Over the summer, Chicago Bulls vice president of basketball operations John Paxson said he was pleased with how things have turned out since the Jimmy Butler trade, saying that the young talent the team has on its roster was good, but didn't guarantee future success. As a result, Bulls head coach Fred Hoiberg is in a tough situation.

Paxson's statement has come to fruition early on this season. The Bulls enter Monday with a record of just 2-8 and are struggling to close out games in the fourth quarter.

Fred Hoiberg understands he's coaching a group of young guys who haven't won many games in the NBA, but he doesn't want to use that as an excuse for the team's poor start.

The Bulls' core players are still really young and developing, both on and off the court. Starting shooting guard Zach LaVine is 23-years-old. Point guard Kris Dunn, who is currently out with a knee injury, is 24. Power forward Lauri Markkanen, who is sidelined with a right elbow ailment, is only 21.

The future in Chicago is bright, but the Bulls are still rebuilding. There's going to be a lot of growing pains this season and Fred Hoiberg and his staff have to use them as teaching moments.

The Bulls are currently at the bottom of the league in both offense and defense. The team is scoring 107.2 points per game, which is 23rd in the NBA, and giving up 115.0 points, 22nd in the league.