As the 2022-2023 NBA season approaches, let’s break down a championship-worthy rotation for the Chicago Bulls. With depth at each position, the Bulls have an ample supply of unique lineups to choose from.
The acquisition of a veteran such as Goran Dragic, acquiring Dalen Terry in the first round of the NBA draft, and several other key moves will make it even harder for Billy Donovan to find the right rotation.
Now if it were up to me, here’s the rotation I would go with at each position to maximize the talent on this year’s Chicago Bulls roster.
Let’s break down what a championship-worthy rotation for the Chicago Bulls might look like.
Point Guards
At the 1 spot, I would start Lonzo Ball as long as he is able to remain healthy. His defense and newly found ability to knock down open threes are invaluable to the Bulls. The pace that he plays with brings something different that many teams do not have, and quite frankly can not stop.
Backing him up will be the second-year man out of Illinois, Ayo Dosunmu. Dosunmu has all the intangibles to become the starting guard but I believe he will make more of an impact coming off of the bench. Having a guard that can lead the second unit efficiently is vital for a championship-contending team and Dosunmu will do just that.
Shooting Guards
If there was ever a doubt, All-Star Zach LaVine will be the starting shooting guard. He can do it all, from putting the ball on the floor to splashing a three in the defender’s face, he’s a jack of all trades. The Bulls are going to need him to have an even better year than last year if they want to make a solid playoff run.
Goran Dragic will be the backup, although Dragic may also spend some time manning the point guard position he is interchangeable. Having a veteran presence and a proven player will help the Bulls immensely. Dragic’s ability to create his own shot as well as help his teammates get easier looks is what makes him so vital to the success of the team.
Dalen Terry will also be an ideal candidate to get some playing time at the shooting guard position. If he buys into his role and becomes one of the better 3 and D players in the league he will be seeing the floor quite a lot.
Small Forwards
Starting at the small forward position will be the Compton native, DeMar DeRozan. I expect DeRozan to build off of his career year and make a case for MVP. The leadership that he has brought to Chicago has clearly rubbed off on the team for the better. I wouldn’t be surprised if he made a run at the scoring title next year.
Alex Caruso will back up DeRozan, being that Caruso is a defensive menace, I truly believe he can guard 1 through 4 and some 5’s in the league. He’s a player that can virtually play anywhere because of his motor, the Bulls even had him playing some of the power forward position last season and he thrived.
Power Forwards
Patrick Williams will be the man for the starting power forward position, He will make a significant jump next year. He’s made some massive strides over the summer and I fully expect him to surprise a lot of people this year. He may even make a case for the NBA’s Most Improved Player Award.
Derrick Jones Jr. will be giving Williams a breather and although he is a bit undersized for the 4 slot, he’s a perfect fit for the Bulls. Given the fact that the Bulls want to play fast, especially with Lonzo at the helm, Jones Jr. will be a nightmare for other power forwards in the league.
Center
At the center position, Nikola Vucevic will take the mantle. He didn’t have the season we were expecting out of him last year but I expect him to bounce back and show why he’s one of the better bigs in the league.
Newly acquired big, Andre Drummond, will be Vooch’s reliever. Drummond’s ability to wreak havoc on the boards will be something the Bulls desperately lacked last season.
These are the 11 players that I envision will be the most involved in the Chicago Bulls rotation heading into next year. Obviously, there are other pieces on the team that can very much crack the rotation but given the amount of talent on this roster. You will have to fight for every minute on this team, I mean, after all, adversity builds champions right?