The results that the Chicago Bulls got from their preseason opener on Dec. 11, at home at the United Center against the Houston Rockets, was not ideal. But we also have to keep in mind that this was the first meaningful (depending on how much stock you put into preseason games) game action the Bulls saw at the United Center since early-to-mid March.
Patience must win the day for the Bulls fan base as they should let the work and schemes of newly hired head coach Billy Donovan and executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas develop. There wasn’t much that Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley could do during the offseason to build up the roster construction since they were so cap strapped.
The 2021 offseason is where the Bulls can make a real splash in the free agent market, and maybe on the trade block too. It is also worth watching the trade block this season to see what Karnisovas does to help continue to build this roster.
Moreover, the Bulls still have one preseason game at home remaining against the Rockets (with tip off set for 7 p.m. CT on Dec. 13 at the United Center). Then they hit the road to face the Oklahoma City Thunder in two games to round out the preseason slate, on Dec. 17 and 19. The regular season slate tips off for the Bulls on Dec. 23 at home against the Atlanta Hawks.
There’s a lot happening very fast for the Bulls. But hopefully some new faces will rise to the occasion this season, and they’ll get elevated play from a few of the players in this young core. Here’s a look into three Bulls players bound to get more playing time heading into the fourth year of the rebuild.