Bulls have a lineup problem, with no easy fix in sight

The Bulls are trying to develop young players, establish a new system and figure out who belongs in their future.

Right now, they’re having a hard enough time getting five starters to function together.

As Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic detailed in a reader mailbag, the starting lineup was outscored by 20.3 points per 100 possessions across 92 minutes through Friday. It was the NBA’s fourth-most used lineup.

That’s a pretty substantial dose of something that isn’t working.

Lorenzi described a group still sorting through competing offensive needs under first-year coach Tiago Splitter. Josh Giddey wants to push the pace. Matas Buzelis wants more opportunities to create. Norman Powell is taking more pull-up jumpers and getting fewer attempts at the rim.

Then there’s rookie Caleb Wilson, whose frustration has become part of the adjustment. According to Lorenzi, Splitter attributed Wilson’s benching against the Knicks on Wednesday to his performance, shot selection and body language.

Young teams lose. The concern is whether those losses are helping establish anything useful.

Nic Claxton’s expected return this weekend should help. Lorenzi noted that Claxton supplies the rim protection, screening and rolling the Bulls have been missing. Splitter also plans to let him initiate some offense and explore playing him alongside Jalen Smith.

Those are worthwhile options. Asking Claxton to straighten out everyone’s offensive role would be asking a bit much.

There is an encouraging development elsewhere on the roster. Lorenzi reported that some within the organization believe Noa Essengue could eventually become one of the NBA’s better defenders. Splitter called him the team’s best “slider,” a nod to his ability to stay with ballhandlers.

The fouling and physical development still need work. But the Bulls have reason to keep investing minutes and patience.

That’s what this season needs to produce. Find players worth building with, give them clear responsibilities and see who improves.

Essengue is offering some promise. Getting the starters to help one another remains a much bigger project.