Every year, many teams overreact to the abrupt end to their season, leading to tough decisions that are made while being a prisoner of the moment. An unexpected finish to the year allows doubt to creep in and gives way to countless questions surrounding the club’s options moving forward.

The Chicago Bulls are in that type of rut – a no-man’s land situation where they could go in several different directions – following a six-game first-round series defeat to the Philadelphia 76ers. Should the Bulls alter the plan? Who will stay and who will depart?

Here’s a closer look at each player on the Bulls’ current 14-man roster with “the long-term in mind,” as general manager Gar Forman stated recently when asked about the organization’s mentality this offseason.

Derrick Rose (Age: 23 | Position: Point guard)

Predicted status for 12-13: Back

In spite of the torn ACL Rose suffered in Game 1 of the playoffs, he clearly remains the cornerstone the Bulls will build around. The exact date of his return to the lineup remains to be seen depending on his recovery from surgery. The Bulls have set Rose’s return timetable at eight to 12 months, as early as January to as late as May. Given modern medicine, Rose is almost certain to come back close 100 percent, but make no mistake: Mentally, he will be far from complete, a ways away from the trust and confidence level needed to return to his usual form, his 2011 MVP stature. Many former players and surgeons who have had experience with a torn ACL have said it could take up to one season for Rose to regain complete faith in his left knee.

While the Bulls are saying all the right things, they are uncertain about Rose’s status for next season. Tom Thibodeau and Forman have left the door open to Rose returning at some point in 12-13 – the first season of the five-year maximum contract Rose signed last December. But don’t expect Rose, who is rehabilitating in Chicago before possibly heading to his usual summer training ground, Los Angeles, later in the offseason, to play a major role next year; rather, it is most likely that he will miss a significant chunk of the campaign.

Luol Deng (Age: 27 | Position: Small forward)

Predicted status for 12-13: Back

All along, Deng has held firm to his promise to play for the Great Britain national team in this summer’s Olympics. Deng met with the Bulls’ hierarchy two weeks ago to discuss the torn ligament in his left hand, but there was no way Forman and his brass could talk Deng out of representing his adopted country on its home soil. For Deng, the decision to participate in the Olympics has been a no-brainer over the past year, an aspiration that runs much deeper than basketball. However, he knows the health risks that come with fulfilling his lifelong dream. After the Bulls’ season-ending Game 6 loss, Deng admitted he felt like he was playing with one hand at times while nursing the wrist injury. He will most likely need surgery following the Olympics, and that procedure could sideline him for the first two months of next season.

Deng’s name will surely be tossed around in trade rumors during the offseason – which is usually the case for the eight-year veteran – but he has arguably been the Bulls’ most second valuable player over the past two years. Deng is his team’s primary wing defender; Thibodeau’s workhorse who racks up heavy minutes on a nightly basis, and one of the leaders teammates turn to on and off the court. With all the skills and intangibles he brings to the table – not to mention the $27.6 million he is owed the next two seasons – Deng is still one of Chicago’s building blocks moving forward.

Joakim Noah (Age: 27 | Position: Center)

Predicted status for 12-13: Back

While Noah statistically regressed this season when he averaged 10.2 points and 9.8 rebounds, he elevated his game in the playoffs. Before sitting out the final three games against the Sixers due to a sprained left ankle, he put up a team-high 15 points and 9.3 rebounds per game, including a 21-point, eight-rebound, five-assist performance in Game 2. Now, Noah has raised the bar, and he wouldn’t want it any other way. He recognizes he must personally take further strides this summer and that he needs to bring a more polished offensive repertoire to the table when training camp rolls around if next season’s club has any chance of doing much more than tread water without Rose. As he strives to improve offensively, Noah’s sights are set on training with Kareem Abdul-Jabbar this summer.

It will be a hectic offseason for Noah, who is still recovering from the ankle injury. He has also been adamant about playing for the French national team in the Olympics, an experience he is looking forward to, especially after participating in the World Tournament a year ago. Like his teammate, Deng, Noah will probably hear his name in the NBA’s rumor mill at various points throughout the offseason, but the Bulls have too much invested in him – in regard to both his role on the team and contract – to ship him out. Although, Noah, the Bulls and those who watched the him closely this season are in agreement: Noah still has upside, still has plenty of room for improvement to reach the All-Star berth he has had opportunities to notch over the last two seasons.

Carlos Boozer (Age: 30 | Position: Power forward)

Predicted status for 12-13: Back

Despite a steady season as a whole, Boozer’s lasting image was his Game 6 debacle, a paltry 1-for-11 shooting effort that included a fourth-quarter benching. It marked the second straight year that Boozer sat out the fourth quarter of the Bulls’ season finale. In the eyes of many, Boozer has not lived up to the expectations that came with the lucrative contract he signed in the summer of 2010, which is the reason why the 10-year veteran has been Chicago’s amnesty candidate ever since the provision was announced in the new collective bargaining agreement. His production on both ends of the floor has dropped in recent seasons and he has $47.1 million and three years left on his deal – making him a virtually untradeable asset. Even so, Boozer has shown that he can fill up the box score when given shot opportunities, a trait that will come in handy next season.

