The Chicago Bulls are one of the stranger rosters after this offseason, acquiring Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade to merge with Jimmy Butler. The competitive ceiling for the Bulls is a fascinating subject, and it varies depending on perspective, but there aren’t too many hot takes predicting the Bulls as a potential contender.
That includes Dwyane Wade, via Vincent Goodwill of CSN Chicago:
Wade scoffed at “championship” expectations: “Coming off where you don’t make the playoffs, your goal can’t be winning a championship”
— Vincent Goodwill (@vgoodwill) October 11, 2016
Wade: “We’re not thinking longterm right now. We’re in the moment. We’re thinking short term. No predictions this early in the preseason.”
— Vincent Goodwill (@vgoodwill) October 11, 2016
Wade has been on that stage before. He’s a three-time champion. He knows what a championship team looks and feels like. To put championship aspirations on this team so soon would only be naive.
Aside from the fact that Chicago’s three alphas have to adjust to each other, the team as a whole needs time to develop chemistry and rhythm before we know just how competitive the Bulls are going to be. The Cavs are the only team in the East with realistic championship expectations unless someone steps up to legitimately challenge them. Before the Bulls can think that far ahead, they have to take it one step at a time.
To clarify: Wade said he won’t put ceiling on Bulls. Just stressed focus should be on daily improvement, not title, for non-playoff team.
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) October 11, 2016
