The Chicago Bulls are a franchise still in search of direction.
Years of toiling under the John Paxson-Gar Forman front office duo yielded poor results, beginning in earnest when Chicago's front replaced Tom Thibodeau with Fred Hoiberg, who later turned into Jim Boylen.
However, the Bulls are hoping to round the corner with former Denver Nuggets general manager Arturas Karnisovas taking over as president of basketball operations.
Karnisovas appears to be taking a measured approach thus far. The Bulls stayed put at No. 4 in the 2020 NBA Draft after rumors suggesting they could move up or down. Karnisovas also seems content seeing how the current roster progresses under new head coach Billy Donovan.
Still, the Bulls could be hard-pressed to make a playoff push this year. The Atlanta Hawks loaded up in free agency. Brooklyn has its superstar duo in Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, and the top of the Eastern Conference is mostly the same.
Nevertheless, it is time for the young players on Chicago's roster to show improvement, or face the potential consequences.
Here are four bold predictions for the Chicago Bulls heading into the 2020-21 NBA season.
Coby White averages over 20 points per game
Chicago's 2019 first-round pick had a strange rookie year.
The former North Carolina star struggled to get minutes in Boylen's rotations and was often lost in space on the defensive end.
Moreover, White was more of a volume scorer often looking for his own shot from the point guard spot. This is somewhat problematic considering he shot under 40 percent from the field. But, there is reason to believe he can be a prolific offensive player, especially under Donovan.
For starters, White showed his potential towards the end of the season. He was particularly excellent in February, averaging 20.1 points, 4.0 rebounds and 4.1 assists in nine games while shooting over 40 percent from beyond the arc.
White can create space for his own shots in pick-and-roll, but he should be that much better if afforded more catch-and-shoot opportunities. This should be possible, considering Donovan's multiple-guard sets in Oklahoma City prioritized spacing and playmaking in pick-and-roll.
Creating more ball movement and spacing will be huge for Chicago this year, and White in particular. If he can consistently knock down threes, it will allow him to attack closeouts and get to the rim. Plus, he could look to make more plays in transition this year.
Tomas Satoransky might begin the year with the starting point guard job. But the Bulls need White to accelerate his development pretty rapidly, and Donovan should give him every chance to succeed this year.
White has the ability to be a big-time scorer, and he could break out this year with more usage and a different offensive season. Whether he can make similar strides on the offensive end remains to be seen.
Zach LaVine is an All-Star
Don't think this is so bold? Well, LaVine has yet to make an All-Star team. Until he does, it is fairly bold, especially considering the backcourt talent in the East.
The NBA canceled the 2021 All-Star Game, which was originally scheduled to take place in Indianapolis. However, the league still plans to devise All-Star teams. LaVine has every opportunity to make the East squad.
LaVine nearly accomplished that goal last year. He averaged 25.5 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game while shooting 38 percent from deep on 8.1 attempts per game. The most impressive part about his line is the fact LaVine was often Chicago's only adequate playmaker on any given night. Opposing defenses could key in on him, yet LaVine still found ways to produce.
Like White, LaVine has been highly complimentary of Donovan's offensive system thus far. He even said the other week he is studying the playbook “vigorously.”
Zach LaVine said he has been studying Billy Donovan’s playbook “vigorously.”
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) December 6, 2020
LaVine's excitement at Donovan being the head coach an imperative development for the Bulls.
The 25-year-old had his share of disagreements and frustrations with Boylen. But he and Donovan seem to be on the same page, which bodes well for LaVine's development as a playmaker and a leader.
Much of LaVine's candidacy figures to revolve around Chicago's record come the All-Star break. Consequently, if the Bulls are in the thick of the playoff chase, it will likely be because LaVine continues to excel as the team's top star.
This could be the year the former UCLA product makes his first All-Star team.
Bulls trade Lauri Markkanen or Wendell Carter Jr.
It just feels sort of inevitable the Bulls could part ways with one of their bigs, regardless of where they stand at the deadline.
Markkanen looked to be a rising star when he averaged 18.7 points and 9.0 rebounds in his sophomore season. The former No. 7 overall pick was a capable floor-spacer who also showed a surprising ability to break down opposing defenders on the block.
But Boylen's tendency to leave Markkanen on the perimeter was a major road block in his development. The former Arizona star is now just a year away from restricted free agency, and the Bulls aren't quite sure what they have in him.
The same can essentially be said for Carter.
The former Duke star lacks the height of a traditional center, but he is exceptionally athletic in terms of his verticality. Carter is by far Chicago's best individual defender and a budding rim protector.
But he has struggled to show confidence in the midrange or shoot the ball effectively from the perimeter. Carter is also prone to foul trouble, and has dealt with injuries in each of his first two seasons.
Chicago would preferably like to see both players show growth and move forward. Carter especially adds some toughness inside on the defensive end.
At the same time, it is possible Karnisovas feels the two bigs simply do not complement each other on the floor. If the Bulls are still middling, he could make a deal in an effort to accrue more draft capital.
Patrick Williams makes First Team All-Rookie
This is another prediction some might say lacks true boldness. After all, Williams was the No. 4 overall pick in this year's draft.
Simultaneously, Williams' selection came as a bit of a surprise to insiders, and it is worth reminding fans he was utilized as a bench player at Florida State.
Still, Williams' skill set is very transferable to the NBA, and he has shown signs in the first few preseason games. He is a terrific and instinctive defender with upside as an athletic wing who could grow into his own as a shot-creator.
Consider, for example, Chicago's preseason opener against the Houston Rockets. The Bulls were totally overwhelmed and lacked vitality. But Williams was +3 in terms of plus-minus. Just a couple nights later, Williams made two of his three triples while also racking up three steals.
There were negatives, to be sure. He committed seven turnovers and had seven personal fouls. But it's preseason basketball, and these mistakes are commonplace for rookies still adjusting to the speed of the NBA game.
The reality is Chicago needs Williams to contribute immediately as a tough wing defender who can add some scoring. His development is especially important considering Otto Porter Jr. is on an expiring contract and a constant injury risk.
Williams is a strong off-ball cutter who can make plays at the rim. He has also shown capabilities of being a secondary ball-handler. The former Florida State Seminole could come into his own as a pro, which would obviously be great news for the Bulls.
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