The Bulls have given no indication that they will amnesty Boozer this offseason, and should management change its plan, Boozer would still have to be paid the rest of his salary. If the Bulls were to waive Boozer under the amnesty clause, it will be to remove his salary from the cap, cutting costs, not so they can acquire an upgrade. With Rose and possibly Deng missing a large portion of next season, all signs point to Boozer staying with Chicago for at least one more year.

Rip Hamilton (Age: 34 | Position: Shooting guard)

Predicted status for 12-13: Back

Similar to many of his teammates, Hamilton dealt with nagging injuries throughout the season. After he appeared past one issue, another popped up. In all, he suffered groin, thigh and shoulder injuries. Hamilton’s status is safe next season, when he will earn $5 million. But no matter how well he plays minus Rose in the lineup, the master plan that the Bulls had in mind when they signed Hamilton early in training camp was that the two backcourt running mates would mesh for the duration of Hamilton’s two-year deal, including a team option for 13-14 that is unlikely to be exercised next summer. Hamilton and Rose made the game easy for each other on the offensive end, but they started together just 16 times, so you have to wonder how potent the duo would have been at their peak.

It is imperative for the Bulls that Hamilton gets in as best a shape as possible over the summer to ensure his body will hold up next season. In addition to shoring up his health, Hamilton will undoubtedly work on polishing his jumper. The persistent injuries this year seemed to affect the bread and butter of his offensive game, his usually-accurate mid-range shot.

Taj Gibson (Age: 26 | Position: Power forward)

Predicted status for 12-13: Back

Gibson is arguably the Bulls’ most valuable trade chip, but it is clear that he is part of the organization’s core. In fact, Thibodeau recently told ESPN 1000 that Gibson will receive more minutes next season as Boozer’s backup. For Gibson, it will be a busy offseason. Along with his regular offseason workout regimen, he is eligible for a contract extension and was named to USA Basketball’s select team, which will help the national squad prepare for the Olympics by scrimmaging against it. The Bulls will attempt to work out a contract with Gibson’s camp, but they have a plethora of tough decisions to make and could ultimately decide to hold off talks until next summer, when Boozer may very well be amnestied.

Omer Asik (Age: 25 | Position: Center)

Predicted status for 12-13: Back

Out of all the difficult calls the Bulls face, Asik is the team’s top priority. He will be a restricted free agent in July, and there promises to be a fluid market for the Turkish big man. If it isn’t the Bulls, a team will absolutely sign him to a handsome offer sheet, perhaps as much as $7.5 million per year. Yes, Asik still has a long ways to go on offense – he has always struggled to catch passes, is a poor free throw shooter and has issues finishing around the basket at times – but his size, defense and experience are valued across the league. If the Bulls are not able to negotiate a deal with Asik, rest assured, they will match any proposal he receives from another club.

Kyle Korver (Age: 31 | Position: Shooting guard/small forward)

Predicted status for 12-13: Back

In two seasons with the Bulls, Korver has proven that when his jump shot is on, he is one the best spot-up shooters in the league. But he has also shown that he is as streaky a shooter as the good ones come. Unfortunately for him and the Bulls, those moments when he is off the mark usually occur when it matters most. A year ago, he shot a putrid 28.6 percent from three-point range in the Bulls’ Eastern Conference finals defeat to the Miami Heat. In this year’s postseason, Korver hit just 30.8 percent from beyond the arc.

Nevertheless, Korver’s ability to space the floor for not only Rose, but the entire team, is a valuable commodity, as Thibodeau has repeatedly stated over the past two years. As it currently stands, he is the best pure shooter on the roster, and he played a major role in the fact that the Bulls ranked fifth in three-point percentage this season. He is slated to make $5 million on a non-guaranteed contract next season, as the Bulls can exercise a buyout with him. If Rose was healthy, Korver’s return would be a no-brainer. However, should the Bulls believe Rose won’t factor into the team’s structure next campaign, parting ways with Korver would save them money. Whether Korver comes back is a tough decision – but for a squad already lacking reliable outside shooting, getting rid of him doesn’t make much sense.

C.J. Watson (Age: 28 | Position: Point guard)

Predicted status for 12-13: Gone

Watson filled in admirably for Rose throughout the season while nursing elbow, wrist and ankle injuries. But his blunder in the final seconds of Game 6 may have sealed his fate with Chicago, as he allowed Asik to attempt two critical free throws instead of holding on to the ball himself. After the season, Watson underwent a procedure on both feet to cure the plantar fasciitis he played through unannounced.

