Locked On Bulls - Daily Podcast On The Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls are heading into the 2026-27 NBA season with a rebuilt roster, new expectations, and plenty of questions about who will actually define the year. 👀🐂



On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer make their early season predictions for the new-look Bulls, starting with one major question: who will be the MVP of the Bulls’ season?



Could it be Josh Giddey, if he takes another step as a lead playmaker, scorer, and core piece? Could Matas Buzelis become the most important player if his Year 3 leap arrives? Could Nic Claxton be the answer because of how much Chicago needs his defense, rim protection, rebounding, and identity-setting presence? Or could Norman Powell become the steady veteran scorer who helps the Bulls win more games than expected?



The guys also debate which Bulls player could be the biggest surprise of the season, either in a good or bad way. From Rob Dillingham, Jaylin Sellers, Patrick Williams, Isaac Okoro, Caleb Wilson, Dailyn Swain, Noa Essengue, Jalen Smith, Tre Jones, Zach Collins, and more, Chicago has several players who could change the conversation with a breakout year — or disappoint if they fail to find a role.



Plus, Haize and Pat look at which Bulls player may not finish the season on the roster. With trade deadline decisions coming, roster balance questions, bench scoring needs, and Bryson Graham still shaping the team’s long-term vision, someone on this roster could become a trade candidate before the year is over.



Topics Include:

Who will be the Bulls’ MVP in 2026-27?

Josh Giddey’s case as Chicago’s most valuable player

Matas Buzelis’ chance to become the Bulls’ breakout star

Nic Claxton’s defensive impact on the season

Norman Powell’s importance as a veteran scorer

Most surprising Bulls player this season

Good surprises vs. bad surprises on the roster

Which Bulls player could be moved before the season ends?

Trade deadline candidates for Chicago

Bryson Graham’s long-term roster decisions



The Bulls have more talent, more youth, and more flexibility than they have had in recent years — but now the season has to reveal who is actually part of the future. The MVP of the season may not be the highest scorer. The biggest surprise may not be the player fans expect. And the first player moved may tell us exactly how Bryson Graham views this roster.



🎙️ Tune in to Locked On Bulls as Haize and Pat make their predictions for the Bulls’ season MVP, biggest surprise, and which player may not finish the year in Chicago.



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The Chicago Bulls’ offseason search for more scoring and upside took another hit as Jonathan Kuminga chose the Minnesota Timberwolves over the Bulls, Lakers, and Trail Blazers. 👀🐂



On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer break down what Kuminga choosing Minnesota means for Chicago and whether the Bulls truly missed out on a major upside swing. Kuminga would have brought athleticism, rim pressure, defensive tools, and another young forward who could fit the timeline with Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson, Dailyn Swain, Noa Essengue, and Nic Claxton. But was he the right fit for what Bryson Graham is building?



The guys also react to the Bulls passing on Bennedict Mathurin, who signs with the New Orleans Pelicans after previous rumors connected him to Chicago. Was Mathurin the bench scorer the Bulls needed? Or did Chicago make the right call by avoiding a deal that may have cost assets, flexibility, or a role for players already on the roster?



That leads into the bigger question: can Bryson Graham still find a true bench scorer before the 2026-27 season begins? The Bulls have improved defensively and added more athleticism, but the second unit still needs shot creation, spacing, and reliable scoring punch. Haize and Pat discuss whether that answer is already on the roster with Rob Dillingham, Jaylin Sellers, Tre Jones, Jalen Smith, Patrick Williams, or whether the Bulls still need to make another move.



Topics Include:

Jonathan Kuminga choosing Minnesota over the Bulls, Lakers, and Blazers

Did the Bulls miss out on Kuminga?

Bennedict Mathurin signing with the Pelicans

Did Chicago pass on the right player?

Bryson Graham’s search for a bench scorer

Bulls’ need for second-unit shot creation

Can Rob Dillingham or Jaylin Sellers fill that role?

How the Bulls’ bench stacks up entering 2026-27

Are the Bulls being patient or too passive?

