Locked On Bulls - Daily Podcast On The Chicago Bulls

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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The Chicago Bulls’ young frontcourt is getting national attention, and Bulls fans may have a real reason to be excited. 👀🐂
On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer react to Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis both ranking inside HoopsHype’s top 20 power forwards for the 2026-27 NBA season, with Wilson listed at No. 15 and Buzelis at No. 20. That ranking creates a major question for Bulls fans: are Caleb and Matas already being viewed as the future foundation of Chicago basketball, or is the hype moving faster than the development curve?
The guys break down what the recognition means for both players. Caleb Wilson enters his rookie year with major expectations after being drafted No. 4, while Matas Buzelis is looking to build on his second-year leap and prove he can become one of the Bulls’ most important two-way players. If both forwards hit, Chicago’s rebuild could have a much stronger foundation than national rankings usually suggest.
Haize and Pat also discuss Jaylin Sellers explaining his NBA journey and why his story matters. Sellers signed a two-way contract with the Bulls after going undrafted, and his scoring ability, toughness, and confidence could make him one of the more interesting underdog stories entering training camp.
Plus, the guys lay out the best-case and worst-case scenarios for the Bulls’ 2026-27 season. What happens if Josh Giddey takes a leap, Matas becomes a true two-way force, Caleb contributes early, Nic Claxton anchors the defense, Norman Powell stabilizes the offense, and the bench finds real scoring? And on the other side, what happens if the shooting issues, half-court offense, rookie growing pains, and rotation questions hold this team back?
Topics Include:
Caleb Wilson ranked among HoopsHype’s top 20 power forwards
Matas Buzelis ranked among HoopsHype’s top 20 power forwards
Are Caleb and Matas the Bulls’ frontcourt foundation?
What Caleb Wilson can prove as a rookie
Matas Buzelis’ Year 3 expectations
Jaylin Sellers’ NBA journey
Can Sellers become a real Bulls impact player?
Best-case scenario for the Bulls season
Worst-case scenario for the Bulls season
Bulls 2026-27 expectations before training camp
The Bulls still have major questions, but the Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis hype is no longer just a local conversation. If those two become legitimate building blocks and Jaylin Sellers gives Chicago unexpected bench production, the Bulls’ best-case scenario becomes a lot more interesting.
🎙️ Tune in to Locked On Bulls as Haize and Pat break down Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis earning top-20 power forward recognition, Jaylin Sellers’ NBA journey, and the best and worst-case outcomes for the Bulls season.
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Taj Gibson is returning to the Chicago Bulls, and the move brings a familiar face back into the building as the franchise continues reshaping its culture under Tiago Splitter and Bryson Graham. 👀🐂
On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer react to Taj Gibson returning to the Bulls and what his presence could mean for the locker room, player development, toughness, accountability, and the young frontcourt. With players like Caleb Wilson, Matas Buzelis, Dailyn Swain, Noa Essengue, Patrick Williams, Jalen Smith, Zach Collins, and Nic Claxton, Chicago has a lot of young talent that could benefit from Taj’s experience and professionalism.
The guys also discuss their confidence level in Tiago Splitter’s first Bulls coaching staff. With a rebuilt roster and a new direction, Splitter’s staff will be responsible for building a real identity, developing young players, fixing offensive issues, and helping this team become more competitive. Is this staff ready to handle that challenge in year one?
Plus, Haize and Pat dive into the latest conversation around Jonathan Kuminga choosing Minnesota over the Bulls and whether Chicago’s refusal to offer him a guaranteed starting role played a major part in why he did not sign. Should the Bulls have promised Kuminga a starting spot to land another upside wing, or was Bryson Graham right to avoid giving away a role before training camp?
Topics Include:
Taj Gibson returning to the Chicago Bulls
What Taj brings to the Bulls’ locker room and young core
How Taj can help Caleb Wilson, Matas Buzelis, and the frontcourt
Confidence level in Tiago Splitter’s first coaching staff
Bulls player development under the new staff
Jonathan Kuminga choosing Minnesota over Chicago
Did the Bulls lose Kuminga over a starting role?
Should Chicago have guaranteed Kuminga a starting spot?
Bryson Graham’s offseason decision-making
Bulls culture, development, and rotation questions before training camp
The Bulls may not have landed Kuminga, but Taj Gibson’s return gives Chicago another respected voice as the new era begins. Now the question is whether Tiago Splitter’s staff can turn culture, development, and roster talent into real progress on the court.
