Chicago Bulls: The Best Bulls in Post Jordan-Pippen-Jackson Era

Better days for Bulls fans have arrived, but Lord knows times were tough for awhile after Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Phil Jackson departed. The coaching eras of Tim Floyd and Bill Cartwright were especially tough to watch.

There were a few bright spots during the post-JPJackson era. So I put together a team of the best Chicago Bulls, post-glory years.

The qualification for inclusion on this team is simply having spent parts of three seasons with the team. So, even if the player played two-and-a-half seasons with the team, they would qualify.

If only all these players could've played together, competitive teams may have returned a lot quicker.

Andres Nocioni

Noce is the rare player that has experienced his best years in a Bulls uniform. The hard-nosed small forward and power forward spent a little over four seasons in Chicago. He averaged 12 points and five rebounds in 351 games.

The Bulls made the playoffs in three of Nocioni's seasons, and I personally would love to see Nocioni return.

Marcus Fizer

Fizer looked more like a Chicago Bears defensive end when the Bulls selected him fourth overall in the 2000 NBA draft. Jerry Krause turned down a rumored deal that could've delivered Jermaine O'Neal to the Bulls.

Needless to say, that would've been a great deal for the Bulls. Fizer did show some ability to score the ball, hence his inclusion on this list.

In four seasons, Fizer was inconsistent and mangled with injuries for the last two years. During his time, he averaged 10 points per game.  

The most disappointing Fizer stat was the five rebounds per game. That won't get it done for a lottery pick, but it's just enough to make the bottom of this list.

Jamal Crawford

The Bulls didn't know whether Crawford was a point guard or a shooting guard. He kept telling them and anybody else that would listen that he was a 2-guard with every wild shot he took.

Crawford led the Bulls in scoring in his final season, the 2003-2004 season, with just over 17 points per game. The Bulls were abysmal throughout his tenure, not that he was totally to blame.

Still, they made the playoffs for the first time in the post JPJ era the year he left the team.

Crawford scored 11 points per game during his Chicago Bulls career that hopefully won't have a second stint. At least, not as a starter.

Eddy Curry

Bulls fans had such high hopes for Curry. A natural center with a gift for scoring on the block, one of the truly rarest skills to find in a basketball player. He didn't rebound, didn't defend and didn't stay in shape.

It curtailed what could have been a much more successful Chicago stay. Curry failed a physical with the Bulls and was not brought back after the 2004-2005 season. Curry averaged 12 points and an embarrassing five rebounds and less than one block.

I hope Curry can get his life and career on track, even if it's with the Miami Heat.

Brad Miller

Big Brad had two stints in the post Jackson-Pippen-Jordan era. The first one was most memorable for the moment when he was the near recipient of a Shaquille O'Neal punch that would've hospitalized him.

He was a young big man prospect in 2000 when the Bulls signed him as a free agent. The Bulls would ship him off in the "big" Jalen Rose-Ron Artest trade.

Miller came back for his second stint with the Bulls in the "big" Miller-John Salmons trade. Miller was a solid performer in his second stint.

He had added the three-ball to his arsenal and was a smart and crafty center that was a major contributor for consecutive Bulls playoff teams from 2008-2010. Miller's Bulls totals are 10 points and just under seven rebounds per game.

Kirk Hinrich

Captain Kirk is one of my favorite post JPJ era Bulls. Hinrich was a solid performer and the consummate professional.

He started, took benchings in stride and never complained. He played tough, hard-nosed defense and was a better than average shooter.

A member of the legendary 2003 NBA draft, Hinrich was the Bulls most complete player during his time in Chicago. I hope a return in a reserve role is in the future as he would be an awesome asset to this current team, and something tells me his heart is still in Chicago.

Hinrich spent his first seven seasons with the Bulls. He averaged just over 13 points and six assists per game.

Ben Gordon

The second most exciting player in the JPJ era. Gordon put on remarkable scoring displays during his time with the Bulls. Particularly adept at scoring in the fourth quarter, Gordon became the team's primary scoring option early in his career.

There was a conundrum with Gordon during his Bulls career, should he start or come off the bench. His skill set, lack of size and defensive passion made him better suited for the sixth-man role.

Gordon is another player part of the rare group whose best days seem to have taken place in a Bulls uniform. The former third pick overall played five seasons in Chicago, averaging 18.5 point per game.

The Starters: Power Forward: Joakim Noah

Noah is an emotional and athletically gifted big man whose game has grown leaps and bounds since he was drafted in 2007. He has battled injuries the last two years, but he is a valuable member of the current Bulls team.

If the Bulls are to make a play for Dwight Howard, Noah will almost certainly have to be included. For now, he starts on the all-post JPJ era Bulls squad at power forward.

Noah has averaged 8.5 points and 8.4 rebounds per game in his four-year career, all with the Bulls.

The Starters Small Forward: Luol Deng

Deng was once thought to be an injury prone bust. That was until Tom Thibodeau made him the core of his defense and gave him the freedom to bomb away from three-point range.

Deng had the best season of his career since 2006-2007 when he averaged 19 points and seven boards per game.

This past season, Deng was snubbed in the All-Defensive team voting, but he averaged 17 points and six rebounds. Deng is another player that may have to go to Orlando if Howard is to become Bull.

In Deng's seven-year-and-counting career with the Bulls, he has averaged 16 points and six rebounds per game. He is the longest tenured Bull in the post JPJ era.

The Starters: Center: Tyson Chandler

Tyson Chandler is a better player now than he was when he was a Bull, but he was still a solid big man with Chicago as well. A major shot-blocker, rebounder and energy guy.

Chandler was originally drafted by the Clippers but was traded on draft day to the Bulls in exchange for Elton Brand. Brand would've definitely been on this list, except thanks to Chandler, he was only a Bull for two seasons.

Chandler spent his first five seasons in Chicago. He averaged seven points, just under eight rebounds and over a block per game.

The Starters: Shooting Guard: Jalen Rose

A reluctant member of the Chicago Bulls organization, but Rose scored a bunch while he was in the windy city. Rose averaged over 21 points per game in 128 games over three seasons from 2001 to 2004.

Acquired in the Brad Miller trade, coming over from the Indiana Pacers. The teams were bad. but he gave the Bulls something they lacked, a No. 1 option.

The Starters: Derrick Rose

The reigning league MVP is a no-brainer for this list. In his three seasons, he has been an All-Star twice, won Rookie Of The Year and of course the MVP.

He has a good chance to become the second best player in franchise history. So far, he has averaged 20 points and seven assists per game. The post JPJ era Bulls would employ a Rose and Rose backcourt.

Hopefully, the Rose-led Bulls can create their own history that inspires a post Rose and company era.