The Chicago Bulls last season saw the backcourt tandem of 2015 Most Improved Player (MVP) Jimmy Butler and 2011 MVP Derrick Rose go to work and it paid dividends, although they failed to make it past the second round of the playoffs.
Rose played in 51 games in the 2014–15 season, which was the most he played since the 2010–11 season before he was plagued by injuries.
Meanwhile, Butler continued to improve and along with being the most improved player was named to his first All-Star Game.
Butler and Rose helped Chicago finish the regular season third in the Eastern Conference with a 50–32 record.
In the offseason, there were rumors that Butler would leave the Bulls and was strongly linked to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Because of this, his relationship with Rose was placed under the spotlight and he reportedly had a rift with their star point guard.
Butler already denied the issue earlier this offseason and on "The Waddle and Silvy Show" on ESPN 1000 was asked about his chemistry with Rose and making it better.
The 25-year-old player answered, "I think we can. I think we will. And I think we better, because the way I look at it, I don't think either one of us is going anywhere anytime soon."
Butler again shut down the alleged rift with Rose saying, "We didn't win. That's it. When you don't win, somebody's got to find something to blame it on."
He added that when the Bulls win, all the rumors will be gone and there will no longer be any issue.
Butler and Rose were huge for Chicago last season, especially during their playoff run were both improved their performance.
First-time All-Star Butler averaged 20.0 points per game in the regular season and increased such in the playoffs to 22.9 points.
Meanwhile, Rose averaged 17.7 points during the regular season and in the playoffs was scoring 20.3 points per outing.
The Bulls did not add any significant player so far this offseason and will likely stick with the guys they had last year, although they will have a new head coach in former Iowa State University coach Fred Hoiberg who replaced Tom Thibodeau.
