3 players of the Chicago Bulls expected to deliver big in the 2021-22 NBA season

#2 DeMar DeRozan

DeMar DeRozan #10 drives to the basket while guarded by Payton Pritchard #11

Another high-profile acquisition for the Chicago Bulls in the offseason is DeMar DeRozan. He was also acquired through a sign-and-trade deal with the San Antonio Spurs.

DeRozan has alternated as a shooting guard and a small forward throughout his career but played as a power forward last season for the Spurs. With the way the Chicago Bulls team is set up, he is favored to start as a small forward.

On offense, DeRozan has been one of the most lethal players in the league. He is one of three players to score at least 1,000 points since 2010. Members of that group include LeBron James and Russell Westbrook.

The Chicago Bulls will need DeRozan to be at his best for them to have a successful season. The four-time All-Star has averaged 20+ points for the last eight seasons and also pulls his weight in the assist department.

DeRozan's addition will undoubtedly provide more scoring options for the Chicago Bulls and shore up their defense. The team's chemistry, based on what we've seen so far in the preseason, is a solid 8. Other teams could have problems keeping up with this pacey Bulls roster.

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#1 Zach LaVine

Zach LaVine #8 of the Chicago Bulls

Zach LaVine has improved tremendously over the years and has been the primary scorer for the Chicago Bulls. The 26-year-old combo guard took his game to an unreal level last season, recording career-best averages in points (27.4), rebounds (5.0), and assists (4.9).

The Chicago Bulls acquired LaVine via trade in 2017 and has since then strived to build the team around him. The two-time NBA Slam Dunk champion is one of the most explosive players in the NBA, and he has shown that time and time again playing for the famous Eastern Conference franchise.

So far, the partnership with DeRozan and Ball is working. The idea was to relieve LaVine from some of the pressure offensively and both acquisitions have done a great job of that.

As the Chicago Bulls' most prominent scorer, opposition defenses have in the past collapsed on LaVine, making things difficult for him on occasion. But with the introduction of secondary scorers, who also convert at an efficient rate, LaVine has more freedom to operate.

LaVine will have to play at the same level he played in the 2020-21 season or even better for the Chicago Bulls to reach the playoffs or at least the play-in tournament. Anything less than a postseason feature will not be considered a successful season for this athletic Bulls team.