CHICAGO — The first week of Chicago Bulls training camp is in the books, and there’s no shortage of intrigue at the Advocate Center—the team’s new practice facility, a short walk east from the United Center.

Derrick Rose’s return to NBA action has long been the dominant storyline in Bulls land, but it was only one thread in a competing sea of developments through the beginning of October.

Fans and analysts alike are just as curious about rookies Nikola Mirotic and Doug McDermott, as well as Jimmy Butler’s ongoing contract talks. We were also reminded of a sneaky summer happening: Joakim Noah’s first knee surgery.

Will Jimmy Butler Re-Sign by the Deadline?

If Butler and the Bulls can’t reach an agreement to extend the shooting guard’s contract by the end of the month, he’ll end up a restricted free agent in July 2015. This past summer’s Chandler Parsons saga should tell Bulls fans one thing loudly and clearly: We don’t want this to happen.

If the two sides can’t reach an agreement, there’s a near-guarantee that one of two things will occur. Either Butler will stay in Chicago on a deal that’s too big, or he’ll flee without the Bulls getting a return on him.

At training camp, Butler has been loose and optimistic when asked about the ongoing negotiations. "I want to be here," Butler said at media day. "I think the Bulls want me here. So however long it takes, as long as we get it worked out. Basketball is my main focus, not really the contract situation.”

The NBA’s whopper new TV deal with ESPN and Turner (worth a reported $24 billion) may impact Butler’s impending status—namely, it should bring the steely defender a lot more money, as the salary cap is expected jump significantly. But Butler didn’t have anything to say about that when asked about it, following the Bulls’ preseason opener against the Washington Wizards:

Stay tuned for updates on Butler—a deal could be reached any day.

How Healthy Is Joakim Noah?

Noah didn’t look like himself in last year’s playoffs. The Wizards front line had its way with him in the first round after a regular season in which Noah dominated the competition. The Defensive Player of the Year was, it turns out, nursing a busted knee.

He had surgery on that knee this summer, a reported fact but one that came almost as a surprise to the press at training camp. Noah was as positive as he always is at media day, but he also spoke with a slight tone of regret when he talked about not being able to train much over the summer as he rested and recovered from the arthroscopic procedure.

Coach Tom Thibodeau and Company have been guarded but unworried with the center’s health. After clocking 14 minutes in the October 6 preseason bout against Washington and looking a bit rusty with 1-of-6 shooting and two points, the Bulls decided to sit him for the following game at the Detroit Pistons.

Noah is also wearing a brace on the knee and expects to have it on for a good while. So far, his recovery has gone according to schedule, and any rest he receives is purely precautionary. But Noah has abused his body over the years, hiding or playing through a slew of injuries as he’s led the Bulls through two seasons without Rose. The status of his knee promises to be a nervous narrative for fans all season.

Can the Bulls’ Offensively Gifted Rookies Crack Thibodeau’s Rotation?

Bulls fans long-saddened by their dismal scoring production—the team was dead last in offensive efficiency in 2013-14—were thrilled to see the team pick up two natural shooters in Nikola Mirotic and Doug McDermott this summer.

But Thibodeau is not exactly known for playing his rookies a lot. Preferring to keep his rotation exclusive to players who’ve been broken into his intense, principle-driven defense, he often waits until Year 2 before he gives his prospects real minutes.

McDermott and Mirotic, however, are more offensively talented than anyone the Bulls have drafted in his tenure, and everyone knows the team needs more buckets.

Mirotic in particular has drawn rave reviews throughout training camp. After one practice Thibodeau said that he “thought he had a really good first day." He continued, "And then after watching the film, it was even better than I thought.” And Noah had to pause when asked for his impressions. “He’s pretty good,” he said. Then went on:

He’s really good. And he adds a different dimension to the game. He’s a lot more than just a shooter. He’s a great shooter, and he’s done a lot of things that are pretty surprising. You don’t think of stretch fours as guys that can block shots, run the floor, and he can; he’s a hell of a player. Yeah, he’s pretty complete. I think he’s definitely one of our secret weapons.

Mirotic continued his impressive play in the opener against Washington, wowing fans with his extra-mobile dribbling and keen three-point shooting. He racked up 17 points in 22 minutes on 5-of-9 shooting. If he keeps playing like that, Thibodeau might have to throw his old concepts out the window.

Nikola Mirotic full highlights in Bulls preseason debut: http://t.co/1VMQynNLur

— Adam Jun (@ajbulls) October 7, 2014

Which Derrick Rose Will We Get This Year?

Rose’s time with Team USA at the FIBA World Cup in Spain was hard to evaluate this summer. Finding a consistent, identifiable role on a team thrown together over a few weeks is a slippery job, and Rose looked at odds with himself at times. It took the cajoling of coach Mike Krzyzewski to get the point guard on the attack, looking for his shot at the rim.

This is not going to be the case with Chicago. “I’m not worried about anything,” Rose told NBA.com’s Steve Aschburner at media day. “I think it’s over,” Rose said, when asked if he’s still playing with any fear of injuries. “You need your years,” he said, talking about integrating more floaters and pull-up shots into his game, stressing the value of a lower-contact style.

Rose delivered on his upbeat message in the Bulls’ preseason opener. He only played 14 minutes against Washington, but in that time he was an efficient, clever attacker. He shot 4-of-7 from the field for 11 points, grabbing four rebounds along the way. John Wall, one of the better point guard defenders in basketball, was simply not strong enough to stop Rose going after the basket.

Rose also excelled in the 2013 preseason, so it wouldn’t be wise to invest too much in these early results. But there’s a marked change of attitude in the Bulls’ superstar and for the rest of the squad too. Rose’s most telling words—for both himself and his team—were these: “It feels like a new team.”