Chicago Bulls 2016-17 Season Outlook: Can Wade, Rondo Resurrect The Bulls?
Last Season: 42-40, 9th in Eastern Conference
There’s going to be a new-look Chicago Bulls team in the Windy City this season. Fresh off their first non-playoff appearance since the end of the Scott Skiles‘ era in 2007-08, the Bulls looked to be headed towards a possible rebuild mode, instead a new, revamped roster looks to skip the rebuild mode and return to the playoffs that this traditionally win-enriched team is use to putting on the court.
With all the question marks Chicago had going into the offseason, it turned out to a be a busy one for the Bulls. The notable moves include the trading of former MVP Derrick Rose to the Knicks as well as losing former DYOP Joakim Noah to the Knicks, and losing multiple time all-star Pau Gasol to the Spurs.
Looking as if this was now Jimmy Butler’s team to lead along with young, role players stepping up, Chicago made the surprising additions this summer, to the tune of Rajon Rondo and Chicago’s own Dwyane Wade.
Offseason Recap:
Departures
Additions:
Next: Team Roster/Depth Chart
Mar 21, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson (22) looks to pass the ball against the Sacramento Kings during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports
A shift of Jimmy Butler to small forward position creates room for Dwyane Wade at shooting guard. The Power Forward position has depth that could see the trio of Taj Gibson, Nikola Mirotic and Bobby Portis all receiving playing time.
As of now, the roster and depth chart of the Chicago Bulls looks like this.
2016-2017 Chicago Bulls Roster/Depth Chart
Point Guards – Rajon Rondo, Isaiah Canaan, Jerian Grant, Spencer Dinwiddie
Shooting Guards – Dwyane Wade, Tony Snell, Denzel Valentine
Small Forward – Jimmy Butler, Doug McDermott, Paul Zipser
Power Forward – Taj Gibson, Nikola Mirotic, Bobby Portis
Center – Robin Lopez, Cristiano Felicio
Apr 13, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Bobby Portis (5) dribbles the ball against Philadelphia 76ers forward Jerami Grant (39) during the fist quarter at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports
Strengths
The biggest strength of this Chicago Bulls team is their playmakers and their frontcourt depth.
The new backcourt duo of Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade is hoping to bring the same success that Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler had in years past – perhaps more.
Rondo and Wade are no strangers to making big plays. Wade still should have his explosiveness to the rim, and coming up clutch is still in his repertoire. Rondo has led the league in assists on three occasions, including last season.
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He may not the same Rondo of four or five years ago, but his ability to control the point and distribute the basketball is a strength of this team.
Despite the departures of Pau Gasol and Joakim Noah, the frontcourt is developing to the point where their depth is one of the Bulls’ greatest strengths.
Jimmy Butler, by default, becomes the starting small forward. Doug McDermott and Tony Snell have had flashes of improvement and will be relied on to come in and hit shots as they backup the small forward position.
The power forward position is up for grabs as Taj Gibson, Nikola Mirotic and Bobby Portis are all vying for playing time and so far in training camp coach Fred Hoiberg has used all three in sharing time with fellow starters.
All three posses different skills that will be used throughout the season. Mirotic has big shot-making abilities, Gibson is a gritty rebounder and Portis that is solid on both ends of the court.
Robin Lopez at the center position adds a gritty, hard-nosed player that this team desperately needed after the loss of Noah. This frontcourt might one of the more underrated groups in the league this season.
Sep 26, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Rajon Rondo (9) poses for a photo during Bulls media day at The Advocate Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Weaknesses
Every team that features a new group of players will have chemistry questions as soon as they hit the court, and the Chicago Bulls certainly aren’t the exception.
Five new faces will see the court for the Bulls this season.
Dwyane Wade has made it clear that this is Jimmy Butler’s team and that Rajon Rondo is the best point guard that he’s ever played with. While that all seems right with the Bulls at the moment, once the season starts opinion might change.
Last season, the Bulls had a well publicized (rumored) unhealthy locker room – specifically, the relationship between Derrick Rose and Butler. The last thing that the Bulls need this season is a distraction, such as the one that all but destroyed any chance they had of making any noise in the playoffs last season.
Another weakness is the big question of who is going to make shots for this team?
Jimmy Butler and Dwyane Wade are great finishers, but their shooting abilities especially from beyond the arc aren’t all that great (Butler 31% and Wade 16% last season). Rondo certainly won’t be hitting big shots and although Mirotic and McDermott are big-time shooters, will they be a big enough part of the offense or will they be able to stretch the floor enough (especially Mirotic playing a stretch-4) to the open up the offense for themselves at others to get up shots?
The offense has its weapons and the shots will be there, but who will knock them down?
Sep 26, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Jimmy Butler (21) guard Rajon Rondo (9) and guard Dwayne Wade (3) pose for a photo during Bulls media day at The Advocate Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Most Important Player: Jimmy Butler
This is what Jimmy Butler wanted and now he’s got it. This is his team. Butler, at age 27, fresh off an Olympic Gold Medal and his best season to date (20.9 PPG and 4.8 APG), looks to make the next step in becoming a superstar in this league.
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Butler needs to want the ball in his hands when the time comes to be “the man” even with Wade on the court with him. Butler’s leadership needs to come into play this year as younger guys will see more time on the court as well.
In the end, Butler’s ability to bump up his averages and make big-time plays will be the ultimate factor in this team returning to the playoffs.
What’s a Successful Season?
After the disappointing end to last year and missing out on the playoffs, the Chicago Bulls made the changes they felt were best for them to the return to postseason play. The Eastern Conference Playoffs are the only thing that would make this a successful season for the Bulls.
While the East is getting stronger and multiple teams will be contending for the last spots in the playoffs, the Bulls have what it takes to return to the postseason like their franchise is used to. As long as Butler steps up, Wade stays healthy and the frontcourt develops, this team is capable of a postseason berth.
Prediction
43-39, 4th in Central, 8th seed in Eastern Conference