Locked On Bulls - Daily Podcast On The Chicago Bulls

Chicago Bulls preseason basketball is finally here, and Tiago Splitter has already made it clear what he wants to see from Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson: stop reacting and start dictating games. 👀🐂
On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer preview Chicago’s first preseason action and break down Splitter’s challenge to the Bulls’ two young forwards.
Tiago is not judging Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson simply by how many points they score. He wants physicality, aggressive closeout attacks, rebounding, communication, one-on-one defense, and a mindset that forces opponents to react to them.
That creates a bigger question heading into preseason: are Matas and Caleb ready to become players who dictate NBA games instead of just flashing talent?
The guys discuss what aggression should actually look like for both players, how much freedom Caleb should get to play through mistakes, and whether Matas needs to become a more forceful offensive presence this season. They also look at how Chicago’s pressure defense and transition attack could benefit from both forwards rebounding and immediately pushing the pace.
Haize and Pat then dive into one of the most interesting developments created by Chicago’s frontcourt injuries: Noa Essengue potentially getting minutes at center.
With Nic Claxton sidelined and Zach Collins still working his way back, the Bulls could experiment with smaller lineups featuring Essengue or Caleb Wilson at the five. Could Noa’s mobility, length, transition ability, and switchability eventually make small-ball center his cleanest pathway to NBA minutes?
Or would asking him to learn another position this early complicate his development?
Plus, the guys react to CBS Sports ranking Tiago Splitter 21st among NBA head coaches entering the season.
Splitter has received plenty of praise from Bulls fans for his defensive philosophy, player development approach, pace, and the physical culture he is trying to build. But the national view remains more cautious.
Is No. 21 fair? And what would Tiago have to accomplish in Year 1 with Chicago to prove he belongs among the NBA’s top 15 coaches?
Topics Include:
- Tiago Splitter challenging Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson
- What it means to “dictate” an NBA game
- Caleb Wilson playing through rookie mistakes
- Matas Buzelis becoming a more aggressive scorer
- Bulls pressure defense and transition identity
- Noa Essengue getting small-ball center minutes
- Could Noa’s long-term role actually be at the five?
- Frontcourt opportunities with Nic Claxton out
- Bulls preseason opener expectations
- CBS Sports ranking Tiago Splitter No. 21
- Is Tiago Splitter being overrated or underrated?
- What success should look like for Tiago in Year 1
Training camp talk is over. Now Bulls fans finally get to see whether the physicality, defensive aggression, development, and new identity Tiago Splitter has preached actually show up against another NBA team.
🎙️ Tune in to Locked On Bulls as Haize and Pat break down Tiago’s challenge to Matas and Caleb, the Noa Essengue-at-center experiment, and whether Chicago’s new head coach deserves more respect than his No. 21 national ranking.
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The Chicago Bulls haven’t even played a preseason game yet, and Tiago Splitter’s plan is already being tested. 👀🐂
On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer react to the news that Nic Claxton tweaked his hamstring and will be re-evaluated in two weeks, effectively ruling him out for the preseason and putting his status for opening night into question.
That matters because Claxton was supposed to be the backbone of Tiago Splitter’s new defensive system. Chicago has spent training camp talking about pressuring higher, blowing up screens, switching aggressively, and trusting Claxton to clean up mistakes behind the play.
Now the Bulls have to prove that identity can survive without him.
Haize and Pat discuss whether Jalen Smith should step directly into the starting center role, whether Tobe Awaka could earn a bigger preseason opportunity, and whether Claxton’s injury proves exactly why Chicago should avoid trading Smith right now.
The guys also break down the Bulls signing Jordan Hawkins to their third and final two-way contract. Hawkins, the No. 14 pick in the 2023 NBA Draft, is still only 24 years old and gives Chicago another low-risk swing on shooting and upside.
Could Bryson Graham have found a former lottery talent for almost nothing? Hawkins’ career has not matched expectations yet, but his movement shooting and ability to play off creators like Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, and Caleb Wilson make him a very interesting fit.
And the Bulls kept their 15th standard roster spot open in the process.
