Chicago Bulls Central

Could Payton Pritchard become the kind of veteran guard who helps accelerate the development of the Chicago Bulls’ young core?
On today’s Chicago Bulls Central, Haize breaks down an editorial trade proposal linking Payton Pritchard to Chicago if Boston ever decides not to extend him. This is not reporting that the Bulls are actively pursuing Pritchard, but the basketball fit creates a worthwhile discussion.
Pritchard’s career 39.4% three-point shooting on 5.2 attempts per game, along with his ability to handle secondary creation duties, could potentially make life easier for Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson.
The real question isn’t simply whether Pritchard is good.
It’s whether adding another dependable shooter and organizer would allow Chicago’s young forwards to attack rotating defenses instead of constantly being asked to create against completely set defenses.
Haize also dives deep into one offensive concept that could become especially useful with Chicago’s projected starting five:
Chicago action.
The action combines a pin-down screen with an immediate dribble handoff, forcing the receiver’s defender to navigate two obstacles in succession.
One Bulls version could feature:
Josh Giddey making the entry pass.
Caleb Wilson screening for Norman Powell.
Nic Claxton delivering the handoff.
Powell attacking with momentum.
Matas Buzelis waiting on the weak side.
That same structure could then be flipped to give Matas more opportunities attacking off movement rather than asking him to beat a set defense from a standstill.
The show also explores the counters available when defenses trail, switch, go underneath or send two defenders toward the handoff — and why the timing between Caleb and Claxton will determine whether the action creates space or clogs the paint.
Finally, Haize examines one of Caleb Wilson’s most intriguing college skills: drawing fouls.
Wilson attempted 181 free throws in 24 games at North Carolina, an average of approximately 7.5 attempts per game, while reaching at least five made free throws in 17 games.
Could Chicago turn that physicality into a reliable source of offense when perimeter shots stop falling?
🔥 Topics include:
Payton Pritchard as a potential Bulls target
Pritchard’s fit next to Josh Giddey
What a Pritchard addition could mean for Rob Dillingham
Protecting Chicago’s future assets
How “Chicago action” works
Norman Powell as the handoff receiver
Nic Claxton as a DHO hub
Caleb Wilson as a screener and rim threat
Matas attacking rotating defenses
Counters against switching and trapping
Caleb’s foul-drawing upside
How Chicago can manufacture free throws
Why foul pressure matters for the entire offense
🎧 Tap in with Haize on Chicago Bulls Central for the full breakdown!
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Could Cason Wallace become the Chicago Bulls’ ideal long-term shooting guard — and could Bryson Graham use next summer’s projected cap space to attack one of the NBA’s most interesting young restricted-free-agent classes?
On today’s Chicago Bulls Central, Haize looks beyond aging superstar names and focuses on the 2023 draft class. Chicago is currently projected to have roughly $55.6 million in cap space, although that figure remains preliminary and will change based on options, trades and other roster decisions. Several young players can reach restricted free agency next summer if they remain unsigned past the October 19 rookie-extension deadline.
At the top of the board is Cason Wallace. Wallace averaged 8.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.6 assists and 1.9 steals while earning an All-Defensive selection, and his ability to defend the opponent’s best guard without needing to dominate the basketball could make him an ideal fit next to Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson. The challenge? Oklahoma City appears positioned to keep him, and Chicago may need an aggressive offer approaching $30 million annually just to make the decision uncomfortable.
Haize also breaks down Brandin Podziemski, Anthony Black, Brice Sensabaugh, Noah Clowney, Keyonte George and Dereck Lively II as potential young-player targets. Podziemski may be Chicago’s cleanest offensive fit after Wallace, Sensabaugh could be the most attainable scoring option, Keyonte represents the massive home-run swing, while Lively could become a fascinating center alternative if Nic Claxton fails to solidify the position.
Then the show turns toward a more immediate opportunity.
Recent reporting cited in the episode identifies Walter Clayton Jr. and Jordan Hawkins among possible Memphis roster cuts. This is still a situation to monitor — not confirmation that either player will be waived or that Chicago is pursuing them. Clayton’s ability to create offense and Hawkins’ movement shooting make them very different developmental bets for the Bulls’ final roster spot.
Finally, Haize digs into one of the least-discussed additions to Chicago’s new coaching staff: Jordan Brink.
Brink helped direct New York’s replay-challenge process before joining Tiago Splitter’s staff, and one of his recommendations during Game 2 of the Finals directly resulted in a ruling being overturned in a one-point Knicks victory. But replay challenges are only the beginning. Haize explains how Bulls fans can evaluate the new staff through after-timeout execution, responses to opposing adjustments and late-game organization.
