Chicago Bulls: Why they can win the division next season

Reason #3: This team has a clear expectation for success

Karnisovas was hired in 2020 when the NBA season was paused because of the coronavirus pandemic, and there was definite excitement around the team finally making a big change. But he was also given some leeway to turn things around as the roster wasn’t in great shape.

To say that this front office has turned things around quickly would be an understatement. Before last season, predictions for the Bulls settled around them likely missing the playoffs or sneaking into the eighth seed in the east.

While there was disappointment around how the team performed last season, no one was overly critical of Karnisovas because they knew it would take time for him to execute his vision for the team’s roster. I don’t think many thought it would change this much, this quickly.

It’s now clear that this team must make the playoffs next season or the year will be considered a catastrophic failure (barring a multitude of injuries). The Bulls expected starting five is that of a clear playoff squad.

After an excellent trade at the deadline last season to acquire center Nikola Vucevic, Karnisovas showed he was on the right track to reworking this team completely. With the additions of Ball and DeRozan, the Bulls are now a team with proven star players in four of five starters.

This is the most exciting Bulls offseason since they drafted hometown hero Derrick Rose in 2008, and the expectations are high. Now it’s finally time to see this franchise where it belongs: back on top of the NBA.