Chicago Bulls Central

Should the Chicago Bulls send Noa Essengue back to the G League—and could Tre Jones actually become TOO valuable for Chicago to trade?
On today’s episode of Chicago Bulls Central, Haize continues breaking down the biggest questions surrounding the Bulls heading into the 2026–27 season.
First, we dive into Noa Essengue’s development plan. After a difficult Summer League and an injury-shortened rookie season, Chicago has a major decision to make: should the 19-year-old forward spend meaningful time with the Windy City Bulls, or would practicing every day with Tiago Splitter and the NBA roster accelerate his development more?
Haize breaks down what a successful season should actually look like for Noa, the skills Chicago should prioritize, what would earn him NBA rotation minutes and why his development shouldn’t be judged simply by points per game. 👀
Then we turn to Tre Jones.
After averaging 14.1 points and 5.4 assists while shooting 55.3% from the field last season, Jones enters this year with a different role behind Josh Giddey and Norman Powell. But his ability to organize the offense could be especially valuable while Chicago develops players like Dailyn Swain, Rob Dillingham and Leonard Miller.
Could Tre become so important to the development of this roster that moving him at the trade deadline would actually hurt more than help?
🔥 On today’s Chicago Bulls Central:
🐂 Should Noa Essengue spend significant time in the G League?
📈 What would actually make Noa’s season a success?
🧠 The specific skills Chicago needs him developing
👀 What could earn him more minutes under Tiago Splitter
🔥 Why Tre Jones may be essential to the Bulls’ bench
🏀 How Tre could help Dailyn Swain and Rob Dillingham
💰 What would make a Tre Jones trade worth it?
📞 Chicago Bulls Central listener voicemails
PLUS, Bulls fans weigh in on Max Strus, Jalen Smith trade value, Josh Giddey’s future and what watching Bulls basketball will feel like without Stacey King.
💬 Would you consider Noa Essengue’s season successful if he spends significant time with Windy City but finishes the year looking ready for an NBA role?
And:
What would another team have to offer before YOU would trade Tre Jones?
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Could Leonard Miller eventually become the most valuable player the Chicago Bulls received in the Ayo Dosunmu trade?
On today’s Chicago Bulls Central, Haize continues the Bulls player-prediction series with one of Chicago’s most intriguing young forwards.
Miller averaged 11.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.3 assists in 23.1 minutes during his 27 games with Chicago while shooting 55.5% from the field and 35.6% from three. The production was real — but this season brings a much different challenge. Miller must prove he can remain impactful without guaranteed touches, regular starts or a huge offensive role.
His pathway is straightforward: run the floor, cut behind help defenders, attack offensive rebounds, finish against unsettled defenses and provide energy without requiring Chicago to run plays specifically for him. That skill set could fit naturally around Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson.
But three questions will decide his season: Can Miller defend consistently enough for Tiago Splitter to trust him? Will defenses respect his jumper? And can he maintain his rebounding, cutting and energy when his touches fluctuate?
Haize gives his full Leonard Miller prediction, including a projected 20 minutes, 9 points, 5.5 rebounds and roughly 35% shooting from three while establishing himself as a regular reserve forward.
Then we dive into one of the most overlooked weapons in Josh Giddey’s game: inbound passing.
Giddey has previously demonstrated elite creativity as an inbound passer, and Chicago now has intriguing options around him. Norman Powell can fly off screens, Nic Claxton can slip toward the rim, while Matas and Caleb can punish defenders who overplay passing lanes.
The Bulls could even use inbound possessions to flow directly into their normal offense, allowing Giddey to enter the ball and immediately become part of the next action rather than resetting from scratch.
🔥 Topics include: Leonard Miller’s season prediction, his long-term Bulls future, his competition for forward minutes, the Ayo trade return, Giddey’s inbound passing, Powell movement actions, Claxton slips, Caleb and Matas backdoor cuts, and Bulls mailbag reactions.
🎧 Tap in with Haize on Chicago Bulls Central for the full breakdown!
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Bleacher Report has Rob Dillingham pegged as the Chicago Bulls’ top breakout candidate for 2026–27 — but Chicago may have to make a major decision on his future before the breakout has time to fully happen.
On today’s Chicago Bulls Central, Haize breaks down what a legitimate Rob Dillingham leap would actually look like after he averaged 9.6 points, 2.8 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 21.5 minutes during his 30 games with Chicago last season.
The Bulls have until October 31 to decide whether to exercise Dillingham’s roughly $8.8 million fourth-year option for 2027–28. That means training camp, preseason and a small sample of regular-season basketball could become extremely important.
What does Chicago need to see?
Better shooting. More controlled decision-making. Value when Josh Giddey or Norman Powell initiates the offense. Fewer avoidable defensive mistakes. Most importantly, Dillingham has to prove he can help the Bulls during ordinary eight-minute stretches without needing a 20-point explosion to justify his minutes.
