If you're a Michael Jordan fan -- and based on what we've seen this summer with his comeback talk, you are -- then you probably believe Jerry Krause deserves to run a team that wins about twice a month for the rest of his NBA tenure. After all the championships, Krause ran MJ outta town and, like the curse of the Bambino, the franchise will never win again. Of course, with this roster who needs a curse?

	Mercer inherits the role of top scorer now that Brand is gone.

So as we continue our 2001 Summer Spotlight Series, here's the deal with the Bulls.

The good: Well, it's not an old team. That's good news, right? And the Bulls bring a one-game winning streak into the upcoming opener, a win on last season's final day over a defending conference champ!

Other than that, the Bulls are still mighty dreadful, as 45 wins in three seasons TOTAL suggest. Fifteen teams won that many games last season. No Bulls team in the 11 seasons prior to Michael bolting won fewer than 45 games. Heck, the Mariners nearly had 45 wins by May. Anyway, the Bulls are bad, and even though they were rebuilding the last few years, they've started the process all over again. Poor Tim Floyd.

The team's best player, by a lot, was Elton Brand -- a dependable, durable 20-10 guy who got shipped to Clipperland and had the nerve to call it a step up. We must admit that the deal wasn't a total loss, since at least the Bulls' landed hotshot 7-footer Tyson Chandler to team with fellow kiddie Eddy Curry in a prepubescent frontcourt. It's too early to rip these guys, especially since they were both selected in the top four. Everyone liked them.

Alas, neither guy figures to start right away, which leaves a below-average starting lineup unless a few people emerge. Last year's No. 2 scorer was Ron Mercer, and he should get even more shots now that the only other player on the roster capable of scoring in the teens -- and even this might be a stretch -- is Marcus Fizer, who inherits Brand's starting spot. In sporadic time Fizer did show that he can handle the job, scoring at a nice per-minute rate and averaging 11.8 points and 6.6 rebounds in his 13 starts. And Mercer is a legit 20-ppg guy.

Maybe this is the year Ron Artest emerges as a scorer. Maybe Eddie Robinson earns major minutes. What about Dalibor Bagaric? Uh, on to the bad.

	THE FACTS
	2000-01 record: 15-67, 8th in Central, last in East Playoffs: none Team leaders: Brand 20.1 ppg; 10.1 rpg, Hoiberg 3.6 apg Team stats (NBA rank): Points, 87.6 (29th-last); Rebs, 38.9 (last); FG %, .424 (27th) Current rotation: Miller C; Fizer PF; Artest SF; Mercer SG; Anthony PG; Chandler 6th man Spot in Summer Power Rankings: No. 26

The bad: The starting lineup projects to include Artest and Mercer at the swing spots, Fizer at power forward, Brad Miller at center and former Blazer Greg Anthony at point. Compare that to say, the Grizzlies' lineup, and the Grizzlies win 9 out of 10 times. But the Bulls are building and, to be fair, they have some pieces. The bench is better than it has been, even though Miller is strictly average -- he can be a 12-and-8 guy on the right night -- and Anthony is holding the spot for last year's draft day newcomer, Jamal Crawford (out after tearing his ACL).

Hornets-ex Robinson did earn a rep as a guy who could score in bunches and he can create his own shot. He's young and signed for awhile. The Bulls hope that their $30 million for five years gets them a legit scorer soon, and it might. Robinson needs to play better defense and develop a semblance of an outside game. But since nobody else wanted to sign in Chitown the last few years, the Bulls are grateful someone wanted to take their 30 mil.

Chandler is 7-1, but appears to be more wing player than inside force. He handles the ball and likes to shoot threes, which a lean 225-pound guy would prefer over messing with wide bodies in the paint. Curry is wider and should be a rebounder, though his offensive game is very raw. Neither of these guys are expected to dominate right away, but the Bulls hope they develop quickly. To take care of the mental approach, Charles Oakley was acquired to kick butt and take names. And he can always log 30 minutes a night if the Bulls want the kids to see that toughness and attitude on the court.

The rest of the roster is young ... and anybody's guess what it might contribute. A.J. Guyton was a second-round pick last year and didn't play much, starting eight games. Bagaric played in 35 games and scored a total of 47 points. Michael Ruffin? Sean Lampley? Uh, on to the ugly.

The ugly: Say this for Bulls fans: Despite one of the worst three-year runs in basketball history -- maybe in sports history, really -- they still show up at the games. The Bulls sold out 22 of 41 home dates, and ranked second in the entire league in overall attendance. So what if these people bought their tickets in the Jordan era. Sure, not everyone shows up, but there still is a passion for the team, however bad it stinks. Basically, winning six titles in eight seasons will spoil anyone. Let's see if anything changes this year when those three-year ticket packages start running out.

This team is nowhere near the level it used to be, maybe further away than any other NBA team. For an example, each league team puts together a season-in-review package for the media. The first player the Bulls name in the highlights section is current free agent Fred Hoiberg, with the heading "Career Season." Now we like The Mayor, but come on!

Also, things are getting to the breaking point for Floyd, who has to be wondering why he ever left college. Especially since Jerry Krause, the man who brought him to the pros, is running out of time to rebuild this team post-MJ. Jerry Reinsdorf has stayed loyal to Krause, but Boss Jerry probably wants to see another playoff series in his lifetime.

The future: When they get one, we'll let you know. OK, maybe that's a bit harsh -- but you've got to have a lot of patience to follow this herd. Unless you like watching a bunch of barely twentysomethings try to develop. How many more years before they get even a whiff of the playoffs?

In terms of immediate gratification, it's shaping up to be a long season. The Bulls are going to have problems scoring points, that's pretty obvious. We don't know if Fizer can handle 30 minutes a night, if anyone other than Artest wants to defend someone, and whether Floyd wants to be a part of this any longer. Or if anyone has the patience to watch anymore.

On some bad teams, there's a reason to watch. On the Bulls, there was nothing to tune in for last season. Are Chandler and Curry enough to make you tune in? Only you can decide.

So we asked you this question about the Bulls: This team has averaged 15 wins since MJ left? When (if?) will the Bulls top this total?

Check the file to the right for selected responses.

Eric Karabell is ESPN.com's NBA editor.