What move could still be coming before training camp?



The Bulls may not have landed Kuminga or Mathurin, but the need remains the same: Chicago has to find more scoring off the bench if this roster wants to outperform expectations. Now the pressure shifts back to Bryson Graham and whether he can find value without forcing the wrong move.



🎙️ Tune in to Locked On Bulls as Haize and Pat break down Jonathan Kuminga choosing the Timberwolves, Bennedict Mathurin landing with the Pelicans, and whether Bryson Graham can still find the bench scorer Chicago needs.

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FanDuel

Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM to play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.



FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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The national media hype around Caleb Wilson is starting to rise — but what happens if the Chicago Bulls rookie simply has a normal rookie season? 👀🐂



On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer break down the growing buzz around Caleb Wilson and why Bulls fans may need to balance excitement with realistic expectations. Wilson has the size, skill, athleticism, defensive tools, and long-term upside to be a major piece of Chicago’s future, but rookie development is rarely a straight line.



The guys discuss what a successful rookie season should actually look like for Wilson. Does he need to compete for Rookie of the Year? Does he need to be a day-one star? Or would steady growth, defensive flashes, rebounding, cutting, transition finishing, and learning how to play within Tiago Splitter’s system be enough for year one?



Haize and Pat also dive into what Josh Giddey needs to add to his game during the 2026-27 season. Giddey is viewed as part of the Bulls’ core, but now he has to prove he can raise his ceiling. Can he become a more confident shooter? Can he improve defensively? Can he attack mismatches, finish stronger, and become more of a scoring threat instead of just a passer and rebounder?



Plus, the guys discuss whether Jaylin Sellers is being overlooked as a player who could make a real impact for the Bulls. Sellers may not have the biggest name on the roster, but his scoring instincts, confidence, toughness, and opportunity to earn trust could make him one of the more interesting players to watch entering training camp.



Topics Include:

National media hype rising for Caleb Wilson

What if Caleb Wilson has a normal rookie season?

Realistic rookie expectations for Wilson

Why Bulls fans should balance hype with patience

What Josh Giddey needs to add in 2026-27

Giddey’s shooting, scoring, defense, and leadership questions

Is Jaylin Sellers being overlooked?

Sellers’ path to real Bulls minutes

Tiago Splitter’s role in developing the young core

Bulls 2026-27 roster questions before training camp



The Bulls’ future is exciting, but development still takes time. Caleb Wilson does not have to become a star overnight, Josh Giddey still has clear areas to improve, and Jaylin Sellers may have a bigger opportunity than people realize.



🎙️ Tune in to Locked On Bulls as Haize and Pat break down Matas Buzelis’ shot diet, what every Bulls bench player needs to do this season, and why Quincy Pondexter’s G League hire could matter for the future of the franchise.

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FanDuel

Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM to play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.



FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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Matas Buzelis wants to change his shot diet heading into the 2026-27 NBA season — and that could tell Bulls fans a lot about the next step in his development. 👀🐂 Recent reporting around Buzelis has focused on his desire to cut down on settling for threes and add more physicality, midrange work, and attack-minded scoring to his game.

 

On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer break down whether Matas taking fewer threes is the right move for his growth. Should Buzelis be attacking the rim more? Getting to the midrange? Using his size to punish mismatches? Or do the Bulls still need him to become a higher-volume three-point threat next to Josh Giddey, Caleb Wilson, Norman Powell, and Nic Claxton?

 

The guys also go through what each Bulls bench player needs to bring during the 2026-27 season. From Tre Jones’ steady guard play to Rob Dillingham’s shot creation, Isaac Okoro’s defense, Patrick Williams’ consistency, Jalen Smith’s frontcourt impact, Zach Collins’ toughness, Dailyn Swain’s development, Noa Essengue’s growth, Jaylin Sellers’ scoring, and Leonard Miller’s athleticism, every role player has a clear path — but also something major to prove.

