Adi Joseph

USA TODAY Sports

Derrick Rose is back (again), but now he has a couple new teammates as the Bulls are set to reclaim their spot at top the Eastern Conference and come in at No. 7 in our NBA Watchability Rankings.

2013-14 record: 48-34, lost in first round of Eastern Conference playoffs

2014-15 projected record: 57-25, No. 1 seed in Eastern Conference playoffs

What's new? The Bulls made three significant additions to boost their offense: free agent power forward Pau Gasol, European import power forward Nikola Mirotic and rookie small forward Doug McDermott, drafted No. 11 overall. They also added Aaron Brooks as a score-first third-string point guard.

How good will they be? When Rose has been healthy in the past, the Bulls have been one of the NBA's very best teams. Even if the point guard can't regain his MVP form, the Bulls now have the offensive weapons to manage without him. Coach Tom Thibodeau's teams are always great on defense, so a push for the East's top spot could be in the making.

What's the goal? The Bulls won six titles in the 1990s but zero in any other decade. Michael Jordan owns the Charlotte Hornets now, yet the Bulls still resonate mostly as Jordan's old team. Rose and company were on the brink of breaking through in 2011, but injury setbacks since have jaded fans. They need a championship, ideally this year or next.

WHY YOU CAN'T MISS THEM

Is he healthy yet? Rose now has had issues with both knees and missed all but 10 games the past two seasons. But he played for Team USA at the FIBA World Cup this summer, and he seemed to have his speed back. His shot and confidence still were works in progress, though, and Rose relies so heavily on timing that it may take him a few months to get back to where he needs to be. Bulls fans will keep hopeful but skeptical eyes on his progress.

The Renaissance center: Before Rose went down the first time, Joakim Noah was his energy guy, hustling on both ends to keep the Bulls moving. Now, he's an MVP candidate himself, the focal point of the Bulls' operation on both ends. Noah ran the offense because of the lack of a point guard, and his passing skills should work well alongside score-first Rose. But it's his intensity that never dies.

Balance, finally: The 2011-12 Bulls were fifth in the NBA in points per possession. The past two years, they've finished 23rd and 28th. Thibodeau is known for his defensive acumen, but he has to be thrilled with his new depth and skill.

PROJECTED STARTERS (with 2013-14 statistics)

PG: Derrick Rose — 15.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists a game

Derrick Rose — 15.9 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.3 assists a game SG: Jimmy Butler — 13.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.9 steals a game

Jimmy Butler — 13.1 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.9 steals a game SF: Mike Dunleavy — 11.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists a game

Mike Dunleavy — 11.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.3 assists a game PF: Pau Gasol — 17.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.5 blocks a game

Pau Gasol — 17.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 1.5 blocks a game C: Joakim Noah — 12.6 points, 11.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.5 blocks a game

NBA WATCHABILITY RANKINGS