Chicago Bulls Central

The Chicago Bulls lost to Memphis, but the bigger story may be what we learned about Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson and Leonard Miller.
On today’s Chicago Bulls Central, Haize breaks down the latest Matas injury update, Caleb Wilson receiving a real late-game opportunity and why Leonard Miller is becoming increasingly difficult for Tiago Splitter to leave out of the rotation conversation.
Matas Buzelis left the Memphis game after an awkward landing caused a right ankle issue. Matas later sounded optimistic and said the Bulls were simply being smart with it, while Tiago Splitter was less definitive about his availability. Chicago should prioritize useful preparation over forcing preseason minutes simply because several rotation players are already unavailable. Pasted text
That matters because the Bulls were already without Nic Claxton, Jalen Smith, Zach Collins and Tre Jones, limiting the combinations Chicago has been able to evaluate. The biggest connections still needing reps include Josh Giddey with Claxton, Matas with Caleb and the second-unit ballhandlers with Chicago’s finishers. Pasted text
Then we get into Caleb Wilson’s biggest preseason moment yet.
After scoring only one point in the first half, Caleb exploded to finish with 21 points and five made threes. He hit a late three to pull Chicago within two before missing a contested step-back three that could have given the Bulls the lead. He also finished just 2-for-6 from the free-throw line. Pasted text
I still LOVE giving him that possession.
Why?
Because development means giving young players meaningful decisions under pressure and then coaching the result. The make or miss is only part of the evaluation.
And finally, Leonard Miller is making this rotation conversation impossible to ignore.
Miller followed his 14-point preseason opener with 12 points and 11 rebounds against Memphis. Now Chicago has to figure out whether Miller is simply filling frontcourt vacancies or showing skills that deserve a permanent place when the roster gets healthy. Pasted text
🔥 Today on Chicago Bulls Central:
👀 Matas Buzelis ankle update
🏥 Why Chicago shouldn’t chase lost preseason minutes
🧠 The Bulls lineup connections that still need reps
😳 Caleb Wilson gets a real late-game closing possession
🔥 Caleb’s 21-point response after a quiet first half
🎯 Why the missed game-winner is still a valuable rep
🚨 Caleb’s 2-for-6 free-throw shooting
📈 Leonard Miller’s 12-point, 11-rebound follow-up
💪 Should Miller be the backup power forward?
🧩 Could Miller play situational center minutes?
👀 Miller pairings with Claxton, Jalen Smith and Tobe Awaka
🗣️ Your Bulls voicemails and reactions
💬 Would you keep giving Caleb Wilson late-game possessions even if some of them get messy? And where should Leonard Miller’s rotation audition start?
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Caleb Wilson and Cameron Boozer could be headed for another matchup after their Summer League showdown, but this time the biggest story isn’t simply who scores more.
On today’s Chicago Bulls Central, Haize breaks down what Bulls fans should really watch if Wilson and Boozer share the floor again.
Their Summer League matchup produced fireworks, with Caleb scoring 35 points to Boozer’s 23. Now both rookies have their first preseason performances to build from.
Caleb opened with 15 points, three rebounds and two assists, shooting 6-for-15 while going 0-for-4 from three and committing five fouls.
Boozer enters after recording 16 points, six rebounds and two assists in 22 minutes, shooting 4-for-7 and knocking down two threes.
But this matchup should be judged by more than the final scoring totals.
Can Caleb create easier opportunities?
Can he handle physicality without unnecessary fouls?
Can he recognize the second read when his drive gets taken away?
Can he impact the game when the ball isn’t coming his way?
Then we get into Norman Powell’s hidden value.
Powell scored 14 points on only four field-goal attempts in Chicago’s opener, including three made threes and five free throws.
That shooting threat can do much more than produce points.
We break down how Splitter could use Powell as a screener for Matas Buzelis, turn aggressive denial into backdoor opportunities and create cleaner driving lanes for Matas, Caleb and Josh Giddey without taking the ball out of their hands.
And finally, it’s time for the Game 2 Development Checklist.
🔥 Five Bulls. Five clear priorities:
🌟 Matas Buzelis: Stay aggressive and make the correct read
💪 Tobe Awaka: Keep the motor, clean up the fouls
🧠 Dailyn Swain: Reach his decisions faster
📈 Leonard Miller: Prove Game 1 production can repeat
🎯 Josh Giddey: Make the defense respect his scoring earlier
This preseason is not about demanding polished basketball.
It’s about identifying whether mistakes turn into progress.
💬 Whose next step are YOU watching closest tonight: Caleb, Matas, Swain, Awaka, Miller or Giddey?
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The Chicago Bulls’ first preseason game gave us much more than a win. It may have changed how we look at Dailyn Swain, Tobe Awaka and several players fighting for rotation minutes.
On today’s Chicago Bulls Central, Haize breaks down the biggest developments from Chicago’s preseason opener against Phoenix.
First, Dailyn Swain.
With Tre Jones unavailable, Swain received real ball-handling responsibility and responded with 10 points, six assists, two steals and three turnovers in 21:53 while going 3-for-3 from the field and 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.  Pasted text
The question now is bigger than whether Swain can provide bench scoring.
Can he become another trustworthy decision-maker?
We break down why Chicago should continue testing him as a secondary creator, how he could work alongside Tre Jones, and what his playmaking could mean for shooters like Buddy Hield and Jordan Hawkins.  Pasted text
Then we get into Tobe Awaka.
Awaka exploded for 14 points, 11 rebounds and six offensive boards in just 21:21, shooting 6-for-8 from the field. The issue? Six fouls.  Pasted text
His rebounding gives Chicago an identifiable NBA skill that does not require plays to be called for him. But can he stay on the floor long enough to make that skill matter?
We also debut a full Bulls Stock Report after Game 1:
📈 Jalen Smith
📈 Leonard Miller
📈 Norman Powell
📉 Patrick Williams’ opportunity
📉 Josh Giddey’s scoring aggression
↔️ Matas Buzelis & Caleb Wilson
↔️ Noa Essengue
Jalen Smith finished with 13 points, eight rebounds and two made threes, while Leonard Miller scored 14 points on 5-for-7 shooting in only 14:26 with two steals and zero turnovers.  Pasted text
And before we get out of here, we look ahead to Memphis.
Chicago committed 24 turnovers against Phoenix, making ball security the first thing I need to see improve in Game 2.  Pasted text
🔥 Today on Chicago Bulls Central:
- 👀 Dailyn Swain’s unexpected playmaking role
- 🧠 Why six assists matter more than the raw total
- 💪 Tobe Awaka’s elite rebounding activity
- 🚨 Why Awaka’s six fouls cannot be ignored
- 📈 Leonard Miller forcing his way into the rotation conversation
- 🎯 Jalen Smith’s spacing value
- 🔥 Norman Powell’s efficient offensive role
- 😬 What Patrick Williams’ substitution pattern could mean
- 🧠 Why Josh Giddey needs more scoring aggression
- 🌟 Matas & Caleb’s homework after Game 1
- 🚨 Chicago’s 24-turnover problem
- 🎯 Three things that MUST improve against Memphis
💬 Who changed your opinion the most after Chicago’s preseason opener?
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THE CHICAGO BULLS START THE TIAGO SPLITTER ERA WITH A WIN!

