5 questions facing the Bulls as camp begins

All eyes will be on Derrick Rose when the Bulls open training camp this week, with newcomer Pau Gasol getting a few glances and the team's new West Side practice facility playing a supporting role.

But the biggest questions concerning the Bulls go deeper than that. Obviously, Rose is the greatest variable, but the true question isn't whether he can return to 2010 form.

He can't. Cutting, twisting, superhuman drives to the basket aren't sustainable. The real questions are whether Rose can stay healthy and become an effective player while toning down his game a bit. Those are season-long problems that will follow Rose indefinitely.

Even though he didn't shoot the ball particularly well for Team USA at the FIBA World Cup, Rose did flash some of his trademark speed, which is a welcome sign. Everything else will need time to develop.

Rose aside, here are the biggest questions as the Bulls begin another season. Media day is Monday with practice set to begin Tuesday.

Can Doug McDermott be a reliable scorer as a rookie?

The Bulls have Rose, and perhaps a more reliable low-post scorer in Gasol. The missing ingredients are a wing scorer and a better 3-point shooting.

In theory, McDermott can provide both. The former Creighton star was one of the most accomplished scorers in NCAA history and mastered just about every offensive skill. But how quickly can he adjust to NBA competition?

It's likely coach Tom Thibodeau will open the season with Mike Dunleavy starting at small forward. But if you're looking for players who could put the Bulls over the top this season, McDermott might lead the list.

Will Jimmy Butler sign a contract extension before Oct. 31?

Speculation began during the summer about the value of Butler, who will either sign an extension by Oct. 31 or become a restricted free agent next year.

There are some who believe Butler will get an offer sheet near the maximum salary if he hits free agency. He's a lockdown defender who can play heavy minutes, and he's shown versatile but inconsistent scoring skills.

Of course, the actual dollar figure of a 2015 offer sheet is all speculation right now. The Bulls lost a valuable player in restricted free agency two years ago when they didn't match Houston's hefty offer for center Omer Asik.

Butler's situation is different, since the Bulls will have full Bird rights and can match any offer next summer. But they have only a few weeks to decide whether to avoid free agency with Butler, and at what price.

Who plays in the fourth quarter?

The Bulls settled into a comfortable rotation the past few years, where Carlos Boozer started games and Taj Gibson finished them.

Now the Bulls have replaced Boozer with Gasol, and here's a less-than-bold prediction: Gasol will play in the fourth quarter. So who sits? Gibson or Joakim Noah.

Maybe sometimes it will be Gasol. Don't forget, Noah often sat in favor of Asik as recently as the 2011 playoffs, and Gibson was the team's second-best fourth-quarter scorer last season.

Thibodeau isn't afraid to make tough choices, but this is one where feelings could get hurt, no matter which way he goes.

Where does Nikola Mirotic play?

The Bulls have added the best young player from Europe. Nothing bad about that, right?

The perplexing question is how the 6-foot-10 former Real Madrid star fits in. Watching from afar, it seemed clear that Mirotic is a "stretch four," an outside-shooting power forward. Well, the Bulls have Gasol and Gibson filling most of the minutes at that spot.

Small forward is an option, but can Mirotic handle the defensive responsibilities?

Settling on a spot in the rotation will take some time, and here's the one certainty - the learning curve with Thibodeau's defensive schemes will be steep. Mirotic knows what he's getting into, though.

Do the Bulls have enough to beat Cleveland?

This is more of a 10-part series than a single question.

For the opening of camp, here's the quick answer: This Cavs team probably is more talented than the group LeBron James joined in Miami in 2010. Rebounding and point guard play always were issues with the Heat and they won't be here. The potential weaknesses on this Cavaliers team are defense and experience.

The Bulls made a number of changes, and success hinges on a player who missed all but 10 games over the past two seasons. In other words, stay tuned.

• Get the latest Bulls news via Twitter by following Mike at @McGrawDHBulls.