The Chicago Bulls are finally embracing a new direction, but where exactly does that leave them in the Eastern Conference?

Chicago isn't built to contend for a championship this season. But the additions of Norman Powell and Nic Claxton also suggest Bryson Graham isn't interested in completely bottoming out while Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson and Josh Giddey develop.

That puts the Bulls in an interesting position. Breaking the East into four tiers shows how far Chicago has to climb and which teams could realistically be within reach.

Until someone knocks them off, the defending champions remain the standard.

Jalen Brunson, Karl-Anthony Towns, OG Anunoby and Mikal Bridges give New York a proven core with star power, size and defense.

Chicago obviously isn't close to this level yet. The bigger question is whether Buzelis or Wilson can eventually develop into the type of star capable of anchoring a contender.

Toronto represents another version of what Chicago hopes its rebuild can eventually become.

Scottie Barnes developed into a franchise centerpiece while the Raptors surrounded him with size, length and athleticism. With Kawhi Leonard back in town, Toronto now has enough talent to realistically think about winning the East.

For Chicago, the lesson is simple: development comes first. The Bulls need to discover whether Buzelis, Wilson or Giddey can become their foundational piece.

Philadelphia is operating on the opposite timeline.

Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown and LeBron James give the Sixers arguably the most star power in the conference.

Chicago has no reason to operate with that urgency. Philadelphia knows who its stars are and is trying to win immediately. The Bulls are still figuring out which players will be around when they're ready to compete.

Few combinations are scarier than Giannis Antetokounmpo and Erik Spoelstra.

Pairing Giannis with Bam Adebayo gives Miami an incredible defensive foundation while providing the Heat with the dominant offensive force they needed.

Miami also demonstrates why Chicago's rebuild makes sense. Trying to patch together a veteran roster capable of competing with teams like this would accomplish little. The Bulls need something sustainable.

Losing Jaylen Brown changes Boston, but Jayson Tatum and Derrick White keep the Celtics dangerous.

Years of strong roster construction have given Boston enough talent to survive major changes while remaining competitive.

For Chicago, Boston is another reminder that everything becomes easier once a franchise finds its superstar. The Bulls are still searching for confirmation that one exists on the current roster.

Cleveland has reached the stage Chicago eventually wants to reach.

Donovan Mitchell leads a roster talented enough that regular-season success is expected. The questions now revolve around how far Cleveland can advance during the playoffs.

The Bulls are several steps behind, but Cleveland demonstrates what happens when a developing roster transitions into one facing real expectations.

Indiana should look completely different with Tyrese Haliburton healthy.

The Pacers already demonstrated their ceiling by reaching the NBA Finals in 2025. Haliburton, Pascal Siakam and Rick Carlisle's offensive system make Indiana dangerous again.

They're also proof that rebuilding doesn't necessarily require years of losing. Smart drafting, development and finding complementary players can accelerate the process.

This is where things become more relevant for Chicago.

Detroit's rebuild produced a legitimate centerpiece in Cade Cunningham and a strong defensive identity under J.B. Bickerstaff.

The Pistons are further along, but they also show how quickly things can change when young players make significant leaps. Chicago needs Buzelis and Wilson to eventually create a similar acceleration.

Atlanta has built around length and athleticism, something that should sound familiar in Chicago.

Bryson Graham has emphasized size, length, athleticism and physicality since taking over the Bulls' front office after his time in Atlanta.

Jalen Johnson gives the Hawks a potential centerpiece, but offensive creation remains a question. Chicago could face similar concerns as its young core develops.

Charlotte might be one of Chicago's most important measuring sticks.

The Hornets have intriguing young talent in Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller but aren't established enough to be considered contenders.

If Chicago develops faster than expected, Charlotte represents exactly the type of team the Bulls should begin challenging for positioning in the East.

Paolo Banchero, Franz Wagner, Desmond Bane and Jalen Suggs give Orlando plenty of talent.

The problem continues to be consistent offense.

That's an important lesson for Chicago. Collecting young talent isn't enough. Eventually those pieces have to complement each other, something the Bulls will need to determine with Buzelis, Wilson and Giddey.

Washington might have the widest range of outcomes in the conference.

AJ Dybantsa provides a potential franchise cornerstone while Trae Young and Anthony Davis act as the team's veteran stars.

Washington and Chicago are both trying to escape the bottom of the East, but they're approaching the process differently. Their progress should be interesting to compare throughout the season.

Rebuilding doesn't necessarily mean being terrible.

That's the important distinction with this Bulls team.

Buzelis, Wilson and Giddey are the players who matter most to Chicago's future, but Powell and Claxton are legitimate NBA veterans who should keep the Bulls competitive.

Success shouldn't necessarily be measured by whether Chicago sneaks into the Play-In. Buzelis becoming a legitimate star, Wilson emerging as a Rookie of the Year candidate and Giddey taking another step would mean considerably more.

If those developments also allow Chicago to jump teams from Tier 3, even better.

Brooklyn remains the most traditional rebuild in the conference.

The Nets can prioritize young-player development without worrying much about their place in the standings. Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle will look to keep the Nets from bottoming out and losing out on a lottery ball. 

Chicago is taking a slightly different approach by surrounding its young core with enough veteran talent to remain competitive.

The Giannis era ending completely changed Milwaukee's timeline.

After years of chasing championships, the Bucks are now focused on identifying the pieces of their next competitive roster with Kel'el Ware and Brayden Burries jumpstarting their rebuild.

That suddenly puts Milwaukee much closer to Chicago's position than anyone could have imagined just a year ago.

That's what makes this season interesting.

The Bulls aren't competing with New York, Philadelphia or Miami yet. Their real competition is the middle and bottom of the East.

Can Chicago close the gap on Charlotte, Atlanta, Orlando or Washington? Can Buzelis establish himself as a legitimate franchise player? Can Wilson immediately accelerate the rebuild?

Chicago belongs in the rebuilding tier entering 2026-27.

The goal should be making sure they don't stay there for long.