Chicago Bulls Central

🚨 The Chicago Bulls officially have their new head coach, and now the rebuild enters its next phase. Haize breaks down what Tiago Splitter brings to Chicago from a coaching style, player development, roster fit, and 2026 NBA Draft perspective.
Splitter arrives after leading the Portland Trail Blazers to a 42-40 record and playoff appearance as interim head coach, bringing a development-first approach, European-influenced ball movement, defensive accountability, and structured offensive freedom to a young Bulls roster built around Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, Rob Dillingham, Noa Essengue, Leonard Miller, Patrick Williams and more.
Haize also looks at which current Bulls fit best in Splitter’s system, which players may have the toughest adjustment, and how Bryson Graham’s SLAP philosophy — size, length, athleticism and physicality — connects with Splitter’s vision.
Then, the conversation shifts to the 2026 NBA Draft. With the Bulls holding picks No. 4, No. 15, No. 38 and No. 56, could Caleb Wilson be the perfect prospect for Splitter to develop? And which players make the most sense at No. 15 and No. 38? Haize breaks down Morez Johnson Jr., Aday Mara, Labaron Philon Jr., Jayden Quaintance, Yaxel Lendeborg, Trevon Brazile, Zuby Ejiofor and Emanuel Sharp.
This is the start of a new era in Chicago. The coach is here. The picks are coming. Now the Bulls have to build the right way.
📌 Topics include:
Tiago Splitter’s coaching style
How Splitter fits the Bulls rebuild
Best and worst roster fits under Splitter
Why Caleb Wilson could benefit from this hire
Bulls draft targets at No. 15 and No. 38
Bryson Graham’s SLAP philosophy
How Chicago can build around Giddey, Matas and Wilson

Podcast Links: https://linktr.ee/BullsCentralPod
Get at us:
Email: BullsCentralPod@gmail.com
Twitter:@BullsCentralPod
Phone: ‪(773) 270-2799‬

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Chicago Bulls could be staring at a franchise-changing 2026 NBA Draft, and the biggest question may not just be who they take at No. 4 — it could be whether Bryson Graham tries to trade up from No. 15 to land Aday Mara.
On today’s Chicago Bulls Central, Haize breaks down two major draft pairing possibilities: Caleb Wilson + Aday Mara vs. Cam Boozer + Aday Mara. Which duo fits Graham’s SLAP philosophy better? Which pairing gives the Bulls the best mix of size, length, athleticism, physicality, rim protection, passing and long-term upside?
Wilson + Mara would give Chicago a massive defensive ceiling, elite length, rim protection and transition potential. Boozer + Mara would give the Bulls more offensive polish, frontcourt passing, rebounding and half-court stability. Which direction should the Bulls prioritize as they build around Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis and Noa Essengue?
Haize also reacts to the Darryn Peterson conversation after Sam Smith called Peterson a “nightmare” draft scenario for the Bulls at No. 4. Is Peterson really the worst outcome, or is the upside too high to ignore if he falls into Chicago’s lap?
Topics include:
Caleb Wilson’s fit with Bryson Graham’s Bulls
Aday Mara as a potential trade-up target
Cam Boozer vs. Caleb Wilson next to Mara
How Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis fit with each pairing
Darryn Peterson as the possible wild-card pick at No. 4
Why the Bulls’ draft board could get chaotic fast
The Bulls are entering one of the most important drafts in franchise history. Could this be the moment Chicago finally builds a real frontcourt identity?
🔥 Subscribe to Chicago Bulls Central for daily Bulls news, rumors, draft analysis, trade talk and more.
Podcast Links: https://linktr.ee/BullsCentralPod
Get at us:
Email: BullsCentralPod@gmail.com
Twitter:@BullsCentralPod
Phone: ‪(773) 270-2799‬

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

🚨 BREAKING CHICAGO BULLS NEWS: The Chicago Bulls are finalizing the hire of Tiago Splitter as the franchise’s next head coach, replacing Billy Donovan and officially kicking off a new era under Bryson Graham.

Splitter, who served as interim head coach for the Portland Trail Blazers, helped guide Portland to a 42-40 record and a postseason berth as the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference. Now, the Bulls are betting on his leadership, player development background, NBA experience, and ability to align with the front office’s long-term vision.