The Chicago Bulls defeated the Phoenix Suns 111-108 in their first game of the 2026 NBA preseason, and there is plenty to discuss!

Join Haize on Chicago Bulls Central for a full postgame breakdown of Chicago's first preseason victory, including the performances of Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson, Josh Giddey, Norman Powell, and the rest of the new-look Bulls roster.

Chicago faced an early 40-29 deficit but responded with a strong second and third quarter to take control of the game.

🔥 TONIGHT'S POSTGAME DISCUSSION:

🏀 Matas Buzelis: Did he show the offensive aggression Tiago Splitter has been demanding?

🌟 Caleb Wilson: What did we learn from the rookie's first preseason appearance?

🧠 Josh Giddey: How effectively did he organize Chicago's offense?

🔥 Norman Powell: First impressions of his role alongside the young core.

💪 Jalen Smith: How did Chicago's frontcourt respond without Nic Claxton?

⚡ Tiago Splitter's System: Did the Bulls demonstrate the pace, physicality and defensive aggression their new coach wants?

👀 Bench Rotation: Which players helped their case for regular-season minutes?

📊 THE FINAL SCORE

Chicago Bulls 111
Phoenix Suns 108

The final score is encouraging, but the bigger question is whether Chicago showed meaningful progress in its new offensive and defensive identity.

💬 BULLS NATION, WHAT WAS YOUR BIGGEST TAKEAWAY FROM TONIGHT'S WIN?

Was it Matas? Caleb? The coaching? Or something else entirely?

👇 Drop your reactions in the comments!

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Tiago Splitter wants Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson doing more than simply finishing plays. He wants them helping dictate the Chicago Bulls offense.
That means this preseason becomes about more than points.
Splitter specifically challenged Chicago’s young forwards to become more aggressive in controlling possessions instead of waiting for opportunities to arrive. That means creating advantages, forcing defensive reactions and making the right decision once help comes.  Pasted text
On today’s Chicago Bulls Central, Haize breaks down how that should look for both players.
🔥 Can Matas attack before the defense gets set?
🧠 Can Caleb make decisions after screening and short-roll catches?
🎯 Can Josh Giddey create the right opportunities without controlling every possession?
👀 Will Norman Powell keep empowering the young forwards when mistakes happen?
Then we get into Chicago’s other major preseason challenge:
Winning the possession battle.
Playing fast means nothing if turnovers become opponent layups, aggressive rebounding destroys transition defense or gambling for steals repeatedly leaves teammates scrambling. Splitter has emphasized rebounding, creating steals and protecting the basketball as parts of Chicago’s preferred style.  Pasted text
And finally, it’s FACTS OR CAP on a fascinating Warriors trade proposal.
The hypothetical framework would send Norman Powell and Jalen Smith to Golden State while Chicago receives Kristaps Porziņģis, Moses Moody, Brandin Podziemski and a top-four-protected 2028 first-round pick. This is a writer-generated proposal, not a reported offer or active negotiation.  Pasted text
Would the young players and draft asset justify removing Powell’s scoring and Jalen Smith’s spacing from a roster built around Matas and Caleb?
🔥 Today on Chicago Bulls Central:
- Matas + Caleb being challenged to dictate offense
- What real creation responsibility should look like
- How Giddey should empower the young forwards
- Why productive mistakes matter
- The Bulls’ offensive rebounding vs. transition-defense balance
- Aggressive defense vs. reckless gambling
- How Chicago should attack when transition disappears
- Norman Powell Warriors trade debate
- Moody and Podziemski’s potential fit
- Jalen Smith’s overlooked value
- Why first-round pick protections matter
- FACTS OR CAP on making the deal
💬 Would you trade Norman Powell and Jalen Smith for Porziņģis, Moody, Podziemski and the protected first?
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