Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-US PRESSWIRE

The second biggest question entering this season for the Bulls is how well this new improved revamped cheaper bench will produce, and training camp will give us our first good look. The best member of the new mob is Marco Belinelli and really he’s the most exciting member.

And believe you me, I’m using exciting through gritted teeth.

Nate Robinson is the new C.J. Watson, Nazr Mohammed is the new Omer Asik, everybody welcome the new Ronnie Brewer, Vladimir Radmanovic.

It’s pretty tragic that the Bulls actually paid more money than it would have been to keep the Watson led bench mov to replace it with player of lesser talent. But we need to all get over that and deal with what is at hand. The Bulls have made strange combinations of players work in the past and if there is a guy who can extract the best defensive qualities out of his players it Tom Thibodeau.

After all, the last Bench Mob wasn’t a crew of first class players when they were assembled in Chicago. I’m not saying that this new crew will eventually mold itself into what the Bench Mob was, but it’s not out of the question — even if it’s only 1.5 percent in the question.

But this new bench needs to not miss a single beat, as every little (and large) mistake they make will be blown so far (and justly) out of proportion it could ruin their chances of settling in with Bulls fans. 

Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-US PRESSWIRE

It’s no secret that Taj Gibson is a vital part of the Bulls future, and he’s already won over the legions of Bulls fans who have seen him play. That coupled with the utter failure of Carlos Boozer to produce consistently makes for a killer battle at power forward during camp.

The money factor is the reason the Bulls haven’t cut Boozer loose yet and it could be a weak excuse for them to start Boozer this year. After 2013, the Bulls will likely amnesty Boozer meaning this season is a make or break one for the bald screaming machine. It’s because of this that Boozer will likely get more minutes over Gibson but if Boozer keeps up his recent style of play that could violently shift.

Gibson has proven he can start at forward and he’s been constantly pushed aside by management — something he won’t forget when it comes time to renew his contract at the end of the season. First Tyrus Thomas took his minutes, and when he was traded to give Gibson more minutes, the Bulls gave Boozer $75MM to be the new starter.

If Boozer keeps getting minutes over Gibson, Taj is not going to simply return to Chicago for the hell of it, he’ll want serious cash — cash he’ll get elsewhere (as demonstrated by Omer Asik). Gibson has earned the right to start and it will be interesting to see if the Bulls realize this in training camp and give Gibson the starting role he deserves.