Chicago Bulls Central

Should Tiago Splitter unleash the Chicago Bulls’ giant “SLAP” lineup this season?
On today’s Chicago Bulls Central, Haize breaks down one of the most intriguing lineup experiments available to the Bulls: Josh Giddey, Dailyn Swain, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson and Nic Claxton sharing the floor together.
Every player in that group is roughly 6-foot-7 or taller, creating an average height around 6-foot-9 and embodying the exact traits Bryson Graham has emphasized throughout Chicago’s reset: size, length, athleticism, physicality and versatility.
This shouldn’t necessarily become the Bulls’ regular starting lineup. But in five-to-eight-minute stretches? It could become a tactical nightmare.
Giddey can rebound and immediately ignite transition. Swain could defend the point of attack and act as a secondary creator. Matas becomes the primary scorer and weak-side shot blocker. Caleb Wilson can cut, attack mismatches and finish in transition. Claxton anchors the defense while providing rim pressure, screens and underrated passing.
The real swing factor is Dailyn Swain. If he can defend NBA shooting guards and become a credible catch-and-shoot threat, Chicago could potentially switch across four positions while keeping Claxton behind everything.
But there’s an obvious problem:
Spacing.
Giddey, Swain, Matas and Caleb all still have something to prove as NBA perimeter shooters, while Claxton provides no traditional floor spacing. Haize explains why constant movement, inverted actions, dribble handoffs and early transition offense would be necessary to keep the giant lineup from clogging the paint.
Then the show shifts to a completely different part of the rebuild that could be just as important:
🔥 The Windy City Bulls.
Chicago recently hired former Bull Quincy Pondexter as Windy City’s new head coach, and with players like Noa Essengue, Tobe Awaka, Jaylin Sellers and potentially Dailyn Swain needing developmental reps, the Bulls cannot afford to treat the G League like a separate organization.
If Chicago truly plans to build through the draft, Windy City must become an extension of Tiago Splitter’s rotation and developmental system.
Haize also gets into your Bulls voicemails, including the realistic standard for an undrafted rookie making an impact, why moving Norman Powell to the bench doesn’t make much sense, and whether Bulls ownership deserves blame for the previous regime’s roster decisions.
🔥 Topics include:
Bulls’ giant “SLAP” lineup
Josh Giddey + Dailyn Swain backcourt
Matas Buzelis as the primary scorer
Caleb Wilson attacking mismatches
Nic Claxton’s passing and rim gravity
Can Chicago switch four positions?
Why Swain is the lineup’s swing player
The massive spacing concern
Three versions of Chicago’s giant lineup
Why Jalen Smith could unlock the spacing version
Quincy Pondexter taking over Windy City
Noa Essengue’s G League development
Jaylin Sellers’ shooting development
Tobe Awaka’s rebounding against pro size
Why the Bulls’ G League operation matters more than wins
Norman Powell bench debate
Bulls ownership vs previous front-office decisions
Undrafted rookies making immediate NBA impact
🎧 Tap in with Haize on Chicago Bulls Central for the full breakdown!
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The Chicago Bulls probably aren’t ready to finish ahead of Detroit or Cleveland — but that doesn’t make those games meaningless. In fact, those matchups may be the best way to measure whether this rebuild is actually moving forward.
On today’s Chicago Bulls Central, Haize breaks down why the Central Division could become Chicago’s perfect developmental measuring stick during the 2026-27 season.
The current division outlook has Detroit and Cleveland ahead of Chicago, with the Bulls more realistically battling Milwaukee and Indiana in the standings. But Detroit and Cleveland represent something different: two examples of where Chicago hopes to eventually go. Detroit has developed a young core into a legitimate contender, while Cleveland represents the path of building internally before adding established star power.
The real test won’t simply be wins and losses. Can the Bulls avoid immediately falling behind? Can Josh Giddey, Norman Powell, Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson execute late in games? Can Chicago’s defense force elite opponents to adjust? And can Matas and Caleb create offense against the type of physical, playoff-level defenses they’ll eventually have to beat?
Haize also lays out a practical measuring scale for Chicago’s eight combined games against Detroit and Cleveland. Going 3-5 with competitive losses would signal meaningful progress, while getting swept or repeatedly blown out would suggest Chicago remains significantly behind the division’s elite.
Then the show turns toward one of the most important long-term roster questions facing Bryson Graham:
Does Chicago’s next major investment need to be at center or shooting guard?
