Chicago Bulls: 3 players with the most on the line in 2020-21

2) Chicago Bulls with most on the line in 20-21

So much change and development was expected in the game of the former Duke Blue Devils 6-foot-9 and 270 pound 21-year-old center Wendell Carter Jr. in the last couple of years that it was hard for him to live up to all of the hype. The usage of WCJ last season, under Boylen’s direction, also left a lot to be desired.

During the shortened 2019-20 regular season, WCJ played in 43 games with the Bulls (all of which he started in). In fact, all of the 87 regular season games that WCJ played in over the course of his two years with the Bulls he started in. And last season, he averaged 11.3 points per game, 9.4 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.8 steals, and 0.8 blocks. WCJ shot 53.4 percent from the field, 20.7 percent from beyond the arc, and 73.7 percent from the free-throw line.

There should be increased defensive efficiency and a more versatile offensive game from WCJ this season. Since there will likely be less pressure on his shoulders to make up for missed defensive assignments in schemes that Boylen ran last season, WCJ should also run into less foul trouble. The hiring of Donovan probably benefits WCJ more so than 90 percent of the other players on the current Bulls roster.

Nonetheless, the third-year is where some of the patience with WCJ will hopefully pay off. While patience is the approach that should win the day with a lot of the key pieces of the Bulls young core, WCJ does need to show some signs of improvement this season compared to the last two. He didn’t show much overall improvement in his production or efficiency last year.

Another key for WCJ, like the other two Bulls players on this list, is staying healthy throughout at least most of the season.