The Chicago Bulls will surely be looking to break through and make the playoffs in the 2025-26 season. After back-to-back 39-win seasons, Chicago will be returning most of the players from a team that did have some midseason turnover in the form of the Zach LaVine trade. Overall, the Bulls are still a young squad, which led to the thought of: what are some things that could happen--outside of a playoff appearance-- that would lead the Bulls to consider this upcoming season a success?

• A Victory Over the Miami Heat in the Play-In Tournament

This one sounds like it is being a bit tongue in cheek, but it is completely serious. For those with shorter memories, or those simply don't have fond memories of the Play-In, the Bulls have lost to the Miami Heat in the Play-in in three straight seasons. 

Perhaps none of the defeats at the hands of the Heat were as disappointing as last season's 109-90 loss. Chicago entered that game as the No. 9 seed, and had a ton of earned confidence heading into that matchup. From March 6th until the end of the season, the Bulls went 15-6, and they swept the three-game regular season series against the Heat. 

Despite all of Chicago's success against Miami in the regular season, Erik Spoelstra and the Heat were able to scheme up ways to take down the Bulls handily on both sides of the ball. Miami guard Tyler Herro averaged 24.7 points per game on 43.3% shooting against the Bulls in the regular season, but exploded for 38 points on 68.4% shooting, including 10 free throw attempts, in Miami's Play-in win. 

Miami will reportedly be without Herro for eight weeks, but at least the start of the season, following the recent news that he will undergo surgery on his left foot. Herro should, of course, be ready at some point this season, and Miami's addition of  guard Norman Powell (21.8 PPG in '24-'25) will ease the pain of losing Herro's scoring punch to start the year. 

• Noa Essengue Solidifying a Spot in the Rotation

This one seems the most unlikely but would be perhaps the most vital in terms of a non-playoff, successful season.  Noa Essengue enters the 2025-26 regular season as a wiry 18-year old forward who doesn't have much in the way of NBA-ready skills outside of his ability to draw free throws on offense. Per Real GM, Essengue shot 4.8 free throw attempts per game over 22.8 minutes per contest. He has a long way to go in terms of efficiency, shooting below 75% from the free throw line and below 30% from the 3-point line.

Mata Buzelis didn't crack 20 minutes per game until February, and being aggressive with his shot from 3-point range, and playing hard on defense is what most led to the coaching staff finding playing time for him. A repeat of the same scenario with Essengue--and perhaps an All-Rookie Team selection to boot--would go a long way towards Chicago being on the right path towards building a winner. 

• An Improved Version of Coby White

Coby White was the runner-up for the 2023-24 Most Improved Player Award. That was the season he took a dramatic jump from an under 10 PPG player a 19.1 PPG guard. White didn't see a dramatic scoring increase last season, but took on a higher usage rate while posting a career-high 60.1% True Shooting Percentage. It is likely that the Bulls will need White to take on a larger workload with Zach LaVine not on the roster to start the year as he was last season. White is in a contract year, and before the Bulls commit to a sizeable contract to the guard, having a full season's worth of data with him excelling as the primary perimeter scoring option would make it easier for the franchise to make a decision.