Haize reacts to the Bulls choosing Splitter over finalists Micah Nori, Ryan Schmidt, and Wes Unseld Jr., what this means for Chicago’s rebuild, how Splitter fits with Bryson Graham’s direction, and why this hire could shape the future of the Bulls’ young core.

Can Tiago Splitter be the coach who finally helps the Chicago Bulls build a real player-development culture? 👀

🔥 Topics include:

Bulls finalizing Tiago Splitter hire
Why Chicago chose Splitter
Bryson Graham’s first major coaching decision
What Splitter brings from Portland
Player development and rebuild direction
What this means for the Bulls’ future

📲 Tap in with Chicago Bulls Central for the full breakdown and more Bulls breaking news, rumors, draft coverage, and offseason reactio

Podcast Links: https://linktr.ee/BullsCentralPod

Get at us:
Email: BullsCentralPod@gmail.com
Twitter:@BullsCentralPod
Phone: ‪(773) 270-2799

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Chicago Bulls are less than two weeks away from one of the most important NBA Draft nights in franchise history, and today Haize breaks down one of the most intriguing draft pairings on the board: Caleb Wilson at No. 4 and Labaron Philon at No. 15.
Could Wilson give Bryson Graham the SLAP frontcourt piece Chicago needs? Could Philon replace some of the downhill guard creation the Bulls lost after moving Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu? Haize dives into how this pairing fits with Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, Noa Essengue, Rob Dillingham, Anfernee Simons, Collin Sexton and the rest of the Bulls’ post-deadline roster.
Plus, the latest on reports that the Bulls may only trade up from No. 15 for a small move — not a massive jump into the top 10 — and what that says about Bryson Graham’s patience, draft strategy, and rebuild timeline.
Haize also reacts to listener voicemails on whether Chicago should keep the 15th pick, use future assets to get back into the first round, the passing of Stacey King, potential trade-up pieces like Jalen Smith and Tre Jones, the Cam Boozer defense debate, and what could truly accelerate the Bulls’ rebuild.
🔥 Topics include:
Caleb Wilson Bulls fit
Labaron Philon Bulls draft profile
Bulls trade-up rumors
Bryson Graham draft philosophy
Chicago Bulls 2026 NBA Draft
Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis rebuild fit
Stacey King tribute reaction
Bulls mailbag and voicemails
Make sure to subscribe to Chicago Bulls Central with Haize for daily Chicago Bulls news, rumors, draft coverage, roster breakdowns and fan-first analysis.
Podcast Links: https://linktr.ee/BullsCentralPod
Get at us:
Email: BullsCentralPod@gmail.com
Twitter:@BullsCentralPod
Phone: ‪(773) 270-2799‬

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The Chicago Bulls may be closing in on their next head coach — and Bryson Graham could be moving faster than both the Portland Trail Blazers and Dallas Mavericks to secure his preferred candidate. Haize breaks down the latest reports surrounding Tiago Splitter, Micah Nori, Ryan Schmidt, and Wes Unseld Jr., while asking what type of coach best fits the Bulls’ rebuild and player-development timeline.
Then, could the Bulls quietly benefit from a potential Giannis Antetokounmpo blockbuster trade without actually trading for Giannis? With Chicago projected to have major cap flexibility, Haize explains how the Bulls could become a third-team facilitator, absorb unwanted salary, and potentially walk away with draft capital, young players, or a move up the draft board.
Finally, the draft pairing series continues with a deep look at Darryn Peterson and Morez Johnson Jr. Could Peterson fall to the Bulls at No. 4? Would Morez at No. 15 give Chicago the toughness, rebounding, and physical identity Bryson Graham wants? Haize breaks down how that duo would fit with Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis,, and the rest of the post-deadline Bulls roster.
The Bulls rebuild is starting to take shape — and this offseason could define the next era in Chicago.
Podcast Links: https://linktr.ee/BullsCentralPod
Get at us:
Email: BullsCentralPod@gmail.com
Twitter:@BullsCentralPod
Phone: ‪(773) 270-2799‬

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy