Chicago Bulls Central

Matas Buzelis may have just shown the Chicago Bulls what an efficient breakout version of his offense can look like.
On today’s Chicago Bulls Central, Haize breaks down Matas’ huge night against Milwaukee, why Norman Powell’s foul-drawing could become one of the most valuable tools on this roster, and what another strong showing from Leonard Miller, Noa Essengue and Jaylin Sellers means for Chicago’s rotation.
Matas finished with 19 points in just under 24 minutes, shooting 6-for-9 from the field and 5-for-7 from three, while adding three assists with zero turnovers. He also knocked down all four of his third-quarter threes, including three within a 55-second stretch. Pasted text
The bigger question is whether Chicago can consistently create easier opportunities for him.
If Matas becomes a shooter defenses truly respect, his gravity could also create more space for Josh Giddey, Caleb Wilson and the rest of Chicago’s offense. Pasted text
Then we get into Norman Powell’s scoring craft.
Across his last two preseason appearances, Powell scored 33 points while making only six field goals, because he went 18-for-22 from the free-throw line. That ability to create points when jumpers stop falling could become extremely valuable for a Bulls team that attempted 50 threes in each of its last two games. Pasted text
And Chicago’s young reserves continue making the rotation conversation harder.
Against Milwaukee:
🔥 Leonard Miller: 18 PTS, 7 REB, 3-for-4 from three
👀 Noa Essengue: 7 PTS, 2 AST, 1 STL
📈 Jaylin Sellers: 10 PTS, 2 threes, 2 steals in his preseason debut
Miller has now scored 44 points across his last two games, while Sellers immediately gave Chicago another young wing worth evaluating. Pasted text Pasted text
🔥 Today on Chicago Bulls Central:
Matas Buzelis’ breakout blueprint
Why his shooting changes more than his own scoring
What happens when defenses start closing harder
Norman Powell’s elite foul-drawing craft
What Caleb and Matas can learn from Powell
Leonard Miller continuing to force the rotation issue
Noa Essengue’s progress and foul problem
Jaylin Sellers’ impressive preseason debut
What each young Bull needs to prove next
Jalen Smith’s impact on Chicago’s frontcourt combinations
💬 Whose Milwaukee performance changed your outlook most: Matas, Leonard Miller, Noa Essengue or Jaylin Sellers?
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The Chicago Bulls have three developmental questions to answer, and each one could shape how Tiago Splitter manages this young roster.
On today’s Chicago Bulls Central, Haize breaks down why Tre Jones may be more valuable to the rebuild than his own box score suggests, how Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson can attack Milwaukee’s size, and why Jordan Hawkins has earned a legitimate audition for a bigger role.
Caleb Wilson said of Tre Jones, “I trust him with the ball,” while Tiago Splitter emphasized Jones’ speed with the second unit. Jones returned against Denver and recorded five assists with zero turnovers in 9:47, despite not scoring. That raises a bigger question: how much value can an organizer create by putting young players in better developmental situations? Pasted text
Tre’s role could be especially important for Dailyn Swain, Caleb, Matas, Noa Essengue and Leonard Miller. The goal isn’t to remove responsibility from the young players. It’s to give them more possessions where they can recognize an advantage, make a decision and learn from what happens next. Pasted text
Then we look ahead to Milwaukee.
If the Bucks use Myles Turner and Kel’el Ware together, Chicago’s young forwards need to make that size defend movement and space instead of attacking two stationary rim protectors. That could mean using Caleb as a screener, forcing Milwaukee’s bigs into decisions and giving Matas chances to attack a defense that has already shifted. Pasted text
And finally:
FREE HAWK. 👀
Dan Hurley reshared Jordan Hawkins’ Bulls highlights with that message after Hawkins hit two of three threes and scored six points in 10:18 against Denver. Hawkins remains on a two-way contract, so one encouraging appearance doesn’t establish a permanent rotation role. But it absolutely gives Chicago a reason to test him again. Pasted text
🔥 Today on Chicago Bulls Central:
🧠 Why Tre Jones matters beyond his own scoring
📈 How Tre can support Dailyn Swain’s development
🔥 Specific developmental assignments for Caleb, Matas, Noa and Leonard Miller
👀 Why Tre still has to threaten the defense himself
🏀 How Matas and Caleb can attack Milwaukee’s size
💪 Why Caleb screening could force the Bucks’ bigs out of their comfort zone
🎯 Jalen Smith’s spacing impact
⚡ How to get Matas attacking a moving defense
👀 Dan Hurley’s “Free Hawk” message
🔥 What Jordan Hawkins must prove beyond making threes
🎯 Hawkins vs Buddy Hield as movement shooters
🧩 Regular minutes vs situational role vs Windy City development
💬 Who would benefit most from Tre Jones’ minutes, and what should Chicago do next with Jordan Hawkins?
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Caleb Wilson’s 17 points against Denver may not have been the most important part of his performance.
On today’s Chicago Bulls Central, Haize breaks down why Wilson’s ability to adjust when his three-point shot wasn’t falling could tell us much more about his offensive development.
Caleb finished with 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including just 1-of-4 from three, but he went 5-of-6 inside the arc while also recording five assists. Instead of allowing an inconsistent jumper to eliminate him from the offense, Wilson found production through drives, midrange opportunities and other ways to pressure Denver’s defense. Pasted text
That raises a major developmental question:
Can Caleb consistently identify what the defense is giving him before the opportunity disappears?
We also go Facts or Cap on Noa Essengue.
Noa posted eight points, six rebounds, four offensive boards and two assists against Denver. The debate is whether Chicago should already expect meaningful self-created offense from him, or whether his immediate role should focus on cutting, rebounding, screening, finishing advantages and making quick decisions while his creation develops. Pasted text
My verdict?
CAP on the idea that Noa must become a self-creator before he can help Chicago.
But patience still needs standards.
And finally, we break down Nic Claxton’s impact on the Bulls defense.
Chicago tried different ways to handle Denver’s Nikola Jokic, who finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, while Aaron Gordon scored 25. The bigger lesson wasn’t simply whether Chicago should double. It was what happens AFTER the ball leaves Jokic’s hands. Pasted text
Claxton can give Tiago Splitter more options when he returns, but he cannot defend every action by himself. The guards and forwards still need to communicate, recover, recognize cutters and finish possessions with rebounds. Pasted text
🔥 Today on Chicago Bulls Central:
Caleb Wilson finding offense when the jumper disappears
Why Caleb’s 5-of-6 two-point shooting matters
Caleb’s five assists and five turnovers
How Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey can simplify Caleb’s reads
Facts or Cap on Noa Essengue
Noa’s offensive rebounding and activity
Why self-creation does NOT have to come first
How Chicago can keep Noa involved without destroying spacing
Nic Claxton’s defensive impact
Why doubling creates another defensive problem
Matas and Caleb’s responsibilities behind the help
What Chicago must learn before facing elite Eastern Conference offenses
💬 Which development matters most right now: Caleb’s counters, Noa’s offensive role or Chicago’s defensive communication?
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Leonard Miller isn’t just fighting for rotation minutes anymore. Now the Chicago Bulls need to find out how much OFFENSE he can actually handle.
On today’s Chicago Bulls Central, Haize breaks down Miller’s huge performance against Denver, Josh Giddey’s extremely low shot volume and a new contract situation involving Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black that could eventually become relevant to Chicago.
Leonard Miller erupted for 26 points, seven rebounds and two assists in only 22 minutes, shooting 11-for-14 from the field and 4-for-6 from three in Chicago’s 133-128 loss to Denver. He has now scored 52 points through three preseason games, an average of 17.3 per game. Pasted text
The bigger question is no longer whether Miller has earned more minutes.
It’s whether Chicago should deliberately give him more offensive responsibility.
Can he attack closeouts?
Can he make short-roll decisions?
Can he create a useful possession when the ball is intentionally put in his hands?
Can his jumper hold up when defenses actually start respecting it?
Then we turn to Josh Giddey, who finished against Denver with seven points, eight assists and only one turnover, but attempted just three field goals in 24 minutes. He also went 4-for-4 from the line. Pasted text
Eight assists is good basketball.
But if Giddey becomes too predictable as a passer, defenses can stay attached to Caleb Wilson, Matas Buzelis, Norman Powell and Chicago’s other scorers.
The goal isn’t forcing Josh to chase a shot total.
