Chicago Bulls: 3 biggest concerns heading into next season

Chemistry concerns

Last season, both Dunn and LaVine missed significant time due to injuries. The product on the court suffered as a result. LaVine missed the first 42 games of the season, recovering from a major knee injury. He only appeared in 24 games, before being shut down for the last 13 games.

Dunn got off to a very good start before missing considerable time following a concussion he sustained after slipping off the rim on a dunk and hitting his chin. He missed 11 games in the middle of the season. It took him some time to get back in the swing of things, and just as he was, he was shut down for the final 13 games as well.

As a result, the team never got into a rhythm, especially with respect to its “big three.” Now, Fred Hoiberg will have the added challenge of working two new faces into the mix. Both Parker and Carter are expected to play huge roles on this team, but it will certainly take some time for them to start to gel.

How long this process takes will in large part determine the success of this team in 2018-19. The Bulls have to hope that Hoiberg is up to the challenge of finding successful rotations. It will also be paramount for him to find enough playing time to keep all of these players, as well as guys like Bobby Portis, Robin Lopez, and Denzel Valentine happy. And don’t forget about developing Chandler Hutchison.

Ultimately, the responsibility for all of these concerns will fall at the feet of Hoiberg. It will be interesting to see how these storylines unfold throughout the season. For fans, the hope is these concerns are alleviated as the season progresses.