Nic Claxton has roughly two seasons to prove he can become the long-term defensive anchor. At the same time, Dailyn Swain and Jaylin Sellers must show whether either can develop into the long-term backcourt partner Chicago needs alongside Josh Giddey.
If Claxton improves the defense, develops chemistry with Giddey and remains playable across different matchups, shooting guard likely becomes the next priority. If Swain or Sellers emerges while Claxton disappoints, center jumps to the top of the list. And if both positions develop internally? Chicago gains the freedom to pursue the best player available or make a bigger star trade.
🔥 Topics include:
Why Detroit is the developmental blueprint
What Cleveland tests about Chicago’s star ceiling
Giddey vs Cade Cunningham
Matas and Caleb against playoff-level defense
Nic Claxton vs Jalen Duren
Chicago’s eight-game measuring stick against Detroit/Cleveland
Can the Bulls finish third in the Central?
Why the final matchups matter more than the first
Is Claxton Chicago’s long-term center?
Can Dailyn Swain become the Bulls’ future shooting guard?
Jaylin Sellers’ sixth-man and starting upside
Why Swain’s three-point shot is his biggest swing skill
Center vs shooting guard as Chicago’s next premium investment
How every roster decision changes what the Bulls need elsewhere
Listener reactions on Swain, Tre Jones and Rob Dillingham
🎧 Tap in with Haize on Chicago Bulls Central for the full breakdown.
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Could Matas Buzelis eventually command a $200 million contract from the Chicago Bulls?
On today’s Chicago Bulls Central, Haize breaks down why Amen Thompson’s new five-year, $208 million extension could be a preview of the financial decision Chicago may eventually face with Matas Buzelis. Thompson’s deal doesn’t make him a perfect comparison, but it does show what young wings with franchise-cornerstone upside are beginning to cost.
Matas averaged 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.5 blocks last season while shooting 46.3% from the field and 34.9% from three. Chicago controls his fourth-year option for 2027-28, and he becomes eligible for a rookie-scale extension next summer. The 2026-27 season could determine whether those negotiations begin at “promising starter” money or genuine franchise-player money.
But before getting to Matas, Haize examines something that could make this Bulls team stylistically fascinating: the bench may have a completely different identity from the starters.
Chicago’s starting group of Josh Giddey, Norman Powell, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson and Nic Claxton can create through size, passing and matchup advantages. The second unit may need to manufacture offense through speed, pressure, deflections, multiple ball handlers and organized chaos.
A possible bench core of Tre Jones, Rob Dillingham, Dailyn Swain, Leonard Miller or Patrick Williams, and Jalen Smith could change the tempo immediately. Jones provides control, Dillingham brings instant scoring aggression, Swain connects possessions with defense and secondary creation, and Smith gives the guards the spacing they need to attack.
Haize also explains why Norman Powell staggered with the reserves could unlock the entire concept, and why a group featuring Dillingham, Powell, Swain, Matas and Jalen Smith could become legitimately dangerous if the young players shoot and defend well enough.
Finally, the Bulls have another contract decision coming. Isaac Okoro becomes extension-eligible September 17 while entering the final year of his deal at roughly $11.8 million. His defense may be more important than his box-score production because Chicago’s projected starters still lack an obvious point-of-attack stopper. But his 33% three-point shooting creates real spacing concerns next to Giddey and Claxton.
So should Bryson Graham extend Okoro, evaluate him through the first 20–25 games, or use his expiring contract as a trade asset?
🔥 Topics include:
Bulls bench developing its own identity
“Organized chaos” under Tiago Splitter
Tre Jones as the bench stabilizer
Rob Dillingham as the pace changer
Dailyn Swain as the connector
Jaylin Sellers as the wild card
Jalen Smith’s fit with the young guards
Norman Powell leading the reserves
Amen Thompson’s $208M extension
Could Matas become a $200M player?
What Matas must prove before Chicago pays him
How Caleb Wilson complicates the Matas evaluation
Isaac Okoro becoming extension-eligible
Okoro’s defense vs his offensive limitations
Extend, evaluate or trade Okoro?
🎧 Tap in with Haize on Chicago Bulls Central for the full breakdown.
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Could the Chicago Bulls become one of the NBA’s most dangerous transition teams in 2026-27?
On today’s Chicago Bulls Central, Haize breaks down why this roster may finally be built to turn Chicago’s pace into genuinely efficient fast-break offense.
The Bulls already played extremely fast last season, finishing second in pace, but their fast-break production didn’t fully match that tempo. This new group may be much better equipped to convert speed into points. Josh Giddey can rebound and immediately push the ball, Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson can attack opposite lanes, Nic Claxton gives Chicago a vertical rim-running threat, and Norman Powell provides the shooting gravity that prevents defenses from simply collapsing into the paint.