It’s making sure the defense believes he WILL punish the openings it gives him.
And finally, we discuss Anthony Black.
Recent reporting indicates Black and Orlando have not had meaningful extension talks, with an agreement before the October 19 deadline considered unlikely. That could put the 22-year-old guard on a path toward restricted free agency in 2027 if nothing changes. Chicago’s involvement is NOT reported. This is a Bulls roster-building discussion about whether Black belongs on Bryson Graham’s future scouting list. Pasted text
Black averaged 15.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists across 64 games last season, giving Chicago plenty to evaluate if his availability ever becomes real. Pasted text
🔥 Today on Chicago Bulls Central:
😳 Leonard Miller’s 26-point explosion
🔥 Miller’s 52 points through three preseason games
🎯 His 4-for-6 night from three
🧠 What greater offensive responsibility should actually look like
👀 Miller beside Giddey, Caleb, Matas, Powell and Hield
📈 How Miller could affect future Bulls roster building
🤔 Josh Giddey taking only three shots
🎯 Why scoring pressure can make Giddey’s passing even better
🌟 How an aggressive Giddey could help Caleb and Matas
👀 Anthony Black’s contract situation in Orlando
🧩 Whether Black fits beside Giddey
💰 Restricted free agency complications
🔭 What Chicago should monitor throughout the season
💬 Which development matters most: giving Miller more offensive responsibility, getting Giddey to attack more, or putting Anthony Black on Chicago’s future target list?
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The Chicago Bulls suddenly have a different development problem: there are more young players worth evaluating than there are meaningful minutes to go around.
On today’s Chicago Bulls Central, Haize breaks down what Tiago Splitter’s preseason rotations may be telling us about Dailyn Swain, Leonard Miller, Noa Essengue, Patrick Williams, Tobe Awaka, Jordan Hawkins and Jaylin Sellers.
Against Memphis, Buddy Hield and Leonard Miller were Chicago’s first substitutes, while Patrick Williams entered 11th despite several rotation players being unavailable. Dailyn Swain has also handled reserve playmaking duties with Tre Jones and Jaylin Sellers sidelined. These choices give us clues about how Splitter is distributing opportunities, but they are not yet proof of Chicago’s final regular-season rotation. Pasted text
That raises a bigger question:
Should development minutes look the same for everybody?
Caleb Wilson needs reps carrying responsibility.
Matas Buzelis needs opportunities to create, defend difficult assignments and play through mistakes.
Swain needs decisions with and without the ball.
Miller needs to prove his production fits a repeatable NBA role.
Essengue may need consistent reps more than occasional short appearances.
Patrick Williams needs to establish one dependable contribution Chicago can trust every night. Pasted text
Then we turn to the Bulls offense.
Chicago added shooting with Norman Powell, Buddy Hield and Jordan Hawkins, but movement alone does not create good shots. Screening angle, timing and contact matter. A useful screen should force the defense to change direction, switch, help or create space somewhere else on the floor. Pasted text
We break down how better screening could help:
🔥 Powell get cleaner catches
🌟 Caleb create value without dominating the ball
🧠 Josh Giddey turn the corner
🎯 Buddy Hield punish help defenders
📈 Miller, P-Will and Noa earn minutes without needing shots
And finally:
Could Isaac Okoro be more valuable to this Bulls roster than adding another scorer?
If Okoro can contain the first action, Chicago may not need to send as much emergency help. That could make life easier for Matas, Caleb and the Bulls’ centers while giving Splitter more defensive matchup options. Pasted text
🔥 Today on Chicago Bulls Central:
👀 What Splitter’s rotations are telling us
🧠 Different development plans for different young Bulls
📈 Leonard Miller’s path to a real role
🔥 Dailyn Swain’s expanded responsibilities
🤔 Where Patrick Williams fits
🏙️ Whether Noa Essengue needs Windy City reps
🎯 Why adding shooters isn’t enough
💪 The Bulls’ screening problem
🧩 Caleb screening for Norman Powell
🎯 Hield’s weak-side gravity with Giddey
🔒 Isaac Okoro’s potential defensive value
👀 How Okoro could help Matas and Caleb
📞 Bulls Nation voicemails
💬 Which young Bull needs guaranteed opportunities the most, and who needs a clearly defined role instead?
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