Locked On Bulls - Daily Podcast On The Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls’ starting five is set to be one of the most important storylines of the 2026-27 NBA season — but what does each starter actually need to bring for this team to take a step forward? 👀🐂

 

On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer break down expectations for every projected Bulls starter: Josh Giddey, Norman Powell, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson, and Nic Claxton. Each player has a different job, and each one could define how competitive Chicago becomes under Tiago Splitter.

 

Can Josh Giddey control the offense, improve as a shooter, and prove he is a long-term core piece? Can Norman Powell give the Bulls the veteran scoring and floor spacing they desperately need? Is Matas Buzelis ready to take another leap as a two-way forward? What should Bulls fans realistically expect from Caleb Wilson as a rookie? And can Nic Claxton become the defensive anchor who changes Chicago’s identity?

 

Haize and Pat also debate the most impactful Chicago Bulls player since the Jimmy Butler era. Has anyone truly changed the direction of the franchise since Jimmy left? Is the answer Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, Alex Caruso, Nikola Vucevic, Coby White, Matas Buzelis, Josh Giddey — or someone else entirely?

 

Plus, the guys discuss how teams should manage and protect first-round picks in the modern NBA. With the new CBA making roster-building harder and draft capital more valuable, should the Bulls be more careful with future picks? When should a team protect picks, trade picks, or hold them for a major opportunity?

 

Topics Include:

Expectations for every Bulls starter in 2026-27

What Josh Giddey must bring as lead playmaker

Norman Powell’s role as veteran scorer and shooter

Matas Buzelis’ next step as a two-way forward

Caleb Wilson’s rookie-year responsibilities

Nic Claxton’s impact as Chicago’s defensive anchor

Most impactful Bull since Jimmy Butler

How the Bulls should value first-round picks

Modern NBA roster-building and draft protection

Tiago Splitter’s challenge with a rebuilt starting five

 

The Bulls have talent, but now every starter has to bring something specific to the table. If the starting five clicks, Chicago could be more competitive than expected. If it does not, the conversation shifts back to patience, development, and how Bryson Graham manages the future.

 

🎙️ Tune in to Locked On Bulls as Haize and Pat break down what each Bulls starter must bring this season, who has been the most impactful Bull since Jimmy Butler, and how Chicago should handle first-round picks in the modern NBA.

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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The Chicago Bulls rumor mill is heating back up, and Bennedict Mathurin is once again at the center of the conversation. 👀🐂

 

On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer react to Brett Siegel reporting that a possible sign-and-trade framework involving Bennedict Mathurin, Isaac Okoro, and second-round picks could be on the table. Would Mathurin be the kind of upside swing Bryson Graham should still be looking for? Or would moving Okoro and draft capital be too aggressive for a Bulls team still trying to evaluate its rebuilt roster?

 

The guys break down what Bennedict Mathurin could bring to Chicago, including scoring upside, athleticism, shot creation, rim pressure, and another young wing who fits the Bulls’ timeline with Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson, Dailyn Swain, and Noa Essengue. But they also discuss the concerns: defensive fit, offensive overlap, contract value, and whether Chicago should be careful about giving up assets before seeing this roster under Tiago Splitter.

 

Haize and Pat also react to The Athletic ranking the Bulls’ offseason 13th in the NBA. Is that a sign the national media is starting to respect what Bryson Graham has built? Or should Chicago’s offseason still be viewed with caution because of the remaining questions around shooting, depth, and star-level upside?

 

Plus, the guys discuss Nic Claxton arriving in Chicago ahead of training camp and why his presence matters. Claxton could be the defensive anchor this team has needed, giving the Bulls rim protection, switchability, rebounding, and a real identity in the frontcourt.

 

Topics Include:

Brett Siegel’s Bennedict Mathurin sign-and-trade report

Isaac Okoro and second-round picks as a possible framework

Should the Bulls pursue Mathurin?

What Mathurin would bring to Chicago’s young core

The Athletic ranking the Bulls offseason 13th

Did Bryson Graham have an underrated first offseason?

Nic Claxton arriving in Chicago before training camp

Claxton’s defensive impact on the Bulls

How Tiago Splitter can shape the new-look roster

Bulls trade rumors and offseason outlook

 

The Bulls have already made major changes, but the Mathurin rumor shows Chicago may not be completely done looking for upside. With Claxton in town, training camp approaching, and national outlets starting to recognize the Bulls’ offseason, the question now is simple: should Bryson Graham make one more big swing?

 

🎙️ Tune in to Locked On Bulls as Haize and Pat break down the Bennedict Mathurin sign-and-trade buzz, The Athletic’s offseason ranking, and what Nic Claxton’s arrival means for the Bulls ahead of training camp.

 

#ChicagoBulls #BullsNation #LockedOnBulls #BennedictMathurin #IsaacOkoro #NicClaxton #BrysonGraham #TiagoSplitter #JoshGiddey #MatasBuzelis #CalebWilson #NBA #NBARumors #SeeRed

 

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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

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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.

 

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Are the Chicago Bulls really a bottom three team in the NBA, or is the national conversation already underrating what this new-look roster can become? 👀🐂

 

On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer break down whether the Bulls deserve to be viewed near the bottom of the league after an offseason that added Caleb Wilson, Dailyn Swain, Nic Claxton, Norman Powell, and Zach Collins while keeping Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, Patrick Williams, Tre Jones, Isaac Okoro, Jalen Smith, Rob Dillingham, and others in the mix.

