National Basketball Association

Chicago Bulls: Final Thoughts Before 2016-17 Opener

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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As the Chicago Bulls are set to match up versus the Boston Celtics on Thursday, so starts their new era headlined by the trio of Rajon Rondo, Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler.

After what has seemed like an entirety, the summer is over, fall has arrived, and so marks the start of the 2016-17 NBA season.

The Chicago Bulls will be hosting the Boston Celtics on Thursday, officially kicking things off under a new era. Gone are the days with Derrick Rose as the face of the franchise, his trusty sidekick Joakim Noah never far behind.

It is time to say hello to the Alpha Three: Rajon Rondo, Dwyane Wade and Jimmy Butler.

What could go wrong, right?

Although there is little pushback left from fans on the matter of losing Rose and Noah, there has certainly been a fair share of doubt that the new roster will be successful.

Many wonder just how well Rondo, Wade and Butler will be able to share the court.

Stating the obvious, on paper, it does seem a little … tricky.

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While Rondo certainly ran into his fair share of trouble during his time in Boston, he has seemingly spun out of control since then. His stint with the Dallas Mavericks ended on a sour note, and it could be argued that DeMarcus Cousins only fueled his bad boy tendencies, over on the Sacramento Kings.

So how is anyone really to believe that Rondo’s behavior will not get the best of him here, too?

Then there is Wade, who just spent the last 13 years essentially being synonymous not just with the Miami Heat as an organization, but South Beach as a place period. The veteran simply cannot shake off the leadership role he has developed over all of these years; he is and always has been a leader.

Yes, even during the Big Three era, when he shared the court with LeBron James and Chris Bosh. Miami was his, to do as he pleased.

Which brings us to Butler, a guy who has been dying to step into the spotlight, ever since the Bulls drafted him in 2011. A guy who all this time had been stuck behind Rose and Noah. A guy who is finally … free. Or was, anyways. Until Chicago brought aboard Rondo and Wade.

Now, Butler is stuck once again behind two big names.

But what if this trio is actually able to come together and do great work?

Never say never, after all.

Because maybe all Rondo needs is the right environment. So far, his attitude is quite uplifting.

“I was able to quarterback with so many future Hall of Famers. I learned how to keep guys happy. I had to laugh about it–myself, Jimmy and D-Wade ‘not getting along.’ I’ve seen it first-hand with the Big Three. Three guys with different backgrounds and they were able to come together.”

And maybe as his time in the league slowly starts to come to an end, Wade is ready to take more of a backseat role.

“We just have to have some patience.”

Is it a long shot to think things will turn out as well as the organization wants you to believe it will? Maybe. But even the craziest of science experiments sometimes end up not exploding.

In fact, it seems fans should be worried about a handful of other factors going into the 2016-17 season.

Like whether or not head coach Fred Hoiberg will continue to be too soft.

It is no secret that Hoiberg had a hard time motivating his guys last year.

And that could be for a multitude of reasons: anywhere from that he did not transition well enough from college to pro ball, his temperament is the complete opposite of former head coach Tom Thibodeau’s, he is a yes-man to the front office.

Or all of the above.

And now, Hoiberg will have an even greater task at hand, with the likes of Rondo playing for him.

The success of this season may be contingent on the team, but make no mistake: Hoiberg’s ability to coach will play a huge role in it too.

Fans may also want to keep an eye on how guys like Nikola Mirotic, Bobby Portis and Doug McDermott keep developing. All three of them have so far underwhelmed, unfortunately bringing the rest of the squad down.

The front office already made an attempt at strengthening the roster by dealing off Tony Snell, but do not be surprised if there are more changes ahead. While having a trio of stars like Rondo, Wade and Butler is great, even they can only do so much without a strong supporting cast.

One day to go until the revamped Chicago Bulls take center stage and set out to prove themselves. Will the new era really bring success? Only time will tell.

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