Chicago Bulls: Why they can win the division next season

(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) Chicago Bulls
(Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) Chicago Bulls /
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Chicago Bulls, Nikola Vucevic
(Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Reason #1: There is a different feel around this organization

It’s no secret that I and many other Bulls fans were not fond of the previous front office in Chicago. I’ve beaten that dead horse more than I’d like to admit but it’s worth noting that there is a different feel around the Bulls after offseason moves.

The Bulls made splashes in free agency in the early 2010s, in an effort to compete with the LeBron James-led Miami Heat. The Bulls weren’t able to land James or his Heat teammate Dwyane Wade in their primes (Wade played 60 games for the Bulls in 2016-2017).

Rumors would swirl about big free agents like James or forward Carmelo Anthony meeting with the Bulls as part of their free agency tours in the 2010s, and fans would get their hopes up. It would always end in disappointment for Bulls fans.

The team would announce contract signings for a couple of other solid role players after missing out on the big fish they were trying to sign. Fans were hopeful, but it always seemed as if the front office could never execute their “Plan A”, and would settle for less.

Although this offseason didn’t feature a superstar target like Kevin Durant in 2019, the Bulls were able to secure two of the most sought-after players in free agency. Getting it done quickly made it clear that Karnisovas and their staff know what they’re doing.

It’s a welcome change. While this team still has to prove it on the court, this is the first time in a long time the Bulls will be expected to compete with the best teams in the NBA.