Chicago Bulls predicted to be worse on defense next season

Age could play a role in the Bulls' decline this upcoming season.

© Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bulls were a fine defensive team last season, landing fifth in the NBA in defensive efficiency. However, a report by Andy Bailey points to the team's defense as an area where they could possibly regress due to the age of several key players.

Father Time is undefeated

It's an adage often heard in the realm of sports, and it rings true every single time: Father Time is undefeated, and the Bulls employ two key players who are already on the wrong side of 30 years of age—DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic.

Obviously, defense has never been the duo's strong suit, and it will only get worse as they reach the latter stages of their prime. DeRozan and Vucevic will both be 33 when the year ends, and it's not out of the realm of possibility that they could be on the decline defensively. That could spell trouble for a Bulls team that was already struggling to contain opposing offenses.

"...DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic, two players in their mid-30s who already have less-than-stellar reputations on defense, could take steps back. If either or both do, maintaining a top-five-level defense (already a tough task) isn't in the cards," Bailey wrote.

Help is on the way

While the team lost defensive master Patrick Beverley in free agency, the Bulls acquired two players who could make up for that loss—Jevon Carter and Torrey Craig. Carter has a well-earned reputation for being a bulldog on the defensive end, often hounding opposing guards the full length of the floor.

On the other hand, Craig is a fantastic glue guy who can be relied on to plug holes and make effort plays. With a healthy roster, the Bulls' defense could be solid enough to keep them in games.