All training camps offer more questions than answers, and the 43rd season in Bulls franchise history is no exception.
Following an off-season that featured the hiring of Vinny Del Negro after an eight-week coaching search, the drafting of Chicago native Derrick Rose with the first overall pick and split outcomes on long-term extensions for Luol Deng and Ben Gordon, the franchise's prospects remain uncertain.
Nobody knows for sure how Del Negro will fare as coach, how Rose will handle the pressure or whether Gordon will try to forge his signature onto Deng's $71 million extension.
Lame jokes aside, here are perhaps the most burning questions in advance of media day on Monday and the first of five straight days of double practice sessions on Tuesday.
Question: Will Gordon be at camp?
Answer: Despite hollow words from early August in which Gordon indicated he had played his last game as a Bull, all indications are the fifth-year guard will sign a one-year qualifying offer of $6.4 million and join the Bulls' crowded backcourt picture.
As a restricted free agent, Gordon's options always were limited. General manager John Paxson listened to exploratory talks from a few teams, including a lowball offer from Miami, but no team wanted to meet Gordon's demand for roughly $12 million per year.
With the Bulls and Gordon never close on a long-term extension, that meant Gordon could accept the tender offer, sign in Europe or sit out a year. The last two options meant the Bulls still held his rights as a restricted free agent.
Gordon, who has led the Bulls in scoring for three straight seasons, is a lot of things. But a boat rocker isn't one of them. Just witness his begrudging yet professional acceptance of coming off the bench.
Can Rose handle the pressure?
Based on informed speculation from league observers with and without Bulls ties, the guess is yes. Those who saw Rose practice in Las Vegas against the U.S. Olympic team in July—again, some with Bulls ties; some without—were wowed by his speed, ability to get to the rim and inability to be fazed by Chris Paul, Jason Kidd and Deron Williams.
"He's definitely one of the fastest guys in the NBA already,"
Williams said in China. "With the ball, his speed is amazing. I couldn't believe it. He is a tough big guard who has an NBA body already."
Bulls management expects Rose to have growing pains. But team officials aren't worried at all about Rose playing in his hometown, nor his eventual talent level.
What's Del Negro like?
If players' words are any indication, the rookie coach is direct, thorough, organized and prepared. Paxson consistently has said Del Negro's communication skills and preparation helped him surprisingly land the job.
Management is hopeful Del Negro's upbeat attitude and consistent communication with players will resonate with what still will be one of the league's youngest teams.
As for Del Negro's sideline demeanor, he rarely left his seat during July summer-league action in Orlando. And he said he will listen comfortably to input from veteran assistants Del Harris, Bernie Bickerstaff and Bob Ociepka before making final decisions.
Del Negro has stated a desire to play up-tempo offensively with plenty of screen-and-roll situations to utilize Rose's talents. Defensively, the Bulls will need to improve from last season and get stops that lead to easy baskets in transition.
How will the backcourt minutes work?
Not well for at least one among Rose, Gordon, Kirk Hinrich, Larry Hughes and Thabo Sefolosha. Even with Sefolosha perhaps playing some minutes at small forward, somebody will feel left out.
Hinrich has trade value, but Paxson kept him to ease Rose's transition and to safeguard against Gordon leaving for nothing as an unrestricted free agent in 2009.
This mess will be one of Del Negro's biggest challenges.
From where—or whom—will the inside scoring come?
With apologies to the serviceable Drew Gooden, some questions—and the lack of a consistent answer—never change.
