very much last year. It's a young group. They do have some experience
  in the league now, which is a good thing. I know we're going to try to play quickly, throw the ball ahead a lot, movement."

Which is the responsibility of coach Fred Hoiberg to enforce.

"There aren't a ton of teams in the league who have only one guy that take the last shot," Hoiberg noted. "We had multiple occasions when we were going through our really good stretch last year where Lauri would take the last shot. Or Kris
  Dunn really developed into a closer in a lot of those wins that we had. Zach had a couple games where we put the ball in his hands late in games. Obviously, Jabari is capable of making a big play, especially at the three when you can put him on the
  block and you can take advantage of the mismatch. That will develop as we go along. We'll understand who has the makeup to be that guy that we put the ball in their hands late in games."

"We're going to have to have a lot of sacrifice with this team because of the talent and the many weapons that we're going to have," Hoiberg acknowledged. "It may be a different guy every night. And that will have to be accepted. We want
  growth. We want to continue to get better. If you get guys to compete and buy in, you're going to have a chance every night."

Which is the play it out part that the coaches and management talked about.

But it's also a race to develop that All-Star, which is the goal of every rebuilding team, and the Bulls get in the starting blocks with the first practice Tuesday.

"We have multiple playmakers, so I don't have to create all the plays for everyone. At the same time, I'm a point guard and whoever's got it rolling I have to make sure they get the ball. We have a bunch of scorers on the team, so make sure everyone
  gets their fair share. I have great chemistry with Lauri; Zach, he's easy to play with because he is a knock down shooter, Jabari he's an unselfish player, a slasher and Wendell is another unselfish player who doesn't need the ball or Rolo, who is another
  one. Now, I'm even more comfortable. I think I've built a foundation and put in the hard work last year to get that starting position and I put in that same work to keep my position. I'm just going to keep working hard, keep learning about the game
  and my teammates and go out there with a positive state of mind. I feel like I am the best defender we have; people say Wendell now, but I'm going to hold my ground and keep on competing. I worked on (shooting) all summer, just like any area of my game.
  Everybody has their flaw and you have to understand I just work hard. Fred Hoiberg does an unbelievable job with me with body position and making sure I have the right form and right mechanics and I'm not going to be scared to shoot, simple as that.
  They were freak injuries (last season). I can't do anything about it. I just go out and play hard; hopefully God understands I play so hard He won't allow me to get any more injuries this year."

"I think everybody's role is going to be different. It starts in training camp, but with mine I think it's going to be the same expectations as last year, come in, be a leader of the team, lead by example, show the hard work and be one of the go-to
  guys. There's going to be some dudes' nights here, some dudes' nights there, but obviously we all know our talents and we all know what we can do. We all can play defense, everybody in the NBA can play defense. We're some of the most athletic people
  in the game. It's just that determination and that learning curve. I know personally I've always been really good on the ball. I don't know if you guys can tell me that I'm not good on the ball. I've always had a problem off the weak side and stuff
  like that. That's the main thing you hammer and you try to focus. People are going to talk regardless. It's a story to talk about defense, bad this and bad that. I think we're always looking for the positives and showing how we can grow. We all know
  how explosive we can be on the other end. If we get that down, we're going to be scary. Last year, I was obviously coming off an ACL injury, about 60-70 percent. Now I think I'm back to 100. I lost a little bit of weight, I'm about 200 pounds. I think
  I was like 212 last year, but that's just not my playing weight. I feel a lot lighter, athletic, still strong and I'm ready to go at it."

"I'm just happy starting a new chapter, especially being home. It's just going to take time like anything else. Once we figure out each other and start to gel then we'll see the results. As far as the results go, then we'll know if we're jelling
  or not. It's easier now because [before] I was more centered on myself, my rehab. I was isolated a lot of times. But now it's been better building chemistry with the team. And I'll be able to implement myself a little bit faster rather than in the past
  where I couldn't play before with teammates. So it's been pretty good. I don't set expectations on myself. I just hope that I get better each and every day. Everybody wants to make the playoffs. Just doing the best we can. For me, it's more short term
  thinking in the future. I just want to focus on the steps rather than the finish line."

"I tried to stay in the weight room as much as I can. I think I've gained a little bit. I'm around 240 right now. I think it will help my game overall, driving down the lane I'm going to have more strength. I think I played at 223. So 17 pounds (more).
  Of course, posting up guys and when they're posting up me, I can be more aggressive. Overall, in every situation, I'm not going to back down as easily. And I might be able to back them down some. Last year I wasn't able to do that. I've been able to
  work on my body and be healthy, so I feel good. That's eventually my goal, to be an All Star. But I don't know when that is gong to happen. I definitely set that a goal for me on the personal side, but I am not worried about All Star break now."

Added LaVine: "Lauri looks great. He got a little bit stronger, jumper still looks pretty as all get out. Still the funniest dude in the world. I just want him to build on what he did. He had such a great rookie year with the opportunity he had.
  The sky's the limit for him. He's one of those players that he can do a lot of big things. Lauri's off the charts."

In lane five, Wendell Carter Jr. (eventually)

"Going into training camp, I just want to improve myself each day, after each workout be able to look at myself and say I got better today; that's what I am going to focus on. I feel like I'm in a position now where I am on a great team and will
  do what I have to do to help the team win. It's not so much as sharing the wealth or sacrificing where I am not getting the amount of shots that I want; it's more so I'm on a great team with other great players and I'm excited to get on the court with
  them and win some games. First thing I realized is knocking down open shots; that's something that an NBA player needs to be able to do. Ever since I got here, that's something I worked on and even before I got here I was working on being a better jump
  shooter. I'm a competitor no matter if I'm coming off the bench, sixth man, starting, or getting three minutes in the game I feel like whenever I am in the game I'm going to compete and do whatever I have to do. I just like to win and will do everything
  in my power to do that."

"Obviously we all want those accolades," LaVine added. "All-NBA, All-Star, MVP, championships, stuff like that. But it doesn't start until you build those habits. None of us have really proven anything as a group and I think it all comes
  with winning. So I don't want to make it a me thing or anybody else. I think collectively, if we win and we're great together, it's going to build us all up and we're going to have those accolades. Because we're all good enough to have it. We all have
  that potential."

which-of-the-bulls-young-core-will-blossom-into-all-stars

Which of the Bulls young core will blossom into All Stars?

none

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