Chicago Bulls send strong messages in Preseason Game 1

The Chicago Bulls made their long-awaited debut in a preseason game against the New Orleans Pelicans. Fans learned quite a bit in this one.

After an offseason that seemed to stem forever, the Chicago Bulls are back in action. Sunday night, the Bulls began their 2018-2019 season with a preseason matchup at home against the New Orleans Pelicans.

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Over the summer, the Bulls worked toward their rebuild steadily and intelligently. They brought back guard Zach LaVine, of course, because they truly did not want to take a step backward at this point. He was worth the gamble. His potential, athletically, is there. To be a solid two-way player in this league is exactly what LaVine has set out to prove he can be, and the Bulls are hoping for that breakout season in Year 1 of his new contract.

Chicago also added hometown kid Jabari Parker, who has had injury troubles of his own. Parker came in on essentially a one-year deal with a second-year team option. If all goes according to plan, his $20 million salary becomes a bargain and he along with LaVine and Lauri Markkanen can take this Bulls franchise to new heights.

Speaking of Markkanen, the Bulls are now without him for potentially a couple of months. So, the next six-to-eight weeks should tell us a lot about the other two guys on this team. Who will step up and will the Bulls stay competitive?

The road began Sunday night, and the Bulls showed us a lot to like.