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Tiago CHALLENGES Matas & Caleb! Noa At CENTER?! Bulls Preseason Gets REAL Tonight Oct 07, 2026

Show notes

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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Nic Claxton OUT 2 Weeks?! Bulls Defense Already Tested + Did Bryson STEAL Jordan Hawkins? Oct 07, 2026

Show notes

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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Did The NBA Just Make The Bulls’ Rebuild Look SMARTER?! 👀🐂 Oct 06, 2026

Show notes

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 Says He’ll TURN IT AROUND In Chicago! Tiago Wants Him Guarding GUARDS?! Oct 02, 2026

Show notes

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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Tiago Splitter Sends A MESSAGE: Isaac Okoro Will Play A LOT… So Who Loses Minutes? 👀🐂 Oct 01, 2026

Show notes

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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Were Bulls Fans WRONG About Dailyn Swain?! Caleb Wilson Guarding PGs Sep 30, 2026

Show notes

Chicago Bulls training camp is already forcing fans to reconsider some offseason assumptions — especially when it comes to Dailyn Swain and Caleb Wilson. 👀🐂
On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer break down the early buzz surrounding Dailyn Swain, who has reportedly looked dramatically different from the player Bulls fans saw during Summer League. After an uneven showing in Las Vegas, Swain is now getting praise for his aggression, paint attacks, defensive versatility, and willingness to take on difficult assignments.
So did Bulls fans judge him too quickly?
The guys discuss whether Swain can turn his defensive tools and growing confidence into a legitimate role in Tiago Splitter’s rotation, or whether spending significant time with the Windy City Bulls would still be the best path for his development.
Haize and Pat also dive into one of the most interesting developments from training camp: the Bulls challenging Caleb Wilson to defend on the perimeter — including potentially guarding point guards.
Could Wilson become Chicago’s defensive chess piece? His size, athleticism, length, and mobility already give him intriguing upside, but if he can legitimately switch onto guards, the Bulls could build extremely versatile defensive combinations around Wilson, Matas Buzelis, and Nic Claxton.
The guys debate what would matter more for Caleb’s rookie season: becoming a major scorer immediately or establishing himself as an elite multi-positional defender.
Plus, they revisit the Jalen Duren situation in Detroit and whether Bryson Graham should continue monitoring it. With Duren’s future creating uncertainty, should the Bulls stay ready if a young All-Star-caliber center eventually becomes available? Or does having Claxton already make a major investment in Duren unnecessary?
Topics Include:
- Dailyn Swain impressing at Bulls training camp
- Did fans overreact to Swain’s Summer League struggles?
- Swain’s path to real NBA rotation minutes
- Caleb Wilson guarding point guards?
- Caleb’s defensive versatility and ceiling
- Tiago Splitter’s defensive vision for Chicago
- Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson and Nic Claxton together defensively
- Jalen Duren’s situation with Detroit
- Should the Bulls monitor Duren long-term?
- Claxton vs. Duren as potential long-term center options
- Bulls training camp storylines
Training camp is only beginning, but the Bulls are already showing signs that development, versatility, and defense could become major parts of their new identity under Tiago Splitter.
🎙️ Tune in to Locked On Bulls as Haize and Pat break down Dailyn Swain’s early redemption story, Caleb Wilson’s surprising defensive role, and whether the Bulls should keep watching Jalen Duren’s situation in Detroit.

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Tiago Splitter Is Giving The Young Bulls MORE Freedom… Who Thrives & Who Gets Pushed Out? Sep 29, 2026

Show notes

Tiago Splitter’s media day comments may have revealed one of the biggest changes coming to the Chicago Bulls: more freedom for the young players. 👀🐂
On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer break down what that could mean for a roster built around youth, development, and competition heading into the 2026-27 NBA season.
If Splitter truly plans to give players like Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson, Dailyn Swain, Noa Essengue, Rob Dillingham, Jaylin Sellers, and the rest of Chicago’s young core more room to play through mistakes, create offense, and grow on the floor, the Bulls could look very different from what fans have seen in recent seasons.
The guys discuss which young Bulls could benefit most from that freedom — and which players may actually take a major leap under Tiago’s system.
But more opportunity for the young guys means somebody else could lose minutes.
Haize and Pat also look at the veterans and players on expiring contracts who could fall out of the rotation or become trade candidates if Chicago decides to fully prioritize its future. Training camp and the first part of the season could quickly establish a hierarchy, and veterans who do not fit the new direction may become movable pieces.
That leads to the biggest question of the episode: who thrives under Tiago Splitter?
Could Matas Buzelis become the biggest beneficiary of more offensive freedom? Can Rob Dillingham turn creativity into real rotation minutes? Does Caleb Wilson immediately earn trust? Could Patrick Williams find new life in a different system? Or will a veteran surprise everyone by becoming indispensable?
Topics Include:
- Tiago Splitter’s media day comments
- Young Bulls expected to have more freedom
- How player development could change under Tiago
- Matas Buzelis’ opportunity to take another leap
- Caleb Wilson’s role as a rookie
- Rob Dillingham’s path to consistent minutes
- Dailyn Swain and Noa Essengue development
- Which Bulls veterans could lose rotation spots
- Expiring contracts that could become trade candidates
- Who fits best in Tiago Splitter’s system
- Bulls training camp rotation battles
- Chicago’s youth movement becoming real
The Bulls are entering a season where development and competition may finally go hand in hand. If Tiago Splitter truly empowers the young core, some players could take off — while others may find themselves squeezed out faster than expected.
🎙️ Tune in to Locked On Bulls as Haize and Pat break down Tiago Splitter’s new approach, which young players could thrive, and which veterans may be fighting to stay in the rotation.
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Chicago Bulls Media Day 2026 Reaction: What’s the Plan for This Team? Sep 29, 2026

Show notes

Chicago Bulls Media Day 2026 is here, and we’re breaking down what it tells us about the 2026–27 season. What is the plan for this team under new head coach Tiago Splitter and basketball operations leader Bryson Graham? We react to the biggest takeaways from Media Day, the expectations heading into training camp, and the questions Bulls fans still need answered.