Plus, Tiago Splitter reportedly said an eight-man rotation would be basically impossible if Chicago wants to play at the pace he envisions, suggesting the Bulls could use nine to 11 players regularly.
That sounds simple until you actually try to name the 11.
Topics Include:
- Nic Claxton’s hamstring injury
- Claxton out for the preseason
- Bulls defensive identity without Claxton
- Jalen Smith’s opportunity at starting center
- Does this kill Jalen Smith trade talks?
- Tobe Awaka’s chance to earn minutes
- Bulls sign Jordan Hawkins to final two-way contract
- Did Bryson Graham find a former lottery steal?
- Jordan Hawkins vs. Jaylin Sellers long-term
- Bulls keep the 15th roster spot open
- Tiago Splitter wants a 9-to-11-man rotation
- Who gets squeezed out of the Bulls rotation?
- Patrick Williams, Zach Collins, Noa Essengue, Dailyn Swain and Leonard Miller rotation battles
The Bulls entered camp with depth, flexibility, and a clear defensive vision. Now an early injury, a new developmental addition, and Tiago’s rotation philosophy are forcing Chicago to test all three before the season even begins.
🎙️ Tune in to Locked On Bulls as Haize and Pat break down Nic Claxton’s injury, the Jordan Hawkins signing, and who makes Tiago Splitter’s 11-man rotation.
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The NBA just changed the economics of tanking, and that could completely change how Bulls fans should judge Bryson Graham’s rebuild. 👀🐂
On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer break down the NBA’s new anti-tanking lottery system and why it may make Chicago’s offseason strategy look much smarter than it did under the old rules.
Beginning with the 2027 NBA Draft, the league’s new 3-2-1 lottery structure significantly reduces the reward for finishing at the very bottom of the standings. The three worst teams will have only a 5.4% chance at the No. 1 pick, while teams finishing fourth through 10th from the bottom will hold 8.1% odds.
That creates a completely different rebuilding environment.
The guys discuss whether the Bulls’ decision to add veterans like Norman Powell, Buddy Hield, and Nic Claxton while continuing to develop Caleb Wilson, Matas Buzelis, Dailyn Swain, Noa Essengue, and Josh Giddey actually fits the modern NBA better than intentionally bottoming out.
Haize and Pat also react to Wizards guard Bub Carrington publicly acknowledging that Washington held back while pursuing the No. 1 pick and AJ Dybantsa and what that says about the old tanking model compared to where the league is heading now.
The biggest question becomes simple: should the Bulls even care about being bad anymore?
If Chicago can develop Caleb and Matas in competitive games, stay out of the NBA’s bottom three, and still preserve lottery upside if they miss the postseason, then winning 30 to 35 games may be far more valuable than chasing 20 wins.
But there is another side.
What happens if the Bulls are actually good?
If Chicago is hovering around .500 near the trade deadline, should Bryson Graham keep veterans like Powell and Hield and let the team chase the postseason? Or should the front office still prioritize long-term assets and sell high?
Topics Include:
- NBA’s new anti-tanking lottery system
- How the 3-2-1 lottery structure changes rebuilding
- Why finishing bottom three may no longer make sense
- Are the Bulls rebuilding the right way?
- Bryson Graham’s offseason strategy
- Norman Powell, Buddy Hield, and Nic Claxton helping the young core
- Developing Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis in competitive games
- Wizards tanking comments from Bub Carrington
- Is the Play-In still bad for rebuilding teams?
- What should the Bulls do if they are around .500 at the trade deadline?
- Tanking vs. competitive development
The Bulls may not be trying to skip the rebuilding process. They may simply be adapting to a league where being terrible no longer gives you the best path to elite draft talent.
🎙️ Tune in to Locked On Bulls as Haize and Pat debate whether the NBA’s new lottery rules actually make Bryson Graham’s plan look smarter and whether Bulls fans need to rethink what a successful rebuild looks like.
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Nic Claxton believes his move to the Chicago Bulls can help turn his career around, and Tiago Splitter may already have a very different vision for how to use him. 👀🐂
On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer break down Claxton’s confidence entering the 2026-27 NBA season and why his role could become one of the biggest stories of Tiago Splitter’s first year in Chicago.
