Chicago Bulls projected starting 5: Nikola Vucevic, Center
There are a few spots in the starting unit that are clearly filled heading into the preseason and the regular season. One of those is at the five. Former Orlando Magic star center Nikola Vucevic will be the Bulls’ starting center this season, as long as he’s able to stay healthy.
It should be special to see what this star trio of Vucevic, DeRozan, and LaVine, can do for the Bulls heading into the regular season. Karnisovas and the Bulls gave up a lot at the trade deadline last season to get the two-time All-Star Vucevic from the Magic. And he was effective in the Bulls’ starting unit post-deadline last season.
Last season between his time with the Bulls and Magic, Vucevic averaged 23.4 points per game, 11.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.7 blocks. And he shot 47.7 percent from the field 40.0 percent from beyond the arc, and 84.0 percent from the free-throw line.
Vucevic should challenge for his third career All-Star selection this season, which would also be his second in a row.
The Bulls don’t necessarily have the best defender playing at the five in Vucevic. And with either DeRozan or Williams likely to start at the four, the defensive frontcourt doesn’t look too promising this season. The hope is that the offense will be good enough to make up for any defensive shortcomings of this frontcourt. The bench also has some players that are better frontcourt defenders, such as Bradley and Johnson.