🔥 Topics include:
Cason Wallace as Chicago’s ideal future SG
Bulls projected 2027 cap space
Restricted free agency explained
Brandin Podziemski’s fit with Josh Giddey
Anthony Black’s upside and spacing risk
Brice Sensabaugh as an attainable scorer
Noah Clowney as a Claxton contingency
Keyonte George as the massive scoring swing
Dereck Lively II’s health gamble
The October 19 extension deadline
Walter Clayton Jr. potentially becoming available
Jordan Hawkins’ movement shooting
Whether another guard actually deserves Chicago’s final roster spot
Jordan Brink’s replay-challenge background
How to recognize better Bulls coaching
Tiago Splitter’s staff and player development
🎧 Tap in with Haize on Chicago Bulls Central for the full breakdown!
Podcast Links: https://linktr.ee/BullsCentralPod
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Is Josh Giddey really part of Bryson Graham’s long-term vision for the Chicago Bulls — or could he eventually become a bridge to whatever comes next?
On today’s Chicago Bulls Central, Haize reacts to ESPN questioning whether Giddey truly fits the future Graham is building in Chicago.
Giddey is only 23 years old and averaged 17.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 9.1 assists last season, while still having three years remaining on his four-year, $100 million contract. But there is an important distinction: Bryson Graham inherited Giddey. He did not acquire or extend him himself.
That makes 2026-27 a fascinating evaluation year.
Can Giddey run an efficient half-court offense? Can he contribute when Matas Buzelis or Caleb Wilson initiates? Can he reduce the damaging turnovers? Can he remain on the floor defensively in closing lineups? And most importantly, does his play actually make Chicago’s young forwards better?
Haize then breaks down a potential hidden identity for Tiago Splitter’s Bulls:
Rebounding.
Chicago ranked just 26th in second-chance points at 13.4 per game last season. Splitter’s Portland team was dramatically different, generating a league-high 16% of its offense from second chances while also ranking fourth in tracked offensive-rebounding percentage and third in second-chance points per 100 possessions.
With Josh Giddey, Nic Claxton, Caleb Wilson, Matas Buzelis, Jalen Smith and Tobe Awaka, Chicago has enough size, athleticism and rebounding potential to manufacture extra offense without needing an elite isolation scorer.
Finally, ESPN identified Nic Claxton as Chicago’s biggest X-factor — and there’s a legitimate red flag.
Claxton averaged 2.5 blocks per game in 2022-23, but that number has declined in every season since, falling to just 1.1 last year, while opponents shot 60% at the basket against him.
That matters because Chicago needs Claxton to clean up defensive mistakes behind Giddey, Norman Powell, Matas and Caleb. The Bulls don’t necessarily need Claxton to return to a 2.5-block-per-game monster, but they do need competent rim protection, defensive communication, rebounding and the switchability that has traditionally made him valuable.
🔥 Topics include: Josh Giddey’s long-term Bulls fit, whether Giddey is a cornerstone or bridge asset, Bryson Graham’s vision, Matas and Caleb getting more creation opportunities, Chicago’s turnover concerns, Tiago Splitter building a rebounding identity, second-chance scoring, Claxton as a defensive anchor, Tobe Awaka’s rebounding potential, Claxton’s declining block numbers, and whether center could quickly become Chicago’s biggest future need.
🎧 Tap in with Haize on Chicago Bulls Central for the full breakdown!
Podcast Links: https://linktr.ee/BullsCentralPod
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Could the New York Knicks actually PAY the Chicago Bulls to take another young player off their hands?
On today’s Chicago Bulls Central, Haize breaks down a proposed trade opportunity involving Tyler Kolek and Pacôme Dadiet as New York operates close to the second apron and potentially looks to open another roster spot.
Important distinction: this is a trade concept from Knicks On SI — not a report that Chicago and New York are actively negotiating.
But the idea is fascinating.
Chicago still has an open roster spot, financial flexibility, and a direct developmental connection to both players through new director of player development Jordan Brink, who previously worked with Kolek and Dadiet in New York.
Kolek may be the more immediately useful target. He gives Chicago another pass-first organizer, insurance behind Josh Giddey and Tre Jones, and a potentially intriguing contrast to the scoring-oriented Rob Dillingham.
Dadiet is the bigger developmental gamble. He remains only 21 and has intriguing size at 6-foot-9, but Chicago already has a crowded developmental wing group featuring Dailyn Swain, Noa Essengue, Leonard Miller, Patrick Williams, Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis.
If the Knicks want Chicago to take Dadiet, should New York have to attach draft compensation?
Then Haize breaks down why the Bulls’ backup-center competition shouldn’t simply be framed as Jalen Smith vs Zach Collins.