 

The guys discuss why some analysts may see Chicago as one of the NBA’s weakest teams, but also why the Bulls may have enough young talent, defensive upside, transition play, and veteran scoring to outperform those low expectations. Is this team still flawed? Absolutely. But is it clearly bottom three? That debate is wide open.

 

Haize and Pat also dive into Josh Giddey’s Most Improved Player case heading into the 2026-27 season. If Giddey takes another step as a scorer, shooter, lead playmaker, and offensive organizer under Tiago Splitter, could he become a serious MIP candidate? The Bulls’ ceiling may depend heavily on whether Giddey proves the front office was right to view him as part of the core.

 

Plus, the guys react to the idea that no more major moves are coming for the Bulls before the season. Is Bryson Graham being smart by staying patient and evaluating the roster first? Or should Bulls fans be frustrated that Chicago still has clear needs, especially when it comes to shooting, wing depth, and lineup balance?

 

Topics Include:

Are the Bulls a bottom three team in the NBA?

Why national expectations are so low for Chicago

Can the Bulls outperform their projections?

Josh Giddey’s 2026-27 Most Improved Player case

What Giddey must improve to enter the MIP conversation

How Tiago Splitter can unlock Giddey’s game

No more major Bulls moves expected

Did Bryson Graham do enough this offseason?

Bulls roster strengths and biggest concerns

Chicago’s path to being better than people think

 

The Bulls may not be viewed as a serious threat nationally, but this season could be about proving the league wrong. If Josh Giddey levels up, Matas Buzelis takes another step, Caleb Wilson contributes early, and the defense improves with Nic Claxton anchoring the middle, Chicago may be more competitive than the bottom-three label suggests.

 

🎙️ Tune in to Locked On Bulls as Haize and Pat break down whether the Bulls are truly one of the NBA’s worst teams, Josh Giddey’s Most Improved Player chances, and what it means if no more moves are coming before the season.

 

 

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

 

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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.

 

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The Chicago Bulls rumor mill is heating up again, and this time the focus is on Isaac Okoro, Jalen Smith, and the truth behind the Bennedict Mathurin buzz. 👀🐂

 

On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer break down whether Isaac Okoro can become Tiago Splitter’s defensive weapon during the 2026-27 NBA season. Okoro may not be the flashiest player on the roster, but his physicality, point-of-attack defense, toughness, and ability to guard multiple perimeter positions could make him one of the most important role players in Chicago’s rotation.

 

The guys discuss how Okoro fits next to Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson, Norman Powell, Nic Claxton, Patrick Williams, and the rest of the Bulls’ young core. Can Tiago use Okoro as a matchup piece against elite guards and wings? Or will the Bulls’ lack of shooting make it hard to keep him on the floor in key lineups?

 

Haize and Pat also dive into the latest trade buzz around Jalen Smith, with the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers reportedly interested. Should the Bulls consider moving Smith if the right offer comes along? Or does his size, rebounding, floor-spacing potential, and frontcourt depth make him too valuable to trade before the season starts?

 

Plus, the guys react to reports that the Bulls’ interest in Bennedict Mathurin may have been overstated. Was this a real pursuit, or just offseason smoke? And if Chicago is not seriously chasing Mathurin, what does that say about Bryson Graham’s approach to roster building?

 

Topics Include:

Can Isaac Okoro be Tiago Splitter’s defensive weapon?

How Okoro fits in the Bulls’ rotation

Bulls’ need for perimeter defense and toughness

Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers interest in Jalen Smith

Should Chicago trade Jalen Smith?

What Jalen Smith brings to the Bulls’ frontcourt

Bennedict Mathurin rumors reportedly overstated

Bulls trade rumor reality check

Bryson Graham’s roster-building approach

Chicago Bulls 2026-27 rotation questions

 

The Bulls still have roster questions to answer before the season, and every role matters. If Okoro can become a trusted defensive piece, Jalen Smith draws real trade value, and the Mathurin rumors fade, Chicago’s next move may say a lot about how Bryson Graham views this team.

 

🎙️ Tune in to Locked On Bulls as Haize and Pat break down Isaac Okoro’s defensive upside, the Jalen Smith trade interest from the Lakers and Wolves, and the latest update on Bennedict Mathurin’s connection to Chicago.

 

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!

Indeed

Listeners of this show get a $75 Sponsored Job Credit to help give your job the premium placement it deserves at http://Indeed.com/podcast

 

Cozy Earth

Head to https://cozyearth.com and use my code LOCKEDON for an exclusive 20%.

 

Betterhelp

This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Sign up and get 10% off at https://BetterHelp.com/LOCKEDONNBA.

 

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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Could the Chicago Bulls become an NBA playoff team sooner than anyone expects? The Bulls’ young core continues to develop, the Eastern Conference remains wide open, and Chicago may be closer to competing than its rebuilding timeline suggests.

 

On today’s Locked On Bulls, we examine what needs to happen for Chicago to make a legitimate playoff push, which young players could accelerate the rebuild, and whether the Bulls have enough talent to surprise the NBA this season. Is playoff basketball returning to Chicago sooner than we think?

 

Subscribe for daily Chicago Bulls news, analysis, trade rumors, player breakdowns, and more on Locked On Bulls.

 

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