Where Do The Bulls Starters Rank In The Central?

The NBA Draft has passed, and all the big free agents have signed with teams.

Along with rosters coming into form, the Team USA training camp roster was announced the other day as well, so that leaves us NBA fans waiting for the season to start.

But, we still have a couple of months until that happens, so in the meantime, why not see how the Bulls starters stack up against the rest of the rough and rugged Central Division?

Best Overall PG in the Central: Kyrie Irving

Bulls starter: Derrick Rose – 2nd overall

It may seem weird that two of the most injury prone point guards in the league are first and second, but when it comes down to it, the Central Division lacks great point guards. Derrick Rose is the only one to have an MVP award, but since having multiple knee injuries, his game has seen a noticeable decline. The Bulls aren’t using him in the same way that they use to, and it’s still yet to be seen how Fred Hoiberg plans to use him. The ability for Rose is still there but the Bulls are a more well-rounded team than in year’s past and don’t need to rely on Rose to carry them on offense anymore.

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Kyrie Irving is just 23 years old and considered one of the best point guards in the game, just like Rose was at that age. Yes, Irving has LeBron James and Kevin Love to help take pressure from him, but he is still one of the quickest guards in the league and despite some of the hate he gets on the defensive end, he still averages 1.5 steals per game. Irving has a better jump shot than Rose (46.8 percent to 40.5 percent field goal shooting last season) and is just as good of a passer. There’s no doubt that Rose can regain the top point guard spot in the Central, but he has to play a lot better than he has the past couple of years, and staying healthy is the first step.

Michael Carter-Williams and Reggie Jackson are both young guards with potential, but I don’t think they’re future stars. The Pacers’ George Hill has been one of the weakest starting point guards in the league, and I’m surprised they haven’t drafted a replacement yet.

Best SG In The Central: Jimmy Butler

This one is a no-brainier. The Central has some respectable and up and coming shooting guards but none of them are near the level Jimmy Butler is on. Butler has led the league in minutes per game for the past two seasons, averaging 38.7 MPG in both seasons, proving that he is an iron man for the Bulls. His improved offense last season and tenacious defense makes him one of the best two-way shooting guards in the NBA.

This honor may have gone to Monta Ellis this time last year, if he was in the Central Division at the time. Ellis was a big signing for Indiana this offseason, giving them another scoring option alongside Paul George, but Butler averaged more points per game last year (20.0 to 18.9) on a better shooting percentage and three-point percentage.

Khris Middleton and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope are two shooting guards to keep an eye on the next couple of years, but it seems like the Bulls should have the top shooting guard in the division for a while.

Best SF In The Central: LeBron James

Bulls starter: Mike Dunleavy – 5th

This is one of the deepest positions in the league and easily the deepest position in the Central Division. Mike Dunleavy is one of the most underrated players in the league, but he doesn’t stand a chance against guys like LeBron James and Paul George. James is the best player in the league and makes any team he plays for an instant contender. Here’s to hoping George can get back to where he was before his gruesome injury, or else Indiana isn’t anywhere near as good as they can be this season and beyond.

The middle tier of Giannis Antetokounmpo and Pistons’ newly acquired Marcus Morris makes Dunleavy easily forgotten in the mix. Both have proven that they can be contributors on the NBA level and could be important pieces on a playoff team (although newly-drafted Stanley Johnson will fight Morris for his job in the future).

Dunleavy re-signing with the Bulls this offseason didn’t make headlines, but it was a lot bigger than people are giving it credit for. He isn’t the 19-point per night guy that he use to be, but he’s a good all-around player, and you can count on Dunleavy to get you 10 points a game. He may not have the great three-point stroke former Bull Kyle Korver has, but he still shot over 40 percent from behind the arc last season. Dunleavy plays both ends of the floor, but he’s the oldest starting small forward in the division. He fits the role the Bulls need him for, but when you have two superstars and two up-and-coming players, a guy like Dunleavy is easily forgotten.

Best PF In The Central: Pau Gasol

Pau Gasol was a huge upgrade for the Bulls last year over former power forward Carlos Boozer. Gasol had a career year in his 14th NBA season, setting a career high in rebounds per game, with 11.8 rebounds per contest last year. He was a huge surprise, and was a big reason the Bulls did as good as they did without Rose. Gasol and Noah didn’t click as well as initially thought, but as an individual, he put up some of the most impressive numbers of his career. A guy like Kevin Love may have had the better past five years, but last year, Gasol was one of the best big men in the league.

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It may have been the first time since Love’s rookie year that he didn’t average a double-double, but he is still one of the best big men in the league. Love’s ability to shoot the three helps spread the floor, and he can also put it on the floor to keep defenders on their toes. He has also proven that he is one of the best rebounders in the league when he played with the Timberwolves, maybe I’m just a bigger Kevin Love fan than most, but I think he would put up ridiculous numbers again if he wasn’t with the Cavaliers.

Jabari Parker of the Milwaukee Bucks is a future star in the making as a hybrid 3/4 forward, barring no more injuries.

The Pistons and Pacers are in the need of a power forward since Ersan Ilyasova and Jordan Hill aren’t solid options for the future.

Best C In The Central: Andre Drummond

Bulls starter: Joakim Noah – 2nd

Joakim Noah is still one of the best defensive big men in the league, but so is Andre Drummond. Noah is coming off a tough season playing next to Pau Gasol. A year ago, I thought Noah was the best center in the league, and I still think he is one of the best and all the trade talk is crazy.

But, Drummond has torn up the league the past two seasons and all of a sudden, this “raw talent” out of Connecticut is one of the best young centers.

Drummond is still only 22 years old and he’s already averaged more than 13 points and 13 rebounds in two of his first three seasons. His free throw shooting is easily the weakest part of his game, and teams may start using a “Hack-a-Drummond” strategy on him soon. Noah is one of the better free throw shooting big men in the NBA and is able to shoot a mid-range jumper, something Drummond can’t do either. But other than that, he is an all-around center that you don’t want to challenge on the defensive side and someone who can clean up around the rim.

Noah still had a respectable season last year and is one of the best passing big men, if not, the best in the game. Noah is right up there with Drummond but his inability to play with Gasol last year makes me worry that his game will keep declining. I may be premature on Andre Drummond, but he is on his way to being one of the most dominant centers in the NBA for years to come.

Next: Rumor: Bulls-Thunder to play on Christmas Day this season?

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