🎙️ Tune in to Locked On Bulls as Haize and Pat break down Taj Gibson’s return, confidence in Tiago Splitter’s coaching staff, and whether the Bulls made the right call by not offering Jonathan Kuminga a starting role.
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Are the Chicago Bulls being overlooked in the Eastern Conference heading into the 2026-27 NBA season? 👀🐂
On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer break down whether the East is sleeping on the new-look Bulls. Chicago may not be getting much national respect, but with Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson, Norman Powell, Nic Claxton, Patrick Williams, Rob Dillingham, Tre Jones, Isaac Okoro, Jalen Smith, Zach Collins, Dailyn Swain, Noa Essengue, and Jaylin Sellers, the Bulls have more talent, athleticism, and intrigue than people may realize.
The guys debate whether Chicago has enough to climb into the Play-In conversation, especially in a deeper Eastern Conference. Are the Bulls still a bottom-tier team, or could improved defense, better transition play, and internal development help them shock people?
Haize and Pat also discuss how important the Bulls bench will be this season. The starting five will get most of the attention, but the second unit may decide whether this team can actually compete. Can Rob Dillingham provide scoring? Can Tre Jones stabilize the offense? Can Patrick Williams, Isaac Okoro, Jalen Smith, Zach Collins, Jaylin Sellers, Dailyn Swain, or Noa Essengue carve out meaningful roles?
Plus, the guys react to Caleb Wilson going back to UNC and dunking on a frat, adding even more fuel to the growing hype around the Bulls rookie. It may just be an offseason moment, but Wilson’s confidence, personality, and athleticism continue to make him one of the most exciting young players for Bulls fans to watch.
Topics Include:
Is the Eastern Conference overlooking the Bulls?
Can Chicago compete for a Play-In spot?
Why the Bulls may be better than national expectations
How important the Bulls bench will be in 2026-27
Which bench player matters most this season?
Rob Dillingham, Patrick Williams, Tre Jones, and Jaylin Sellers roles
Caleb Wilson returns to UNC
Caleb Wilson’s viral dunk moment
Bulls rookie hype before training camp
Tiago Splitter’s biggest rotation questions
The Bulls still have questions, but they also have a chance to be more competitive than people expect. If the bench becomes a real strength and Caleb Wilson’s confidence carries into training camp, Chicago could be one of the more interesting teams in the East.
🎙️ Tune in to Locked On Bulls as Haize and Pat break down whether the East is overlooking the Bulls, how important the bench will be this season, and Caleb Wilson’s latest viral offseason moment at UNC.
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Caleb Wilson continues to build momentum before his rookie season even begins, and now Bleacher Report has voted his work ethic No. 1. 👀🐂
On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer break down why the national media buzz around Caleb Wilson keeps growing and what that means for expectations entering the 2026-27 NBA season. Wilson has already become one of the most exciting pieces of the Chicago Bulls’ future, but does this latest recognition raise expectations too quickly? Or is this exactly the type of mentality the Bulls need from a young cornerstone?
The guys also discuss whether Bulls fans are overlooking Patrick Williams heading into the season. With so much attention on Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson, Nic Claxton, Norman Powell, Dailyn Swain, Noa Essengue, and Rob Dillingham, Patrick Williams may be flying under the radar. But could a new coaching staff, a different role, and lower expectations actually give P-Will one more chance to become a valuable part of the Bulls’ rotation?
Plus, Haize and Pat react to Bleacher Report’s top 10 NBA trade targets and ask whether the Bulls could realistically land one. Should Bryson Graham be aggressive if the right player becomes available? Or should Chicago stay patient, protect assets, and evaluate this rebuilt roster before making another major move?
Topics Include:
Caleb Wilson’s work ethic being voted No. 1 by Bleacher Report
Why Caleb Wilson’s rookie hype keeps rising
What realistic expectations should be for Wilson
Are Bulls fans overlooking Patrick Williams?
Patrick Williams’ role in 2026-27
Can P-Will still become a valuable Bulls piece?
Bleacher Report’s top 10 trade targets
Could the Bulls land a major trade target?
Should Bryson Graham stay patient or make a swing?
Bulls roster outlook before training camp
The Bulls have more young talent, more national intrigue, and more roster questions than they have had in years. Caleb Wilson’s work ethic could help set the tone for the future, Patrick Williams may still have something to prove, and the trade market could decide whether Chicago makes one more move before the season.
🎙️ Tune in to Locked On Bulls as Haize and Pat break down Caleb Wilson’s rising national hype, whether Patrick Williams is being overlooked, and if the Bulls could land one of Bleacher Report’s top trade targets.
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