Locked On Bulls - Daily Podcast On The Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls are getting more national recognition, with four players landing in ESPN’s Top 100 — but does that mean this roster is better than people are giving it credit for? 👀🐂
On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer react to four Chicago Bulls players making ESPN’s Top 100 rankings and what that says about the overall talent level of the roster heading into the 2026-27 NBA season.
With names like Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, Norman Powell, Nic Claxton, Caleb Wilson, and others shaping Chicago’s new era, the guys discuss whether the Bulls are starting to get more respect nationally — or if the rankings still undersell what this team could become under Tiago Splitter.
Haize and Pat also look ahead to next summer and discuss Brandin Podziemski as a potential Bulls restricted free agent target. Would his shooting, rebounding, competitiveness, secondary playmaking, and guard versatility fit what Chicago is building? And if the Bulls still need more backcourt creation and perimeter shooting next offseason, could Podziemski become one of Bryson Graham’s most interesting targets?
Plus, the guys react to the Bulls landing Drew Peterson in a trade and break down what the move could mean for Chicago’s depth. Is Peterson simply another developmental piece, or could his size, shooting, and versatility give him a real chance to compete for a role?
Topics Include:
Four Bulls landing in ESPN’s Top 100
Is Chicago’s roster being underrated?
Which Bulls players deserve more national respect?
Brandin Podziemski as a 2027 RFA option
How Podziemski could fit Chicago’s roster
Bulls’ long-term need for shooting and guard creation
Bulls trade for Drew Peterson
What Peterson could bring to Chicago
Bryson Graham continuing to reshape the roster
Bulls 2026-27 roster and future outlook
The Bulls are still building, but national recognition, future free-agent possibilities, and another depth move show that Chicago’s roster conversation is continuing to evolve. The biggest question now is whether all of these pieces can translate into more wins once the season begins.
🎙️ Tune in to Locked On Bulls as Haize and Pat break down ESPN’s Top 100 rankings, Brandin Podziemski as a future RFA target, and the Bulls’ trade for Drew Peterson.
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The Chicago Bulls’ starting lineup may look fairly clear, but who actually finishes games when the score gets tight? 👀🐂
On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer predict Tiago Splitter’s closing rotation for the 2026-27 NBA season. The projected starters — Josh Giddey, Norman Powell, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson, and Nic Claxton — give Chicago size, athleticism, scoring and defense, but the best five players to start a game may not always be the best five to finish one.
The guys break down different late-game situations. Does Nic Claxton stay on the floor when Chicago desperately needs shooting? Could Jalen Smith close because of his ability to stretch the floor? Does Isaac Okoro enter when the Bulls need one stop? Could Rob Dillingham become the offensive wildcard when the half-court offense stalls? And will rookie Caleb Wilson earn immediate closing minutes?
Haize and Pat also discuss whether the Bulls should be closely monitoring the Jalen Duren situation with the Detroit Pistons. Duren's combination of youth, athleticism, rebounding and interior scoring makes him an intriguing player to watch if his long-term future in Detroit ever becomes uncertain. The question for Chicago is whether a player like Duren would be worth pursuing given the Bulls' existing investment in Claxton and their developing frontcourt.
Plus, the guys reveal their Bulls All Short-Leash Team, featuring Rob Dillingham, Patrick Williams and Noa Essengue. All three have talent, but each enters the season with something major to prove.
Can Dillingham show enough defensively to earn consistent minutes? Can Patrick Williams finally deliver the aggression and consistency Bulls fans have waited years to see? And can Essengue prove he's ready for NBA minutes instead of spending most of the year developing in the G League?
Topics Include:
Predicting the Bulls' 2026-27 closing five
Who Tiago Splitter should trust late in games
Offensive vs. defensive closing lineups
Caleb Wilson's chances of closing games as a rookie
Rob Dillingham's potential late-game role
Should the Bulls monitor Jalen Duren?
How Duren would fit Chicago's young core
Bulls All Short-Leash Team
Patrick Williams' pressure entering the season
Noa Essengue's development timeline
Bulls training camp rotation battles
The Bulls suddenly have enough depth that Tiago Splitter will have real choices to make. That's a good problem — but it also means players who struggle early may quickly find themselves outside the rotation.
🎙️ Tune in to Locked On Bulls as Haize and Pat predict Chicago's closing lineup, discuss why Jalen Duren should remain on the Bulls' radar, and reveal which players enter the season on the shortest leash.
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The Chicago Bulls are getting closer to real basketball, and three major storylines could shape the 2026-27 season: the Josh Giddey–Nic Claxton partnership, Matas Buzelis’ future contract, and preseason finally being just a little over two weeks away. 👀🐂
On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer break down just how important the Josh Giddey and Nic Claxton duo could be for Chicago this season. Giddey’s passing, rebounding, pace, and ability to create advantages could pair perfectly with Claxton’s rim running, screening, athleticism, lob threat, and defensive impact.
The question is whether that chemistry can become one of the foundations of Tiago Splitter’s offense.
Can Giddey consistently create easy looks for Claxton in pick-and-roll situations? Can Claxton help Giddey by giving him a reliable vertical target? And can their connection help Chicago create easier offense when the half-court spacing gets tight?
Haize and Pat also dive into Matas Buzelis’ eventual contract extension and what his next deal could look like if his development continues. With Matas entering a critical season for his long-term trajectory, the guys discuss what kind of production, efficiency, defensive growth, and overall impact could determine how much Chicago may ultimately have to invest in him.
