p>As the Bulls get set to open up the regular season Thursday against the San Antonio Spurs, let's take a closer look at each player and what he's bringing to the table:
Derrick Rose is the Bulls' franchise, which means the health of his ankle will be a top concern for coach Vinny Del Negro.
Derrick Rose: Rose is the franchise -- pure and simple. If he gets hurt, or his ankle tendon injury lingers throughout the season, the Bulls will be in trouble. It will be interesting to see how the reigning rookie of the year improves this season, and there's no question he'll be asked to score a little more now that Ben Gordon is gone, but as his teammates and coaches know, it's imperative that he stays on the floor.
"He does things that nobody on this team can do," Joakim Noah said recently of Rose. "He brings so much to this team. The way he can just ... his strength near the basket is pretty impressive."
Kirk Hinrich: The good news for coach Vinny Del Negro is that if Rose ever needs a break, or if he wants a faster group on the floor, he's got another quality point guard at his disposal in Hinrich. The Kansas alum, who missed most of the season with a torn thumb ligament, looks to be ready to go this season.
"I still feel very confident in my ability," Hinrich said recently. "Just 'cause I'm coming off the bench, I still feel like I can play very well in this league and accomplish things, I'm just excited to have an opportunity coming forward."
John Salmons: The guard/forward gave the Bulls a huge boost at the trading deadline and is expected to provide even more energy this season. Salmons is another player who is expected to pick up the scoring slack in the wake of Gordon's absence. With a few more shots to go around each game, look for the Miami alum to add to his 18 points per game average.
Jannero Pargo: After a year playing around the globe (Russia and Greece), the Chicago native returns to play for his hometown team. He should provide the Bulls with solid minutes off the bench and a stable insurance policy if Rose or Hinrich has to sit again for an extended amount of time. The biggest question at the moment regards his health. He battled a back injury throughout the last week of preseason action.
Lindsey Hunter: Expect to hear the term "ploach" being floated around the Bulls' locker room more than once this season. Hunter seems to be the epitome of player/coach. The 38-year-old veteran still can give Del Negro a few good minutes when needed, but he also can continue to provide the type of veteran leadership that can be invaluable during the course of a long 82-game season.
Luol Deng: Speaking of health, Deng missed the end of last season thanks to a stress fracture in his leg. If he can stay healthy, which is a big if, he'll be able to provide the type of scoring/rebounding threat that the Bulls were missing at times against the Celtics in last season's playoffs. Deng's presence and continued health will give Del Negro a lot more options than he had last season.
Tyrus Thomas: If Thomas builds on his 11-point, six-rebound average from last season, the Bulls suddenly become a whole lot scarier. Thomas has as much athletic ability as anyone on the team, his biggest problem is that he still hasn't figured out how to harness it all. He still hasn't developed the type of midrange shot that is so crucial in the NBA.
Taj Gibson: The rookie from USC has to be considered one of the most pleasant surprises heading into the season. He has proved he can score and rebound when needed and will give the Bulls a solid option off the bench all season. If Gibson continues to improve, he will have a lot of teams wondering why they didn't pick him late in the first round of the '09 draft.
James Johnson: Johnson's preseason hasn't been as smooth as Gibson's, but the Wake Forest alum believes that he's starting to make a difference and will be able to help the team down the line. He says his defense is really starting to improve, and he's also bringing the type of attitude that Del Negro must love.
"I just want to win ballgames," Johnson said recently. "Regardless of what I have to do to win the ballgames, that's all I want to do."
Center Joakim Noah has put a lot of work in over the summer, and it's clear he wants to be more of an offensive force.
Joakim Noah: If I was running a fantasy team and somebody asked me for a sleeper this season, Noah would be one of the first players who would come to mind. He really put a lot of work in this summer, and it's clear he wants to become more of a force on the offensive end.
"I'm feeling good," the Bulls center said after the team's preseason finale. "I think there's some things I've got to touch up. I think I turned the ball over a little too much during the preseason, but overall I'm happy where I am healthwise. I feel [I'm] in good shape. I feel strong -- and confident."
Brad Miller: As long as the veteran center stays healthy, he'll provide a great compliment to Noah's inside game. Miller, an 11-year veteran, has been through the NBA wars and should be able to provide the team with 10-12 points a game and 8-10 rebounds a night. He also gives Del Negro another solid insurance policy if Noah goes down with an injury at some point.
Aaron Gray: The big center was sidelined earlier in the preseason with a stress fracture in his leg. Once he returns, he doesn't figure to see too much action but will provide the team with another large body in case Noah or Miller gets into foul trouble.
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Nick Friedell
Nick Friedell covers the Chicago Bulls for ESPNChicago.com. Send comments, questions and feedback by clicking here.
