Chicago Bulls Central

Should the Chicago Bulls really trade for Ryan Rollins — and could he eventually replace Josh Giddey as the franchise’s long-term point guard?
On today’s Chicago Bulls Central, Haize reacts to an editorial trade proposal suggesting Chicago pursue Ryan Rollins from the Milwaukee Bucks. The proposal suggests a lottery-protected 2027 first-round pick plus additional second-round compensation, but this is important: there is no report that Chicago and Milwaukee are actively discussing a deal.
Rollins absolutely deserves attention after a breakout season in which he averaged 17.3 points, 4.6 rebounds and 5.6 assists while shooting 40.6% from three. He also brings point-of-attack defense, quick decision-making and the ability to threaten defenses without dominating the basketball.
But replacing Giddey is where the argument gets much harder.
Giddey averaged 17.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 9.1 assists, shot a career-best 36.4% from three and remains the superior rebounder, passer, transition organizer and large-scale offensive engine. The more intriguing possibility may be pairing the two: Giddey initiates while Rollins handles quicker guards, spaces the floor and attacks rotating defenses.
The real decision is whether Rollins is worth sacrificing meaningful draft capital. Haize explains why Chicago should call Milwaukee, but why a 2027 first-round pick should come with heavy protection — if it’s included at all.
Then the conversation shifts to Caleb Wilson vs Cameron Boozer.
Their history is already real: AAU teammates, North Carolina vs Duke rivals, consecutive selections in the 2026 NBA Draft and an immediate Summer League showdown in which Wilson scored 35 while Boozer finished with 23 points, six rebounds and four assists.
Wilson offers greater explosiveness, defensive versatility and potentially the higher two-way ceiling, while Boozer enters with more physical polish, rebounding and a safer path toward consistent half-court production.
🔥 Topics include: Ryan Rollins vs Josh Giddey, whether Chicago should trade a first-round pick, pairing Rollins with Giddey, Milwaukee’s crowded guard room, Caleb Wilson vs Cameron Boozer, Bulls vs Grizzlies rebuilds, the 2026 draft rivalry, and Bulls mailbag reactions.
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Who actually belongs in the Chicago Bulls’ long-term core — and who is still auditioning for a permanent place in Bryson Graham’s rebuild?
On today’s Chicago Bulls Central, Haize challenges the idea that Chicago already has four established core players.
The Bulls have young talent, but being young, recently drafted or receiving developmental minutes does not automatically make someone part of the eventual franchise core. A true core player should still matter when Chicago becomes a legitimate playoff team, possess skills that translate to postseason basketball, fit financially and chronologically around the franchise’s foundational pieces, and remain valuable even after another star is eventually added.
Matas Buzelis is the clearest established young core player. His question isn’t whether he belongs — it’s whether he develops into a legitimate first or second offensive option, an efficient scorer and a dependable two-way closer.
Caleb Wilson is also an organizational pillar, but Chicago still needs to learn whether his NBA ceiling is primary scorer, two-way secondary star, transition weapon, small-ball center or complementary frontcourt piece.
Then comes the harder conversation.
Josh Giddey remains one of Chicago’s most important evaluations. Can his jumper command respect? Can he run efficient half-court offense? Can he contribute without controlling every possession and survive defensively in closing lineups? If so, he could solve Chicago’s point-guard question. If not, the Bulls may still need their long-term lead creator.
Dailyn Swain is a core investment — but he hasn’t yet become a core player. His rookie season should be about identifying dependable NBA skills rather than prematurely proving he’s a future star.
Haize also breaks down which Bulls can play their way into the long-term rotation, including Nic Claxton, Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller, Noa Essengue, Jaylin Sellers and Tre Jones.
Then the conversation shifts toward Chicago’s 2027 draft strategy. If Giddey proves he’s the long-term lead guard, the Bulls can prioritize shooting and secondary creation. If Claxton fails at center, rim protection jumps up the board. If Swain, Dillingham and Sellers fail to provide scoring, Chicago could target a guard early.
🔥 Topics include: Matas and Caleb as foundational pieces, Giddey’s long-term fit, Swain’s rookie expectations, Claxton’s center audition, Dillingham’s sixth-man pathway, Leonard Miller and Jaylin Sellers as affordable rotation pieces, trade-chip evaluations, Patrick Williams’ value, and 2027 prospects such as Tyran Stokes, Jordan Smith Jr., Caleb Holt, Stefan Joksimović, Jason Crowe Jr. and Braylon Mullins.
🎧 Tap in with Haize on Chicago Bulls Central for the full breakdown!
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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!
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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!
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