North: Why Bulls fans should be happy

Wow, if you're a Bulls fan, you have to love the signing of hometown guy Dwyane Wade.

OK let's be honest - which I hate to say because I always am - but the Bulls are just a LeBron James injury away from challenging in the East.

Naturally I don't want LeBron to get hurt, and hopefully he stays healthy to defend his crown, but reality is reality, and anything can happen. Ask Derrick Rose.

But even if Cleveland stays healthy, the Bulls will at least be in a position to compete. I never again want to go through what we went through post-MJ. Those were tough and very lean years, but the Bulls thankfully chose not to the use the rebuilding excuse this time and instead are intent on putting together a competitive roster.

I remember when the NBA draft was all that, but now it's a thing of the past. Free agency has changed the game and players seem ready to move onto other teams and frankly are courting the opportunity. I wonder whether Pau Gasol might have stayed if he knew Rajon Rondo and Wade were coming to the Bulls. But I guess Robin Lopez, acquired from the New York Knicks in the Rose trade, will have to suffice.

I do want to congratulate Jerry Reinsdorf and John Paxson for giving fans hope and providing some bona fide entertainment on the court. I'll be happy if they make some noise, win 50 games in the regular-season and make the playoffs.

It's very possible in a watered-down league where a team won 73 games.

Now I wasn't always a Dwyane Wade fan and I think at times, he played dirty, but over the last two years, I saw him prove a lot of critics wrong about his game.

There is plenty of hand- wringing about the lack of a 3-point shooter and even though it's a legitimate beef, I'm not that worried. Golden State is the main threat, so I'll take my chances with 2s and hopefully we can squeeze a few 3s from Doug McDermott and Nikola Mirotic.

Hopefully second-year coach Fred Hoiberg will be able to adjust his game. Will they run? We will see what unfolds.

Anyway, I am happy and anything can happen, so a team needs to be in a position to get it done. The Bulls did just that!

• North's column appears each Tuesday and Friday in the Daily Herald, and his video commentary can be found Monday, Wednesday and Thursday at dailyherald.com. For more, visit northtonorth.com.