Plus, Bulls preseason basketball is now a little over two weeks away, which means fans are finally getting close to seeing this new-look roster on the floor. What should Bulls fans be watching first? How will Tiago Splitter handle the rotation? Who wins the final bench spots? How do Giddey, Claxton, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson, Norman Powell, and the rest of the roster fit together in actual game action?
Topics Include:
How important the Josh Giddey and Nic Claxton duo will be
Giddey–Claxton pick-and-roll chemistry
Can Claxton help unlock Chicago’s half-court offense?
Predicting Matas Buzelis’ future Bulls extension
What Matas needs to prove before his next contract
How high Buzelis’ value could climb
Bulls preseason just over two weeks away
Biggest preseason questions for Tiago Splitter
Rotation battles to watch
Bulls 2026-27 season expectations
The Bulls have plenty of young talent, but chemistry will determine how quickly it all comes together. If Giddey and Claxton become a real two-man weapon and Matas takes another major step, Chicago’s long-term picture starts looking a lot more interesting.
🎙️ Tune in to Locked On Bulls as Haize and Pat break down the importance of Josh Giddey and Nic Claxton, predict Matas Buzelis’ next contract, and look ahead to Bulls preseason basketball.
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The Chicago Bulls have some important roster decisions coming before the October 31 contract-option deadline — and Rob Dillingham and Noa Essengue are right in the middle of them. 👀🐂
On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer break down what Chicago should do with Rob Dillingham’s fourth-year option and Noa Essengue’s third-year option. Both players still have upside, but both also have questions surrounding role, development, consistency, and how they fit into Bryson Graham and Tiago Splitter’s long-term vision.
The guys debate whether Dillingham has shown enough scoring ability and offensive upside to justify another year of investment, and whether Essengue’s tools, size, defense, and long-term ceiling are enough for Chicago to stay patient despite a potentially longer developmental timeline.
Then the conversation shifts to a fun roster-building exercise: which Bulls would be protected in an NBA expansion draft? If Chicago had to choose its core, who would make the cut?
Would Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson, Nic Claxton, Norman Powell, Dailyn Swain, Rob Dillingham, Noa Essengue, Patrick Williams, Isaac Okoro, and others all be safe? Or would an expansion draft expose just how complicated some of the Bulls’ roster decisions really are?
Plus, Haize and Pat celebrate Phil Jackson’s 81st birthday and reflect on his place in Bulls history. Six championships, two three-peats, Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and one of the greatest dynasties the NBA has ever seen — how much credit should Jackson receive for turning elite talent into a historic team?
Topics Include:
Rob Dillingham’s fourth-year contract option
Noa Essengue’s third-year contract option
Bulls’ October 31 deadline decisions
What Dillingham must prove before the deadline
Whether Chicago should stay patient with Essengue
Which Bulls would be protected in an expansion draft
Who Chicago could afford to expose
Bulls core hierarchy entering 2026-27
Phil Jackson’s 81st birthday
Phil Jackson’s legacy with the Chicago Bulls
The Bulls are still figuring out which young players truly belong in the long-term plan, and the upcoming option deadline is another important checkpoint. Add in the expansion draft exercise, and it becomes clear which players Chicago really views as foundational.
🎙️ Tune in to Locked On Bulls as Haize and Pat break down the futures of Rob Dillingham and Noa Essengue, build their Bulls expansion-draft protection lists, and celebrate Phil Jackson’s 81st birthday.
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The Chicago Bulls have committed heavily to youth — but ESPN still ranks their long-term future near the bottom of the NBA. So which view of this franchise is closer to reality? 👀🐂
On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer break down Chicago entering the 2026-27 season with the 7th-youngest roster in the NBA and the league’s 3rd-youngest coaching staff. The Bulls are not simply developing young players anymore; they are putting a young roster in the hands of a young coaching group led by Tiago Splitter.
That creates an interesting question: is all this youth an advantage, or could it create growing pains on both sides?
With Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson, Dailyn Swain, Noa Essengue, Rob Dillingham, Jaylin Sellers, Leonard Miller, and other developmental pieces in the organization, Chicago has plenty of upside. But the challenge for Splitter and his staff will be turning potential into actual NBA production while still trying to establish a winning culture.
Haize and Pat also react to ESPN ranking the Bulls 27th in its NBA Future Power Rankings. How can a franchise with multiple young prospects, improved roster flexibility, and a completely revamped basketball operation still grade so poorly for the future? Are there legitimate concerns about star power, draft assets, and proven talent — or is Chicago’s young core being underrated?
Plus, the guys discuss Caleb Wilson working out with LeBron James ahead of his rookie season. Wilson has already received plenty of national attention, but getting offseason work alongside one of basketball’s most accomplished players creates another fascinating development opportunity. What can Caleb take from LeBron when it comes to preparation, physicality, decision-making, and approaching the game professionally?
Topics Include:
Bulls have the NBA’s 7th-youngest roster
Chicago has the 3rd-youngest coaching staff
Tiago Splitter’s challenge developing a young roster
ESPN ranks the Bulls 27th in Future Power Rankings
Is Chicago’s future really among the NBA’s worst?
Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson as core pieces
Bulls’ biggest long-term strengths and weaknesses
Caleb Wilson working out with LeBron James
What Wilson can learn from a future Hall of Famer
Bulls development expectations entering 2026-27
The Bulls have made youth and development central to their new direction. Now they have to prove that having young talent is different from having good young talent — and that Tiago Splitter’s staff can turn those prospects into the foundation of the next competitive Bulls team.
🎙️ Tune in to Locked On Bulls as Haize and Pat debate Chicago’s youth movement, ESPN ranking the Bulls’ future 27th, and what Caleb Wilson can gain from working with LeBron James.
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