Claxton is expected to anchor the Bulls defense, but Splitter apparently wants more than traditional rim protection. The Bulls want to take advantage of Claxton’s mobility by allowing him to switch onto guards and defend farther away from the basket, potentially giving Chicago one of the more versatile defensive frontcourts in the Eastern Conference.
Haize and Pat discuss whether that approach can help Claxton rediscover the form that once made him one of the NBA’s more intriguing defensive centers. How aggressive should Chicago be with switching? Can Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson help cover the paint when Claxton gets pulled outside? And could Claxton become the key that allows Splitter to build the aggressive defensive identity he has been preaching throughout training camp?
The guys also discuss the changing conversation around Noa Essengue.
Splitter was demanding more force, aggression and consistency from Essengue during Summer League, but the tone surrounding the young forward has reportedly become much more positive during training camp. Is Noa beginning to show the growth Chicago hoped to see? Could he earn NBA minutes sooner than expected, or should the Bulls still prioritize G League development?
Plus, the Jalen Smith trade rumors are back, with the Los Angeles Lakers connected to the Bulls big man.
Would Chicago actually benefit from moving Smith? His shooting gives the Bulls something unique in the frontcourt, especially when playing next to non-shooters. But with Claxton, Zach Collins, Caleb Wilson, and other options competing for minutes, Smith could also become one of Chicago’s more realistic trade chips.
Topics Include:
- Nic Claxton confident he can revive his career with the Bulls
- How Tiago Splitter plans to use Claxton defensively
- Claxton potentially switching onto guards
- Bulls’ aggressive defensive philosophy
- How Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson fit around Claxton
- Tiago Splitter changing his tone on Noa Essengue
- Noa’s strong training camp
- Could Essengue earn NBA rotation minutes?
- Jalen Smith to Lakers trade rumors
- Should Chicago trade Jalen Smith?
- Bulls frontcourt rotation entering preseason
- Bryson Graham’s next roster decision
Training camp is already changing some of the assumptions Bulls fans carried into the season. Claxton may have a much larger defensive role than expected, Essengue may be further along than Summer League suggested, and Jalen Smith could suddenly become a player to watch on the trade market.
🎙️ Tune in to Locked On Bulls as Haize and Pat break down Nic Claxton’s comeback expectations, Tiago Splitter’s surprising defensive plan, Noa Essengue’s training-camp progress, and the latest Jalen Smith-Lakers trade conversation.
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On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer react to Splitter calling Isaac Okoro “probably our best perimeter defender” and making it clear that Okoro is going to play a lot of minutes during the 2026-27 NBA season.
That immediately creates a major rotation question: if Okoro is playing a lot, whose minutes are getting squeezed?
With Josh Giddey, Norman Powell, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson, and Nic Claxton expected to make up the starting five, Okoro could become one of Tiago’s most trusted bench pieces and potentially a late-game defensive closer. But what does that mean for Patrick Williams, Leonard Miller, Dailyn Swain, Noa Essengue, and the rest of Chicago’s crowded wing rotation?
Haize and Pat also dive into the bigger story emerging from training camp: is the Bulls culture actually changing under Tiago Splitter?
Matas Buzelis has described the first practices as some of the best training-camp experiences he has had, while Caleb Wilson has emphasized the physicality, players diving on the floor, and the competitive tone being established early.
Splitter is also preaching a more aggressive defensive philosophy — picking players up higher, attacking screens, dictating where opposing offenses go and using Nic Claxton’s rim protection behind them.
Is this simply normal training-camp optimism? Or are we finally seeing an actual identity being installed?
🎙️ Tune in to Locked On Bulls as Haize and Pat break down Isaac Okoro’s expanded role, whether Tiago Splitter is truly changing the Bulls culture, and why Chicago’s smartest final roster move may be no move at all.
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FanDuel
This season, FanDuel is making the excitement go beyond what happens on the field with the all-new FanDuel Rewards Club, featuring exclusive offers, surprises, and more. Every week, check the FanDuel app to see what’s waiting for you or visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started.
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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