But Haize explains why the real key may actually be defense. Chicago needs Claxton, Matas, Caleb, Isaac Okoro and Dailyn Swain creating deflections, contested shots, defensive rebounds and live-ball turnovers. If Tiago Splitter can combine the aggressive defense associated with his recent coaching experience with the fast-paced offense he has used before, the Bulls could become one of the league’s most uncomfortable teams to face.
Then the show turns to Chicago’s recent player-run minicamp in Miami and a bigger question:
Who is actually leading this team?
Haize lays out a layered leadership structure where Norman Powell establishes the professional standard, Josh Giddey becomes the offensive leader, Nic Claxton serves as the defensive captain, Matas Buzelis grows into the emotional leader of the young core and Caleb Wilson develops naturally into a future franchise voice.
Finally, Haize asks which Bulls reserve could force his way into Tiago Splitter’s closing lineup.
Jalen Smith may be the favorite because his shooting can create the spacing Chicago’s starting five sometimes lacks. Isaac Okoro could become the defensive matchup closer. Tre Jones offers late-game ball security. Rob Dillingham is the scoring wild card. And Dailyn Swain could eventually become the long-term two-way answer.
🔥 Topics include:
Can Chicago become a top-five transition offense?
Josh Giddey pushing off defensive rebounds
Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson as lane runners
Nic Claxton’s vertical gravity
Norman Powell’s transition shooting
Why defense must fuel Chicago’s pace
Tiago Splitter’s potential Bulls identity
Who is the Bulls’ real locker-room leader?
Norman Powell vs Josh Giddey vs Matas Buzelis leadership roles
Nic Claxton as defensive captain
Why Caleb Wilson shouldn’t be forced into leadership too soon
Jalen Smith potentially closing over Claxton
Isaac Okoro as Chicago’s defensive closer
Tre Jones’ late-game value
Rob Dillingham as the wild card
🎧 Tap in with Haize on Chicago Bulls Central for the full breakdown!
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The Chicago Bulls finally have a legitimate defensive anchor in Nic Claxton — but their starting lineup still has one major question: who guards the Eastern Conference’s elite perimeter creators?
On today’s Chicago Bulls Central, Haize breaks down one of the biggest concerns surrounding Chicago’s projected starting five of Josh Giddey, Norman Powell, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson and Nic Claxton. The Bulls have size, length and improved rim protection, but neither Giddey nor Powell is ideally suited to spend an entire game chasing players like Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Maxey, Donovan Mitchell, Cade Cunningham and other elite guards through screens.
Nic Claxton should dramatically improve Chicago’s backline defense, but even an elite rim protector cannot constantly clean up straight-line drives and blown screen coverage. If Chicago’s point-of-attack defense fails, Claxton will be forced into two-on-one situations that create lobs, corner threes, offensive rebounds and foul trouble.
That puts Isaac Okoro and Dailyn Swain directly into the spotlight. Okoro is Chicago’s most proven perimeter defender, while Swain could become the long-term answer because of his size, length and versatility. But both create the same problem: Can they provide enough offense to stay on the floor late in games?
Haize then dives into Chicago’s most underrated offensive issue: free-throw generation. The Bulls averaged only 22.2 attempts per game last season, leaving too much of the offense dependent on pace and jump shooting. Caleb Wilson, Matas Buzelis, Josh Giddey and Norman Powell all have pathways to create more rim pressure and help Chicago survive nights when the three-point shot isn’t falling.
Finally, could Matas Buzelis moving to small forward unlock his next leap?
Matas spent the majority of his rookie season at power forward, but Chicago’s projected lineup now places Caleb Wilson at the four and Matas at the three. That could give Buzelis a major size advantage against opposing wings, more opportunities to attack mismatches and a clearer path toward developing the point-forward skills Tiago Splitter wants to unlock.
But the move also demands more from Matas: stronger perimeter defense, better screen navigation, improved ball handling, faster passing reads and consistent shooting.
🔥 Topics include: who guards elite Eastern Conference point guards, Nic Claxton’s defensive impact, Isaac Okoro vs Dailyn Swain, Chicago’s best offensive and defensive closing lineups, why Caleb Wilson may sit in certain fourth-quarter matchups, Bulls free-throw generation, Matas’ need for more physical offense, and whether moving Buzelis to small forward could trigger an All-Star leap.
🎧 Tap in with Haize on Chicago Bulls Central for the full breakdown.
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