Chicago Bulls projected starting 5: DeMar DeRozan, Power Forward
As I mentioned previously, there’s a few different ways that Donovan and the Bulls could utilize DeRozan at the outset of the preseason slate and the regular season. DeRozan could start at the four, like he did last season for head coach Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs. Or, Donovan could move DeRozan to play at the two or the three.
There’s still a good amount of switchability that the Bulls could have in moving LaVine between the two and the three. He and DeRozan are interchangeable like that in a few different ways.
Yet, it could be a smooth transition for DeRozan to continue playing at the four at the outset of the preseason with Williams out of the lineup. Once Williams returns during the regular season, Donovan and the Bulls can move DeRozan back to the three potentially.
With DeRozan playing at the four, and Jones at the three, the floor spacing will be limited. But Jones at least shot roughly 32 percent from beyond the arc with the Blazers last season. The most effective spot to let Jones post up will be from the left corner. Williams often filled that spot in catch-and-shoot situations beyond the arc, and Jones shot north of 41 percent on left-corner threes last season.
Let DeRozan fill the role of a secondary initiator, that can also be another playmaker and facilitator alongside Lonzo, from the four. He is an excellent distributor of the basketball on offense. This role for DeRozan could still help to form an effective starting unit for the Bulls in the preseason.