NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Chicago Bulls needed to shake things up. That was clear by the end of last season, when they failed to make it out of the play-in tournament after a season defined by stagnancy.

The Bulls return 13 players from last season’s roster, a clear declaration of faith that the talent already assembled is enough to compete with the best of the Eastern Conference. But throughout the first two days of the preseason, players, coaches and executives have acknowledged the Bulls require a culture shift in the locker room to elevate that talent.

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That’s how the team ended up at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn., this week for training camp, using the separation from Chicago to hone a new identity for a team full of familiarity with one another.

“Sometimes just trying something new could be beneficial,” All-Star forward DeMar DeRozan said. “Nothing wrong with that at all. Just giving somebody a different scenery, getting them out of their comfort zone, could do a lot for camaraderie.”

Revving up the locker-room dynamic is a key for the Bulls this season as they emphasize cohesion on and off the court.

During an appearance on WSCR-AM 670 on Thursday, executive vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas said there was a common thread throughout exit interviews: Players felt the team didn’t rally together as a group until the final weeks of the season, when it was too late to make a full turnaround.

“They were a team, but they really didn’t feel like a team,” Karnišovas said. “That was one of the takeaways.”

Coach Billy Donovan said the lack of cohesion became evident after the signing of guard Patrick Beverley shortly after the trade deadline. A vocal veteran, Beverley wasn’t afraid to push his teammates, and that presence clearly paid off as the Bulls finished the season on a 13-9 run.

“He made those guys go downstairs and watch a football game,” Donovan said. “He was basically the ringleader to make it happen.”

But the Bulls didn’t re-sign Beverley, who signed a one-year deal with the Philadelphia 76ers. They’re determined to replace that energy by committee this season.

The roster doesn’t lack veteran leadership. DeRozan is a commanding force for the younger players, hosting teammates for boot-camp workouts in the offseason. In his 10th NBA season, max-contract star Zach LaVine will be expected to continue growing into his role as the team’s figurehead.

Within practices and games, DeRozan noted that Alex Caruso is the team’s clear floor general, pointing out mistakes and strong plays with equal force to keep teammates accountable. As Caruso enters his third season in Chicago, DeRozan said the guard will be a key leader as the Bulls strive to solidify a team identity.

“It’s going to be a little bit of everyone, but AC is definitely the politician,” DeRozan said.

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The trip to Nashville is a first for the Bulls, who never have held training camp outside of the Chicago area. But it’s becoming normal for teams across the NBA.

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DeRozan traveled for every training camp during his time with the Toronto Raptors, who took preseason trips to Vancouver, Montreal, Quebec City and even Hawaii.

“I always hated training camp in the city you played in,” DeRozan said.

Once the Bulls decided to take training camp on the road, Nashville made the most logistical sense. It’s a quick one-hour flight from Chicago, which kept the trip from adding to the travel fatigue that comes naturally throughout the season. The Belmont campus offered a simple training option. And most of the roster hadn’t been to Nashville, adding novelty to the destination.

The Bulls will train in Nashville until Saturday, then return home briefly before heading to Milwaukee to face the newly retooled Bucks on Sunday in their preseason opener.

Outside of practice, all excursions and activities — team dinners, a TopGolf excursion on Tuesday night — will be dictated by the players. Donovan, DeRozan and the rest of the Bulls roster hope the trip will help the team deepen connections with one another that will last through the season.

“In your house, it’s hard to have a really good functioning environment if there’s not great communication,” Donovan said. “I know that where we practice is not their family’s house, but it’s our house and we’ve got to communicate well on the stuff that matters.”