With Rose out, Forman recently admitted the Bulls will look for a point guard this offseason, whether it is retaining Watson or signing someone else. Will Watson be the one to fit the bill? The Bulls have until July 10 to decide on Watson’s $3.2 million team option for next season, and they will certainly take advantage of that by searching through the free-agent point guards, including Kirk Hinrich among others. Ultimately, Watson may be Chicago’s best option – financially and on the court – and yet, Forman hasn’t sounded confident when asked about the position, and he understands it is a void that must be filled.

Ronnie Brewer (Age: 27 | Position: Shooting guard)

Predicted status for 12-13: Gone

Like Korver and Watson, Brewer’s contract – worth $4.37 million – is not guaranteed next season, and the versatile guard is the most likely one out of three men to be cut to provide financial relief. Even though Brewer stepped up immensely over the course of the season, serving as the stop-gap piece whenever Hamilton or Deng sat out, his playing time reduced as the year wore on, especially near the end. Teammates and coaches constantly raved about Brewer’s stellar defense, and Deng even called him the best perimeter stopper on the team. But his offense, his jump shot, in particular, regressed as the games piled up. At this point, should Brewer depart, the Bulls have a younger, cheaper player, in Jimmy Butler, to plug into Brewer’s reserve spot. The same cannot be said about Korver and Watson, who would be tough to replace if the Bulls decide to look elsewhere.

John Lucas III (Age: 29 | Position: Point guard)

Predicted status for 12-13: Gone

Bursting onto the scene out of nowhere this year, Lucas had the best season of his career, averaging 7.5 points in the regular season before pouring in 8.6 per game in the playoffs. He established himself as an NBA mainstay, as an instant-offense shooter who can carry a team for entire games. He shot 39.3 and 38.5 percent from three-point range in the regular- and postseason, respectively. Seemingly on his own, Lucas won the Bulls about a handful of contests in 2011-12, taking full advantage of all the injuries that decimated the backcourt.

For their part, the Bulls are interested in re-signing Lucas. However, he may be out of their price range. After a breakout season, this will be Lucas’ first opportunity to ink a multi-year deal as an unrestricted free agent – and there is a good chance that it’s his last. He is primed to command more than the veteran’s minimum, a budget the Bulls probably won’t find feasible to match. Still, he is simply a basketball lover, a hoops fanatic, so it would be hard to hold it against him to choose his current situation over another. Lucas has expressed love for his teammates, the organization and the city over and over, but he also knows that the time is now to strike the first huge contract of his professional career.

Jimmy Butler (Age: 22 | Position: Small forward)

Predicted status for 12-13: Back

Butler played just 603 minutes this season, but he impressed every time he received an opportunity. He had a simple production rating of plus-2.7, tied for the sixth-best mark on the team and ahead of players like Deng, Hamilton and Boozer. From teammates to coaches, Butler got rave reviews as the season wore on, as most talked about his committed work ethic. Whenever Thibodeau called Butler’s number, the rookie seemed confident on both ends of the court. His jump shot looked crisp at times, but it was on the defensive end that he was able to make a consistent impact. With Brewer’s return shaky, Butler will have to continue working hard in order to be prepared to for an enhanced role next season. The Bulls can rely on Butler’s defense, but he also needs a niche offensively, a stable jumper to count on.

Mike James (Age: 36 | Position: Point guard)

Predicted status for 12-13: Back

The 10-year veteran is fresh off a stellar – in some ways, improbable – comeback to the NBA, but make no mistake: He intends to keep playing, keep performing at a high level while helping a team in any given situation. James, the free-agent-to-be, said in an interview in late April that he hopes to go two more years in the league because his passion, his desire for the game, still burns. As he stated in April, he will work hard this summer, primarily training in Houston under the guidance of former player and coach John Lucas. James had four stints with the Bulls but immediately gained the respect of teammates in the locker room this year and is a team-first player who is willing to do whatever Thibodeau and the squad wants, whether that is starting or being the fourth-string guard. That is the type of man the Bulls will give a close look at when July rolls around. Given the Bulls’ financial plans to go along with their situation at guard, James is absolutely a candidate to return on a convenient contract.

Brian Scalabrine (Age: 34 | Position: Power forward)

Predicted status for 12-13: Back

Ever since the Bulls’ season wrapped up, Scalabrine has turned his attention to providing Celtics coverage for a TV station in Boston, testing the waters of a potential post-basketball career. But he appears to want to play one or two more years in the NBA, and he told Yahoo! Sports that he hopes to participate in the summer league with the Bulls – squashing talk that he would retire to pursue either an analyst or coaching job. The Bulls welcomed Scalabrine back with open arms last season to round out their roster, and it seems to be heading that same direction this time around. He is well-liked by teammates and fans, and, most importantly, he has a grounded relationship with Thibodeau, who has coached Scalabrine for each of the last five seasons.