EIGHT-MAN ROTATION
Pos	Player	Key Stat	Skinny
PG	Randy Brown	8.8 PPG	Yuck! And his backup is Rusty LaRue?
SG	Hersey Hawkins	.419 FG %	Should score 15 a night with this bunch
SF	Toni Kukoc	18.8 PPG	The Savior. Better hope he stays healthy
PF	Elden Brand	rookie	The Future. Better hope he can play
C	Will Perdue	2.4 PPG	The Past. Better hope Anstey develops
SF	Ron Artest	rookie	Has range and good all-around game
SF	Dickey Simpkins	9.1 PPG	As starter, had solid numbers (7.4 RPG)
SG	Michael Jordan	DNP	Sure looks better than Kornel David

		The Bulls are much the same as last year except they have added Elton Brand. He looks like he will be an outstanding player. He has played a lot of minutes in the exhibition season and has played well. He has great hands, can rebound, and can finish plays in the post. But power forwards aren't the type of players who carry teams. Karl Malone carries the Jazz, but he is about the only one who can. I think the Bulls will struggle again this year, especially because their backcourt lacks talent. Toni Kukoc is a solid player up front. They have added center Will Perdue, who will help because he is physical. The Bulls have new assistants under Tim Floyd and will probably go away from the triangle offense. I think they will be on the bottom of the Central Division.

Krause knew that wouldn't be in the cards.

The emphasis for this season is to develop the draft picks, including No. 1 selection Elton Brand and No. 16 pick Ron Artest, as well as second-rounders Michael Ruffin and Lari Ketner. Victory this season will be measured by development rather than wins and losses for two reasons.

The most important reason is because Krause is planning to make a serious bid for next year's top two free agents -- Tim Duncan and Grant Hill. The Bulls will have as much room under the salary cap as any team in the league to sign those two players because Krause loaded this season's roster with lower-tier free agents signed to one-year contracts. Most of those contracts won't be renewed and the money will be used on the free agent market.

Krause refused to pursue this year's top free agents, including Penny Hardaway, Shandon Anderson and Joe Smith, despite the impact those players would have had on this season's won-lost record. He felt it was more important to be in position to take a run at next year's franchise players.

As a result, Krause lured free agents who would help the young players and be able to stay positive during a rebuilding year. He signed Will Perdue and B.J. Armstrong, who were part of the Bulls' first threepeat and understand the complicated triangle offense. Krause also unloaded the remaining five years and $20 million of Brent Barry's contract when he traded the shooting guard to Seattle for Hersey Hawkins. Hawkins, Perdue and Armstrong are leaders who will be positive influences in the locker room.

Another reason the Bulls won't be consumed by their number of wins this season is because they have two first-round picks next year, including San Antonio's if it falls between 16 and 29. Theoretically, the worst thing that can happen to the Bulls is if they make the playoffs, only to lose in the first round.

But not many expect that to happen.

Second-year coach Tim Floyd is better prepared now that he's experienced his first full training camp. He's vowed his support to Krause's rebuilding strategy, but another losing season could try his patience. That's why winning and losing, at least this season, won't be measured in the standings by the Bulls' brass. How the fans feel about it could be a different story.

	Player to watch
	Kukoc Toni Kukoc did it all last season, leading the team in everything offensive, and now Elton Brand has come along to take some of the scoring load. The thing to watch here is if the Bulls trade Kukoc, which they should, for some young guards. Kukoc would be a perfect complement to a contender, but shouldering the load isn't his game.

Point guard
Randy Brown is the only legitimate ball-handler capable of attacking defenses and handling pressure, and Brown had bone spurs surgically removed from both ankles this summer. He's neither a shooter nor a distributor, but his tenacity may be unsurpassed.

Armstrong was signed to a one-year contract but should start the season on the injured list after having his left knee scoped. That leaves Cory Carr and Rusty LaRue as contenders for the backup spot. Carr is an athlete who doesn't shoot well, and LaRue is a shooter who does little else.

Shooting guard
Hawkins' best days may be behind him, but he can still hit three-pointers and play smart defense. The Bulls hope he reverses his trend of becoming more passive in recent years. In any case, he'll serve as an excellent role model to the team's many young players.

Fred Hoiberg, who played for Floyd at Iowa State, can ignite from the perimeter but can be beaten on defense by the league's quicker guards. Second-year player Corey Benjamin has potential to be an exciting player, but he can't carry over his practice moves to game time.

Small forward
Toni Kukoc is entering the last season of his contract and wants to stick around next year. He's having more fun in training camp and should have a big season, especially now that defenses will have to worry about other scorers like Brand.

Kukoc led the Bulls in points (18.8), rebounds (7.0) and assists (5.3) last season, but the double-teams and triple-teams he faced resulted in the lowest shooting percentage of his career (.420). He is still the only proven scoring threat on this team.

Artest has flashed some very impressive offensive moves in the preseason. If he proves he's got a jump shot and can play more under control, he'll have the complete package.

Power forward
Brand has set his sights on becoming Rookie of the Year, and the 6-8, 260-pounder may be ready to fulfill that goal. He's already displayed a nice touch from 10-15 feet and strong offensive moves around the basket, reminding some of a younger Charles Barkley. But the triangle is a difficult offense for any player, and Brand will need time to develop.

Brand should be in the starting lineup for the opener and never look back. Kornel David has good range on his jumper and has impressed the team with his energy and willingness to learn. Ruffin is a bruiser type who plays outstanding defense, and Ketner can be a force when motivated. Both have potential.

Center
Perdue has four rings and knows how to win. He understands the complicated triangle offense and is a better-than-average rebounder and passer. Dickey Simpkins also is strong under the boards and understands his role. Newly-acquired Chris Anstey is a very agile seven-footer who can play any front-line position and has decent shooting range.

Coaching
To some, Floyd earned Coach of the Year consideration for guiding last season's team to a 13-37 record. Floyd is a quick study and learned a lot about the NBA in his first season. He's well-organized, smart and has the respect of his players. But he still doesn't have the horses. Losing assistants Frank Hamblen and Tex Winter to Phil Jackson in Los Angeles hurt.