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Chicago Bulls: 5 keys to making the playoffs next year

Luke Askew|
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 15: Ivica Zubac #40 of the LA Clippers congratulates Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls after the game on March 15, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - MARCH 15: Ivica Zubac #40 of the LA Clippers congratulates Lauri Markkanen #24 of the Chicago Bulls after the game on March 15, 2019 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Adam Pantozzi/NBAE via Getty Images)
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1. Player development

Bulls fans saw a healthy dose of player development during the 2018-19 season, but next year, there needs to be even more.

Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen both made huge strides during the 2018-19 season. LaVine improved his playmaking and overall efficiency, and Markkanen showed everyone how dominant he can be in transition.

Next season, LaVine needs to improve on the defensive end of the court, and Markkanen needs to be more consistent on a nightly basis. If those two guys can take steps forward in their overall games, then the Bulls will be in good shape.

LaVine and Markkanen aren’t the only ones that need to improve, though. Wendell Carter Jr. and Otto Porter Jr. need to take their games to the next level as well. Carter needs to do a better job of avoiding dumb fouls so he can stay on the court for longer stretches at a time, and Porter needs to be more aggressive in hunting for his shot.

If you need proof that player development is key to finding success, look no further than the Sacramento Kings. Buddy Hield and De’Aaron Fox turned the 2018-19 season into their own breakout campaigns, and as a result, the Kings went from being one of the worst teams in the league to a near-playoff team.

If the Bulls want to make the playoffs next year, they need to make a splash in free agency, see improvement from the coaching staff, deepen their bench, have a successful draft and more than anything else, see individual improvement from their core group of guys. All of that should be easy, right?

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