Josh Giddey confirms the 1 Thing Bulls fans should be most excited for in 2024-25

With Zach LaVine still stuck in The Windy City, Nikola Vucevic and his archaic offensive game seemingly going nowhere and Lonzo Ball aiming to play his first game in two-and-a-half seasons, 2024-25 is looking like more of the same for Chicago Bulls fans.

Dull, stagnant, repetitive and bound for the play-in tournament.

A few moves here and there - trading Alex Caruso to Oklahoma City for Josh Giddey, for instance - and some improvements from key up-and-comers, though, could give Chicago a different taste in 2024-25.

Maybe it won't be more of the same boring nonsense after all.

Bulls preparing for frenetically up-tempo offense

At Chicago's media day, Giddey addressed his recovery from a ruptured ankle ligament he suffered while playing with the Australian National Team at the 2024 Olympics.

Were it the playoffs, Giddey said he'd be on the floor and that he'll be fine for the Bulls' season opener on Oct. 23.

He also dropped a nugget about how his addition, along with a few others, will impact head coach Billy Donovan's approach to Chicago's offense this season.

"We started scrimmaging with 14-second shot clocks to emphasize the pace we want to play," Giddey said at the team's media day on Monday, per ESPN. "Once it becomes a habit, this team's going to be pretty scary in the open court."

The 6-foot-7 point guard, who's a consistent triple-double threat, will be the engine that drives that pace. Giddey's a good rebounder and flashy passer; his ability to grab and go should get the Bulls moving in transition in a hurry.

Coby White had a breakout season last year as a combo guard who averaged more than 19 points and five assists while shooting 37.6 percent from three.

Whatever the plan is for LaVine this season - whether he stays or goes - the 29-year-old with a 20.5 point-per-game career scoring average should be healthy and ready to get buckets on opening night.

Chicago will need to outscore teams to win games

Giddey and White should complement each other well in the backcourt - on offense. If LaVine is healthy, he's a scorer, not a defender. Rookie Matas Buzelis can be a solid defender in time, but he likely won't be this season.

Vucevic was never known as a defender. Free-agent pickup Jalen Smith will backup Vucevic, and while he's a serviceable shot blocker, he's a big man who can run in transition and space the floor.

Ayo Dosunmu has shown he can be a capable perimeter defender. Veteran Jevon Carter is a pest on the ball, but if he can't shoot, he can't stay on the floor.

In theory, Patrick Williams should be Chicago's best defender, but he's about as injury-prone as it gets.

Sure, if all that breaks right, the Bulls can be an average defensive team. The chances of that happening, however, are slim.

Chicago will have to outrun and outscore teams if it hopes to rack up some wins - something it may not want to do, anyway.

So why not run and gun for fun?