Chicago Bulls players ready to shock the world this season: Nikola Vucevic
While Williams and Caruso could both take their game to another level heading into the regular season thanks to new found/elevated roles with the Bulls, the final player on this list is on here for a different reason. The two-time All-Star former Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic is going to be a stud on offense for the Bulls this season.
Where the Bulls need Vucevic to make some type of progression this season is on the defensive end of the floor.
It didn’t seem like it was a realistic expectation entering Training Camp and the preseason to think that Vucevic would be an effective defender. Making that type of turnaround out of nowhere in his game at the age of 30 is just not realistic out of Vucevic.
Yet, Vucevic showed some unusually active hands in the preseason opener against the Cavs. And the most effective defensive unit for the Bulls last season with Vucevic on the floor also always involved Williams. The problem is that the Bulls will have to find a replacement for the presence that veteran forward Thaddeus Young brought on the defensive end.
But Vucevic could still manage to prove the doubters wrong to some degree. And with the amount of space that will be available for him to work on offense this season alongside the likes of DeRozan, LaVine, point guard Lonzo Ball, etc., it could be a very efficient offensive campaign statistically for Vucevic.
Vucevic has great hands that he uses well on the offensive end of the floor. And he is a truly elite three-point shooter from above the break among big men in the NBA. If Donovan and the Bulls can manage to find a way to scheme up the defense with Vucevic on the floor to cover up some of his weaknesses and use his good hands and rebounding to an advantage, he could have an insanely efficient season statistically.