The Chicago Bulls haven't had a winning season since 2021-22, but hope springs anew for this upcoming season with a new cast of players and new head coach Tiago Splitter. 

The Bulls made a splash in the trade market Saturday, swapping former first round pick Rob Dillingham for former Hornets guard Buddy Hield and cash. 

Hield brings a veteran presence and outside shooting to Splitter's team, giving him more options ahead of one of the most important Bulls training camps in years. 

Splitter's job won't be easy this season, so he will need to prioritize the right tasks to give his team a chance to compete in a difficult but wide open Eastern Conference. 

Here are the four main areas Splitter should focus on: 

Chicago allowed opponents to shoot nearly 56% from inside the three-point arc last season, an issue the team attempted to address with the additions of Nic Claxton and Caleb Wilson this offseason.

Claxton averaged 1.1 blocks per game last season, his lowest average since 2021-2022. He has much room for improvement and should increase that number. Wilson averaged 1.4 blocks per game last season with the North Carolina Tar Heels and there is a feeling that he could improve that number as an NBA rookie given enough minutes. 

Splitter's Portland Trail Blazers fared well relative to their talent on defense last season. If the new Bulls coach can mastermind a similarly good defensive rotation, the Bulls can be a much better defensive team than last year, especially in the paint. 

Splitter has several talented young players to work with who need guidance to reach their potential.  

Wilson, Matas Buzelis, and Josh Giddey give the Bulls three premium young talents who are still honing their skills. Rookie Dailyn Swain looked tentative in NBA Summer League action but he was a more confident player with the Texas Longhorns.

Wilson has been shooting thousands of three-pointers per day in practice so far, a good omen as the season draws near. Buzelis has been a mainstay on the offseason workout circuit, getting pointers from Mavericks legend Dirk Nowitzki recently.

The early tea leaves show that the young Bulls are taking individual improvements seriously, now it's time for Splitter and his coaching staff to add the finishing touches before the team's season opener on Oct. 21 in Toronto. 

The Bulls have an uphill battle ahead of themselves this season as one of the Eastern Conference's youngest teams and a team that hasn't had much time to play together and gel. 

Fans expect an entertaining product on the court, and a winning product, but this Bulls team could do everything right and still not have a winning record due to the challenges they face including inexperience and youth. 

Splitter should clearly communicate he and his staff's expectations to the Bulls, which should focus on the things they can control. Effort, hustle, execution, punctuality, a team-first attitude, humility; all could be the difference between winning and losing. 

If the Bulls take care of these little details, they will give themselves the best chance to secure a winning record, and make the playoffs. 

As the world champion New York Knicks showed last season, a team-first approach can work wonders and help overcome teams with more star power. 

Jalen Brunson stole the show at the end of the season, but the Knicks' team-first approach put Brunson in a position to lift his teammates over the top.  

The Bulls have players who are capable of blossoming into NBA All-Stars, but they won't accomplish their individual goals, or the Bulls' team goals, without the right approach.

Splitter excels in this department, and he showed it last year with the Blazers, and on the San Antonio Spurs under former coach Gregg Popovich. If Splitter can get his Bulls to buy into the team concept, 2026-27 will be an exciting season in Chicago.