The Chicago Bulls are coming off of a 2018-19 campaign in which they won just 22 games, but there are plenty of reasons to be excited about the future in Chicago, and into the 2019-20 NBA season.

Yes, excitement around the same Bulls franchise headed by John Paxson and Gar Forman, two executives who have had Chicagoans camped outside of their home with torches and pitchforks for years (well, not literally, but you get the picture).

But recently, Chicago has done a tremendous job of building a young, talented team with some flexibility moving forward, and the Bulls are looking like a potential playoff sleeper in the Eastern Conference as a result.

So, here are five bold predictions for the Bulls heading into the 2019-20 campaign:

5. Chandler Hutchison will Begin Developing into a Solid Three-and-D Guy

Chandler Hutchison played in just 44 games with Chicago during his rookie year due to injuries this past season, averaging 5.2 points and 4.2 rebounds per game while shooting 45.9 percent from the floor and 28 percent from three-point range. He also displayed quite a bit of potential defensively.

Obviously, Hutchison needs to be a bit more efficient from long distance to become a three-and-D wing, but in college, he shot a respectable 35.3 percent from downtown, so there is potential here.

Will Hutchison ever be a knockdown three-point shooter? Maybe not, but so long as he can at least become decent from long range and continue improving on the defensive end, the Bulls might have something here.

Look for a little jump out of Hutchison this coming season.

4. They'll Trade Kris Dunn Sometime Soon

I'm not sure how “bold” this is, as the writing for a Kris Dunn trade has been on the wall for quite some time, but Dunn is still currently a member of the Bulls.

After drafting Coby White and then swinging a deal for Tomas Satoransky, holding on to Dunn just doesn't make much sense for Chicago, especially considering that Dunn will be a free agent next summer.

Dunn hasn't exactly worked out since entering the NBA with the Minnesota Timberwolves back in 2015. While he is a really solid defender, his offensive game is sorely lacking, as he is yet to develop any consistent method of scoring the basketball, and his perimeter shot is pedestrian.

Still, he is just 25 years old, and given his ability to play defense, Dunn has a bit of value.

Look for the Bulls to try to move him before the start of the season, and if they can't trade him by then, then he is a sure-fire candidate to get moved befor the deadline.

3. Wendell Carter Jr. will Approach a Double-Double Average

Wendell Carter Jr. played in just 44 contests during his rookie year due to injuries, but during the time he was on the floor, he was impressive, averaging 10.3 points and seven rebounds per game.

Now that Carter has some NBA experience under his belt, look for those numbers to increase this coming season to the point where Carter will be flirting with double-doubles on a nightly basis.

If the 20-year-old comes out and averages around 15 and nine, it would not be a surprise to me.

Chicago drafted Carter with the seventh overall pick last year for a reason. He has the potential to anchor the defense, and while his offensive repertoire could certainly stand to improve, he has the potential to be a force on both ends of the floor.

2. Zach LaVine and Lauri Markkanen will have All-Star Caliber Seasons

This one really depends on Zach LaVine staying healthy, as one can argue his case for the All-Star team this past year, as he averaged 23.7 points per game while shooting 46.7 percent from the floor, 37.4 percent from three-point range and 83.2 percent from the free-throw line.

Of course, LaVine played in just 63 games, and while that was still his highest total since the 2015-16 campaign, it's still not enough.

If he is able to play a full season, he could very well be an All-Star caliber player, as he improved considerably in terms of efficiency and shot selection this past year. Yeah, his defense still stinks, but he has the potential to be a monster offensively.

As for Markkanen? This kid has the potential to be a more athletic version of Dirk Nowitzki in terms of play style. He can score inside and out, he is a solid passer and rebounder.

Markkanen may very well be the best young player on the Bulls and is coming off of a season in which he averaged 18.7 points and nine rebounds per game. Keep in mind, he is just 22 years old.

Look for both LaVine and Markkanen to at least post All-Star caliber numbers in 2019-20.

1. The Bulls Will Contend for a Playoff Spot

Think of the Bulls as the Sacramento Kings of last year, except they are playing in a much weaker conference.

Chicago absolutely has the potential to win 35-40 games this coming season, which should put them in playoff contention in what is expected to be a light Eastern Conference.

At the very least, the Bulls will be a nuisance all season long and will be one of those teams that none of the upper-echelon ballclubs will enjoy playing, because Chicago has talent at every position and even has some depth.

It would not be shocking to see the Bulls sneak into the playoffs in the East. As a matter of fact, I would be more surprised if they win less than 30 games than I would if they compete for a postseason berth.