The report says Chicago Bulls need to be the top-six seed to justify the front office's substantial investment in this core

Can the Chicago Bulls reach their lofty goals?

The Chicago Bulls front office has a lot of faith in this roster, opting to bring back numerous players from last season’s squad led by starting big man Nikola Vucevic. This went against the opinions of many experts and the Bulls faithful, who had pined for the Bulls to tear down the roster and start anew.

So, how can this group justify the hefty investment made by management? Well, according to a recent report from Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley, the Bulls need to be a top-six seed in the Eastern Conference this season to validate their approach.

Incredible struggle

The Bulls went through a hellacious struggle to gain rhythm last season, eventually finishing the regular season with a 40-42 record and missing the NBA Playoffs by a game. The absence of Ball—who has been out due to a knee injury since January 2022—is a significant reason for the team’s downfall, although it’s not the only one.

While some experts reckon the Bulls to go through the same things, there are some avenues the team can take to become better.

“If Williams actually made a big jump, that would be the most profound way of brightening Chicago's impact. Improvements from White, Dosunm, or even Dalen Terry would be helpful, too. Carter filling Ball's shoes as a two-way playmaker is another possibility,” Buckley wrote.

Tough road ahead

The Bulls have talented players who can give the Bulls a lift on any given night. However, given how some teams have reloaded with All-Star players, the Bulls may have a tough time competing in the East.

“The Bulls could easily be competitive, but competitive enough to justify the level of investment this front office has made? Chicago probably needs (at least) a top-six seed to justify that, and given the collective depth of the Eastern Conference, that won't be easy to pull off.”