The 5 most important figures as Chicago Bulls open camp

Outside of firing head coach Tom Thibodeau in May, the Bulls delivered one of the most uneventful off-seasons in team history.

The only new player of significance is rookie forward Bobby Portis. The top 10 players from last year's 50-win team are set to return.

The Bulls will officially reconvene at the Advocate Center on Monday for media day, with the first official practice under new coach Fred Hoiberg following a day later.

With training camp about to begin, here's a look at the five most important figures for the Bulls heading into the new season:

5. Jim Boylen

This is the Bulls' new lead assistant, brought on board to help show Fred Hoiberg — a first-time NBA coach — the ropes. The Bulls are hoping Hoiberg can produce the same sort of change Steve Kerr did for Golden State last year.

Kerr had a very experienced staff around him, led by former Bulls assistant Ron Adams and longtime NBA head coach Alvin Gentry, who earned another head-coaching job in New Orleans after the Warriors won the championship. That's why a lead assistant is so important.

Boylen, 50, may not be a household name, but he is well-known in NBA circles. He started out in college as a disciple of Michigan State's Jud Heathcote, then spent 12 seasons with the Houston Rockets, working under Rudy Tomjanovich during two NBA title runs.

Boylen also spent four seasons from 2007-11 as head coach at the University of Utah and worked under Gregg Popovich in San Antonio the past two years, winning his third NBA championship ring in 2014.

Boylen hasn't held a job quite like this, where he's the top assistant for an inexperienced head coach. One reason he made the move is he's eager for the challenge.

4. Mirotic/McDermott

The theme of the Bulls' transaction-free summer was “improvement from within.” That could come from several sources, but no two players represent upward potential more than the two second-year forwards, Nikola Mirotic and Doug McDermott. Their importance grew slightly with the news that Mike Dunleavy had back surgery and will miss the start of the season.

Mirotic's talent was obvious last year as a rookie. He's 6-feet-10 with all-around skills and surprising speed. Mirotic's outside shot was not reliable as a rookie (just 31.6 percent from 3-point range), but his month of March, when he averaged 20.6 points and 7.6 rebounds, was an eye-opener.

McDermott was never much of a factor during his rookie season, with included three double-digit scoring games and one arthroscopic knee surgery. The 6-8 forward has plenty of diverse scoring skills, though, and could turn into a significant contributor for a more offensive-minded Bulls squad.

3. Fred Hoiberg

There are plenty of questions here. You'd expect a transition period with a new head coach, but the Warriors hit the ground running (literally) last season under Kerr, building a 36-6 record by late January.

We already have a good idea of Hoiberg's goals for this team: high-scoring, fast-paced, share the ball, don't neglect the defense. Can he accomplish those goals? Can the team stay healthy? Will the Bulls rest key players during the regular season, a policy popularized by Popovich? (Prediction: yes, players will rest).

Firing Tom Thibodeau was a controversial move, considering the team success over the past five years. Management is hoping the players will appreciate Hoiberg's style, which is expected to be more relaxed and personable.

It all sounds good on paper. But Hoiberg has never coached in the NBA, so the burden of proof is on him.

2. Derrick Rose

This entry needs little explanation. After nearly two full years of inactivity, Derrick Rose returned last season with promising results. He wasn't the same player he was in 2010-11, but he shouldn't even try to recreate the daredevil drives to the basket he used to perform.

With improved outside shooting and better court vision, Rose is certainly capable of being an all-star again. There's one obvious requirement: He needs to stay healthy.

There's no telling if Rose will be able to play more than the 51 games he logged last season. The hope is, he will continue to be smarter about how to prepare and take care of his body.

Rose is dealing with a legal problem, the ex-girlfriend who filed a civil suit accusing Rose and two friends of sexual assault. There's a significant difference between this case and that of Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane.

Rose's case is not a criminal investigation. The police were never involved. The accuser is seeking monetary compensation, so there is little chance this situation will disrupt Rose's season.

1. Tony Snell

Yes, Tony Snell and here's why:

First of all, let's assume Jimmy Butler, with his cowboy boots, Taylor Swift infatuation and relentless, Texas-style work ethic, will continue to be a 20-point scorer and one of the league's best wing defenders.

Let's also assume this Bulls season will boil down to a familiar issue: Can they beat LeBron James in the playoffs?

An important part of the Bulls being able to beat James is having multiple defenders who can at least make him work for his stats.

In the 2011 Finals, Dallas had Shawn Marion and DeShawn Stevenson. Last spring, the Warriors used Klay Thompson and Draymond Green at times, then usually closed out games with Andre Iguodala.

Asking Butler to score 20-plus points and guard James for 44 minutes in each game of a playoff series is not realistic. James hardly ever guarded Butler during last season's second-round meeting, which Cleveland won 4-2.

Let's face it, the Bulls may never beat James in a playoff series. But Snell has the best opportunity to become a reasonably successful LeBron defender.

The quietest Bull has decent speed, size and a ridiculously long wingspan. He never will be as physical a defender as Butler, but Snell could turn out to be a nice change of pace, using speed and length as his primary weapons.

• Follow Mike's Bulls reports on Twitter @McGrawDHBulls.