Smith brings pick-and-pop shooting, pace and offensive rebounding. Collins brings strength, screening, post play and connective passing. Behind starter Nic Claxton, those two could provide Tiago Splitter with dramatically different options depending on the matchup.
And yes — they can absolutely push one another for minutes.
Finally, the Bulls want to play FAST next season.
But could turnovers become the fatal flaw in Tiago Splitter’s system?
Splitter’s Portland team reached the playoffs, but also committed a league-high 17.3 turnovers per game. Chicago already finished among the NBA’s more turnover-prone teams, and a young roster built around Josh Giddey, Caleb Wilson, Matas Buzelis, Dailyn Swain and Rob Dillingham could make that problem even more dangerous.
Haize explains why Chicago shouldn’t eliminate creativity — but must distinguish between aggressive mistakes and careless live-ball turnovers that immediately fuel the opponent’s transition offense.
🔥 Topics include:
Tyler Kolek to Chicago?
Pacôme Dadiet as an upside gamble
Why New York could want roster flexibility
Jordan Brink’s connection to both prospects
What acquiring Kolek would mean for Rob Dillingham
Whether Chicago should demand compensation for Dadiet
Jalen Smith vs Zach Collins
Why Smith and Collins offer completely different styles
Smith’s pick-and-pop fit with Josh Giddey
Collins as a physical passing hub
Tobe Awaka applying pressure behind them
Tiago Splitter’s turnover problem in Portland
Josh Giddey’s high-risk/high-reward passing
Why pace can hurt Chicago if possessions end in turnovers
How the Bulls can play fast without playing reckless
🎧 Tap in with Haize on Chicago Bulls Central for the full breakdown!
Podcast Links: https://linktr.ee/BullsCentralPod
Get at us:
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Are Chicago Bulls fans giving up on Dailyn Swain way too early after one brutal Summer League?
On today’s Chicago Bulls Central, Haize takes a deeper look at Swain’s actual college profile and the historical NBA wings who entered the league with similar combinations of size, rebounding, secondary creation, defense and uncertain three-point shooting.
Swain’s final Texas season was anything but unproductive. At 6-foot-7 and roughly 211 pounds, he averaged 17.3 points, 7.5 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.6 steals while shooting 54.2% from the field, 34.4% from three and 81.5% from the free-throw line. He also shot 60.3% on twos and posted a .636 true-shooting percentage.
Yes, his Summer League was ugly: 4.2 points per game on 12.9% shooting and 0% from three across four games. But four bad July games shouldn’t erase nearly 100 college games of development.
Haize compares Swain’s profile with players such as Jaime Jaquez Jr., Josh Hart, Jae Crowder, Kyle Kuzma, Otto Porter Jr., Jimmy Butler, Gordon Hayward, Jarrett Culver and former Bull Chandler Hutchison to show why the range of outcomes remains enormous.
The point isn’t that Swain will become Jimmy Butler.
The point is that large, versatile wings often take time — and Swain’s 81.5% free-throw shooting, efficiency inside the arc, passing and defensive production give Chicago a much healthier developmental foundation than his Summer League performance suggests.
Then Haize shifts to Josh Giddey’s comments about Norman Powell, after Giddey said Powell’s gravity will take attention away from him.
Could Powell become more valuable to Chicago because of what he creates for everybody else?
With Powell flying around screens and forcing defenders to chase, Giddey could attack vacated space, Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson could become dangerous cutters, Nic Claxton could thrive in dribble-handoff actions and Dailyn Swain could eventually benefit as a second-unit cutter.
Finally, Haize explores the most overlooked part of Nic Claxton’s game: his passing.
Claxton averaged a career-high 3.7 assists against just 1.4 turnovers, opening the possibility that Tiago Splitter could use him as an elbow facilitator, short-roll playmaker and dribble-handoff hub — borrowing concepts from the role Joakim Noah once played in Chicago without expecting Claxton to become Noah himself.
🔥 Topics include: Dailyn Swain NBA comparisons, Jaime Jaquez Jr. vs. Jarrett Culver as Swain’s developmental fork, why Chandler Hutchison is a warning, what Jimmy Butler and Jae Crowder teach us about wing development, Norman Powell’s shooting gravity, Josh Giddey’s offensive evolution, Matas and Caleb as cutters, Nic Claxton’s passing leap, Claxton as a short-roll creator, and whether Chicago can manufacture offense through movement instead of superstar isolation.
🎧 Tap in with Haize on Chicago Bulls Central for the full breakdown!
Podcast Links: https://linktr.ee/BullsCentralPod
Get at us:
Email: BullsCentralPod@gmail.com
Twitter:@BullsCentralPod
Phone: ‪(773) 270-2799‬

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