The measuring stick will be out early for the Bulls.
The team announced its preseason schedule Monday. All five games will be against playoff contenders, and two will be against the team that hoisted the Larry O’Brien Trophy last month.
The Bulls will open in Milwaukee on Oct. 9 and then play a home-and-home against the NBA champion Nuggets.
Denver comes to the United Center on Oct. 12, and the Bulls visit the ‘‘Mile High City’’ on Oct. 15.
The team will close the preseason with two home games, Oct. 17 against the Raptors and Oct. 19 against the Timberwolves.
Are the Bulls in for an early test? Absolutely, considering the Bucks and Nuggets finished first in the Eastern and Western Conferences, respectively.
The Bulls eliminated the Raptors in the play-in tournament last season. The Timberwolves made the postseason as the No. 8 seed in the West.
NOTE: Bulls guard Javon Freeman-Liberty impressed enough in the Las Vegas Summer League to be named to the All-Summer League second team. Freeman-Liberty, who played for DePaul, joined Rolling Meadows graduate Max Christie (Lakers), Emoni Bates (Cavaliers), Jabari Smith Jr. (Rockets) and Jalen Wilson (Nets).