 

Plus, Haize and Pat react to Quincy Pondexter being hired as the new Windy City Bulls head coach and what that means for Chicago’s player development pipeline. Pondexter reportedly left Washington to take over the G League role, giving the Bulls another important voice in developing young talent.

 

Topics Include:

Matas Buzelis wanting to take fewer threes

Why Matas’ shot diet matters for his Year 3 leap

Should Matas attack the rim and midrange more?

What every Bulls bench player must prove in 2026-27

Tre Jones, Rob Dillingham, Isaac Okoro, Patrick Williams and more

Dailyn Swain and Noa Essengue development expectations

Jaylin Sellers and Leonard Miller fighting for roles

Quincy Pondexter hired as Windy City Bulls head coach

Why the Bulls’ G League development plan matters

Tiago Splitter and Bryson Graham’s player development vision

 

The Bulls’ starting lineup will get the attention, but the bench and development system may determine how quickly this rebuild actually moves. If Matas takes a smarter offensive leap, the bench finds defined roles, and Pondexter helps turn Windy City into a real development pipeline, Chicago’s future could start looking much stronger.

 

🎙️ Tune in to Locked On Bulls as Haize and Pat break down Matas Buzelis’ shot diet, what every Bulls bench player needs to do this season, and why Quincy Pondexter’s G League hire could matter for the future of the franchise.

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FanDuel

Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM to play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.

 

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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The Chicago Bulls may have had another offseason move lined up — but it reportedly depended on a mystery precursor trade that never got completed. 👀🐂

 

On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer break down the report that the Bulls tried to bring in Sylvain Francisco, but could not finish the move because another trade had to happen first. What does that tell us about Bryson Graham’s offseason approach? Were the Bulls trying to clear a roster spot, move salary, trade a guard, or create more flexibility before adding Francisco?

 

The guys dive into the biggest question: what was the mystery trade?

 

Chicago still has roster questions around guard depth, shooting, bench creation, and final rotation balance. If the Bulls were exploring Francisco, that may reveal something about how the front office views the current backcourt mix of Josh Giddey, Tre Jones, Rob Dillingham, Norman Powell, and the rest of the roster. Was this about adding another ball-handler? More pace? More international experience? Or simply creating competition before training camp?

 

Haize and Pat also discuss Matas Buzelis saying he will not stop trash talking Luka Dončić and why that confidence matters. The Bulls need more edge, personality, and competitive fire from their young core, and Matas continues to show he is not afraid of anyone. But is that just fun offseason confidence, or another sign that Buzelis is ready to take a bigger leadership role in Chicago?

 

Topics Include:

Bulls reportedly tried to bring in Sylvain Francisco

Why the deal could not be completed

What was the mystery precursor trade?

What the rumor says about Bulls roster plans

Bryson Graham’s offseason decision-making

Bulls guard depth and bench creation questions

Could Chicago still look for another backcourt piece?

Matas Buzelis says he will keep trash talking Luka Dončić

Why Matas’ confidence matters for the Bulls

Bulls young core identity heading into 2026-27

 

The Bulls may not have completed the Francisco move, but the failed pursuit raises bigger questions about what Chicago was trying to do behind the scenes. And while the front office keeps working, Matas Buzelis is making it clear he is bringing confidence, edge, and attitude into the new season.

 

🎙️ Tune in to Locked On Bulls as Haize and Pat break down the Bulls’ failed Sylvain Francisco pursuit, the mystery trade that may have stopped it, and Matas Buzelis refusing to back down from Luka Dončić.

 

🎙️ Tune in to Locked On Bulls as Haize and Pat break down whether the Bulls’ defense can save their shooting problem and what Tiago Splitter must build in year one.

Follow Locked On Bulls on Twitter

Locked On Bulls: https://twitter.com/LockedOnBulls

Haize: https://twitter.com/CEOHaize

Pat: https://twitter.com/PatTheDesigner

 

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Everydayer Club

If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub

 

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

Odoo

Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon.

 

FanDuel

Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. Join all the action at https://FANDUEL.COM to play Daily Dingers and make your free pick on who’s hitting a homer this MLB season.

 

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

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