Hot Take: The 2018-19 Bulls might be better than you think

After posting a 27-55 record last season, the Chicago Bulls are pretty much being dismissed as a doormat in the Eastern Conference next year.

But now that LeBron has signed with the Lakers, Zach LaVine is up to full health, and rookie standout Lauri Markkanen further develops his game, don't be surprised if the Bulls are knocking on the door of a playoff berth.

Let's face it. In the East, sometimes you don't even need a winning record to make the postseason. Such was the case in 2011, when my Pacers made it as an 8th seed before bowing out to an MVP Derrick Rose and the Thibodeau-led Bulls. The same could be said for Chicago next season, as the top four or five seeds seem to be locked in (barring injuries).

After finally committing to a rebuild and trading Jimmy Butler to Minnesota, the Bulls got off to a rocky start in 2017 and really never recovered. Although, there were some bright spots that can't be ignored. Markkanen, the talented big man out of Arizona, shined as a rookie, posting averages of 15.2 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 29.7 minutes over 68 games. Kris Dunn, who was acquired in the Butler deal along with LaVine, is a solid bet to be Chicago's point guard of the future. In his second season, Dunn put up 13.4 points and 6 assists per game before a face-plant hampered his minutes.

With a core of Markkanen, Dunn, LaVine and Justin Holiday, the Bulls' front office has a nice group to work with. Both Dunn and LaVine can bring the ball up the court, Holiday is an upper-tier perimeter defender who could qualify as a young Trevor Ariza, and Markkanen's ceiling appears to be some form of Dirk Nowitzki. Along with role players such as Bobby Portis, Cameron Payne, Paul Zipser, Denzel Valentine, and Robin Lopez, the Bulls' lineup goes nine men deep. 

A closer look at the role guys: Portis started off the year by punching Nikola Mirotic in the face, but ended up being supported by his teammates. Eventually, Mirotic was dealt to New Orleans and Portis became one of the hidden bench gems of the fantasy basketball season.

As for Lopez, he provides a veteran presence while also being relentless on the offensive boards. Zipser and Valentine give them decent outside shooting, and Valentine's playmaking ability ought to keep improving. Payne is a solid ball-handler who looks like he'll only get better.

And let's not forget Wendell Carter Jr., Chicago's 2018 first round pick out of Duke. Carter has drawn comparisons to Al Horford, which should make Bulls fans eager to see the young big man on the floor in Summer League.

As for head coach Fred Hoiberg, the seat could be getting a little hotter. Many fans wanted Hoiberg out following the 2017 playoffs. With a starting lineup of Rajon Rondo, Dwyane Wade, Butler, Mirotic and Lopez, Chicago took a 2-0 series lead on the top-seeded Celtics. However, after Rondo broke his hand during the Game 2 victory, the Bulls wavered and Boston won the series in six games. 

For now, it appears as though Hoiberg can rest easy. It's never been Chicago's style to fire coaches mid-season, but this is the NBA; anything can happen. Whatever he and his staff did last season to develop their young assets, they need to keep up the good work. 

As I mentioned, the East is relatively up for grabs this upcoming season. The top five teams will most likely be Boston, Philly, Indiana, Toronto, and Milwaukee, with Washington and Miami looking to lock up two of the lower seeds. However, that's only seven teams. 

So, who's the best bet for the last playoff spot?

There's a few teams you can eliminate pretty easily. The Knicks, Nets, Cavaliers, Magic, Hawks, and Hornets are almost surefire lottery teams in 2019. That leaves us with the Pistons and the Bulls. The main reason that you might be able to cross out Detroit is because of Blake Griffin. Griffin is still an All-Star caliber guy, but his injuries are well-documented. And until Andre Drummond learns how to make free-throws and Reggie Jackson can limit the turnovers, I'm picking Chicago to sneak into the playoffs.

That's right. I'm taking the 27-win Bulls to sneak into the playoffs in 2019. That's why we call it a hot take.

Image credits: Pippen Ain't Easy, Chicago Tribune

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