How big a role will rookie Caleb Wilson play right away? What does the next step look like for Matas Buzelis? We’ll also discuss Josh Giddey, how Norman Powell and Nic Claxton fit with this roster, and what the Bulls’ starting lineup and identity could look like.

This is our full Chicago Bulls Media Day reaction and early look at the season ahead. Drop your biggest takeaway in the comments: What did you hear today that made you more excited—or more concerned—about the Bulls?

Subscribe for Chicago Bulls news, reactions, and discussion throughout the season.

#ChicagoBulls #Bulls #nba

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BULLS TRADE FOR BUDDY HIELD! Chicago FINALLY Adds The Shooting It Needed Sep 26, 2026

Show notes

The Chicago Bulls finally addressed one of the biggest concerns on the roster by adding veteran sharpshooter Buddy Hield in a trade. 🔥🐂
On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer break down what the Buddy Hield move means for Chicago heading into the 2026-27 NBA season.
The Bulls have spent the offseason surrounded by questions about three-point shooting, half-court spacing, and bench scoring, and Hield directly attacks all three concerns. His ability to stretch defenses, move without the ball, and punish teams from deep could dramatically change how Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson, Nic Claxton, Norman Powell, and the rest of Tiago Splitter’s rotation operate offensively.
Haize and Pat discuss where Hield fits in the rotation and whether he should come off the bench as Chicago’s primary shooting weapon or potentially close games when the Bulls desperately need spacing.
The guys also break down the trade mechanics provided in the deal. Charlotte creates a $9.4 million trade exception and takes in roughly $3 million less in salary, while Chicago receives cash to help offset a significant portion of the salary difference. From the Bulls’ perspective, the bigger story is simple: Bryson Graham found a way to add an established NBA shooter without abandoning the larger roster-building plan.
The move also creates immediate rotation questions. What does Hield’s arrival mean for Rob Dillingham, Tre Jones, Isaac Okoro, Patrick Williams, Jaylin Sellers, and Chicago’s other bench options? And could adding a legitimate movement shooter make Tiago Splitter’s half-court offense significantly easier to build?
Topics Include:
- Bulls trade for Buddy Hield
- Why Chicago desperately needed more three-point shooting
- How Hield fits next to Josh Giddey
- Buddy Hield’s role in Tiago Splitter’s offense
- Bulls bench scoring after the trade
- Who could lose rotation minutes?
- How the trade impacts Rob Dillingham and other guards
- Charlotte creating a $9.4 million trade exception
- Chicago receiving cash in the transaction
- Did Bryson Graham finally solve the Bulls’ biggest weakness?
- How much the move changes Bulls expectations for 2026-27
The Bulls did not need another developmental shooter — they needed someone defenses already respect. Buddy Hield provides exactly that, and now Chicago’s spacing conversation looks completely different heading into the season.
🎙️ Tune in to Locked On Bulls as Haize and Pat break down the Buddy Hield trade, how

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Bulls Announce NEW Broadcast Team! Plus Top 10 PGs Ever & Lonzo Retirement Fakeout 👀🐂 Sep 25, 2026

Show notes

The Chicago Bulls are entering a new era in the broadcast booth, and that gives Haize and Pat The Designer plenty to talk about on today’s episode of Locked On Bulls. 👀🐂

First, the guys react to the Bulls announcing their new broadcast team and discuss what the change could mean for the viewing experience moving forward. Chicago fans have had strong connections to the voices calling Bulls games over the years, so any shift in the booth is going to create opinions. What should fans want from the new crew: more analysis, more energy, more personality, or simply chemistry that feels authentic?

Then Haize and Pat go historical with a fun debate: who are the top 10 point guards in Chicago Bulls history? From Derrick Rose to Kirk Hinrich, Ron Harper, B.J. Armstrong, and other notable names, the guys compare impact, production, playoff moments, longevity, leadership, and what each player meant to the franchise.

And yes — the list is absolutely going to create arguments.

Plus, the guys react to Lonzo Ball pump-faking retirement and briefly sending NBA and Bulls fans into panic mode. Lonzo’s Chicago tenure remains one of the biggest “what if” stories in recent Bulls history, and his latest moment gives the guys a chance to revisit his complicated relationship with Bulls fans and how differently things might have gone if injuries had not changed the trajectory.

Topics Include:
Bulls announce a new broadcast team
Reaction to the new voices covering Chicago basketball
What makes a great Bulls broadcast team?
Ranking the top 10 point guards in Bulls history
Derrick Rose’s place in franchise history
Kirk Hinrich, Ron Harper, B.J. Armstrong and more
Most underrated Bulls point guards
Lonzo Ball’s retirement pump-fake
Lonzo’s Bulls legacy and the ultimate “what if?”
Bulls history debates ahead of the 2026-27 season

🎙️ Tune in to Locked On Bulls as Haize and Pat react to Chicago’s new broadcast team, debate the top 10 point guards in Bulls history, and talk about Lonzo Ball briefly making everyone think retirement was coming.

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