Haize also gives his full Rob Dillingham season prediction, including disappointing, likely and breakout statistical ranges.
Then we turn to Chicago’s final two-way contract.
Jaylin Sellers and Tobe Awaka already occupy two spots, leaving one available. Could former Alabama wing Houston Mallette provide the shooting Chicago needs? Can Boo Buie change the evaluation after a difficult Summer League? And should the Bulls monitor Trevor Keels if he becomes available following Washington’s camp?
Finally, we go deep into Tiago Splitter’s defensive options.
Should Chicago switch everything with Nic Claxton, Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson? Or should Claxton remain closer to the rim while perimeter defenders fight over screens?
We break down selective switching, higher screen coverage, rim protection and what these choices could mean against combinations like Jalen Brunson–Karl-Anthony Towns and Donovan Mitchell–Evan Mobley.
🎧 Tap in with Haize on Chicago Bulls Central for the full breakdown!
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Is Chicago Bulls lead executive Bryson Graham already being judged too harshly before his rebuild has really had time to breathe?
On today’s Chicago Bulls Central, Haize reacts to an editorial ranking that placed Chicago’s front office in its lowest tier. The key distinction: this is one writer’s evaluation, not a poll of NBA executives. The bigger question is whether Graham should be graded on the current roster, his first offseason decisions, or his still-unproven ability to eventually build a contender.
Chicago’s offseason added Caleb Wilson, Dailyn Swain, Norman Powell and Nic Claxton, giving Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis a much different supporting environment. Wilson represents a major bet on upside, Swain adds another developmental swing, Powell brings shooting and scoring, and Claxton gives Chicago a defensive anchor and finishing target.
But Graham still has major questions to answer: can Chicago develop Swain, find value outside the lottery, make smart veteran trades, identify which young players deserve future contracts and eventually turn flexibility into meaningful talent?
Then Haize explores the Alperen Şengün conversation.
There is no verified report that Houston is shopping Şengün. In fact, recent reporting highlighted Rockets executive Rafael Stone working to strengthen communication with him. But if Houston ever reconsidered its current construction, what circumstances could actually make a trade possible — and what would Chicago have to surrender?
Potential frameworks could involve Nic Claxton, Matas Buzelis and significant first-round compensation, or a larger package built around Claxton, Dailyn Swain, Noa Essengue and additional draft capital. These are valuation exercises, not reported Houston asking prices.
Finally, should Tiago Splitter encourage a questionable shooting Bulls roster to launch MORE threes?
The argument isn’t about chucking shots. It’s about generating the right attempts through Josh Giddey–Claxton pick-and-rolls, paint touches, defensive rotations and movement. An open balanced miss can be a better developmental possession than a rushed make that violates the offense.
🔥 Chicago Bulls Central with Haize breaks down the front-office debate, Şengün’s hypothetical trade price, Matas and Caleb’s future, Chicago’s asset strategy and how Splitter can build a modern shooting philosophy.
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Caleb Wilson hasn’t played a regular-season NBA game yet, and HoopsHype already has the Chicago Bulls rookie ranked among the league’s top 15 power forwards.
On today’s Chicago Bulls Central, Haize breaks down why the ranking is exciting — but also why Wilson’s development as a playmaker could matter even more than where he appears on a preseason list.
Wilson already showed a foundation as a passer at North Carolina, averaging 2.7 assists while producing multiple six-assist performances. The next step isn’t asking him to become Chicago’s full-time offensive engine immediately. It’s testing whether he can extend advantages after the defense has already been shifted.
Tiago Splitter could explore Wilson as a grab-and-go transition creator, short-roll passer, elbow facilitator and occasional ball-screen initiator. The biggest developmental question is whether Caleb can make quick, accurate reads without slowing down Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis or Nic Claxton.
Haize also breaks down the three biggest signs of real Bulls chemistry during the first 25 games.
Chicago opens with six of its first eight games on the road, so early mistakes should be expected. What matters is whether offensive timing improves, defensive rotations become connected and players continue executing when roles, minutes and results become uncomfortable.
Finally, Jaylin Sellers just gave Bulls fans an inside look at the mentality behind his NBA journey.
Sellers documented the exhausting pre-draft process, the disappointment of going undrafted and the confidence that keeps driving him. His message was clear: he doesn’t believe 60 players in the 2026 draft were better than him. Now Chicago’s two-way guard has to turn that belief into defense, shooting, quick decisions and consistent production whenever his opportunity arrives.
🔥 Topics include:
Caleb Wilson’s top-15 power-forward ranking
Caleb’s playmaking ceiling
Short-roll passing with Josh Giddey
Caleb and Nic Claxton’s offensive fit
How Wilson can make Matas Buzelis better
Three signs of genuine Bulls chemistry
Offensive timing and spacing
Defensive communication
How players respond to changing roles
Jaylin Sellers’ NBA Draft journey
Why Sellers believes teams made a mistake
His path from a two-way deal to a standard NBA contract
🎧 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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