3 Teams that would be perfect for Bulls to play on opening night

1. Memphis Grizzlies

Of all the teams the Bulls could potentially play on opening night, none feel like quite as good of an opportunity as a potential matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies. After they finished second in the Western Conference last season, starting the season off with a win over the Grizzlies would be a huge morale victory to kick things off.

Normally, I wouldn’t love Chicago’s odds against Memphis, whether they’re at home or on the road. But as we all, the drama surrounding Ja Morant has been the story of the summer and has dug Memphis into a deep hole for the first portion of the season. Following repeated instances of wielding firearms, violence against a minor, and inappropriate conduct, Morant has landed himself a 25-game suspension straight from the league office.

Hosting Derrick Rose and beating the Grizzlies would be the perfect way for the Bulls to start the 2023-24 season.

First and foremost, I’m a fan of basketball. I hope Morant resolves his issues, because the league is more fun to watch with him in it. But just because he’s facing the repercussions of his poor decisions, doesn’t mean I wouldn’t revel in my Chicago Bulls taking full advantage of the situation.

Memphis has scrambled to find a temporary stopgap in place of Morant by trading for Boston’s Marcus Smart, but after sending out Tyus Jones in the process (and waiving Kennedy Chandler last season), their backcourt rotation is incredibly thin. Derrick Rose is now expected to serve as the backup point guard until Ja returns, and as much as I love him, any team counting on heavy minutes from Rose at this stage in his career is doomed from the start.

On top of all this, Memphis’ best reserve player Brandon Clarke is recovering from an Achilles tear at the end of last season. When they’re at full strength, the Grizzlies are one of the deepest teams in the NBA. But right now, they look like a prime target to beat on the opening night of the 2023-24 NBA season.