Locked On Bulls - Daily Podcast On The Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls just received devastating injury news: rookie Caleb Wilson has fractured his right hand, is undergoing surgery, and is expected to miss four to six weeks. 🚨🐂**

On this emergency episode of **Locked On Bulls**, Haize and Pat The Designer react to the injury, what it means for Caleb’s outstanding rookie season, and how Chicago adjusts without one of its most important young players.

The guys discuss who should replace Wilson in the starting lineup, whether **Matas Buzelis** now takes on a larger offensive role, and which players could see increased minutes while Caleb re...

Jalen Smith, Mataz Buzelis & Caleb Wilson were on fire to start the game for the Chicago Bulls but then turnovers, 2nd chance points and the greatness of Victor Wembanyama were to much to overcome as the Bulls lose to the Spurs.
 

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**Billy Donovan is back in Chicago, and his return forces Bulls fans to revisit an uncomfortable question: was he ever really the biggest problem? 👀🐂**

On today’s **Locked On Bulls**, Haize and Pat react to Donovan returning to the United Center as a member of San Antonio’s coaching staff. The Spurs are 9-2 while Chicago is 1-8, raising questions about roster construction, front-office decisions and whether Tiago Splitter is being asked to solve many of the same problems Donovan faced.

The guys also break down Splitter saying Chicago needs to spread the floor and hit threes...

**Tiago Splitter just made a major Bulls rotation shakeup, and Buddy Hield and Leonard Miller were the ones left out. 👀🐂**

On today’s **Locked On Bulls**, Haize and Pat debate whether Chicago already has reason to question the **Rob Dillingham-for-Buddy Hield trade** after Hield received a DNP, while Jordan Hawkins and Patrick Williams earned meaningful minutes.

The guys also break down the NBA’s new **3-2-1 Draft Lottery**, where the league’s three worst teams will have only a **5.4% chance at the No. 1 pick**, while teams finishing fourth through 10th among those missing the Play-In get...

**Are the Chicago Bulls actually better offensively when Norman Powell isn’t dominating scoring opportunities? 👀🐂**

On today’s **Locked On Bulls**, Haize and Pat react to **Josh Giddey exploding for 19 points, 15 assists and seven rebounds**, while Matas Buzelis added 19 points on just 10 shots. With Norman Powell out, Chicago produced one of its best offensive performances of the season with 121 points, 30 assists and 52.3% shooting.

The guys debate whether Giddey should remain the clear offensive organizer, if Matas benefits from more touches without Powell, and whether Chicago’s hierarchy needs to change.

They also break down **Nic C...

**The Golden State Warriors have reportedly contacted the Chicago Bulls about Jalen Smith. Is it time for Bryson Graham to sell high? 👀🐂**

On today’s **Locked On Bulls**, Haize and Pat The Designer react to reported Warriors interest in Smith, who has averaged **12.1 points and 8.6 rebounds** while filling in for Nic Claxton. Would a protected first-round pick be enough to move one of Chicago’s most dependable players, or should the Bulls keep developing his value?

Then the guys tackle Chicago’s disastrous loss to New York. The Knicks scored **84 points in the first half**, led by Jalen...

**Are the Chicago Bulls already considering moving Norman Powell just months after signing him? 👀🐂**

On today’s **Locked On Bulls**, Haize and Pat The Designer react to reports that Chicago is willing to field trade offers for Powell, who is averaging **20.3 points per game** through seven games. The guys debate whether Bryson Graham always viewed the veteran scorer as a temporary asset, what a fair trade return would look like, and whether moving Powell would actually help or hurt **Matas Buzelis’ development**.

They also break down **Nic Claxton being upgraded to questionable** after missing the start of t...

**Matas Buzelis is struggling, Tiago Splitter is already making tough rotation decisions, and Caleb Wilson may be carrying more responsibility than any rookie should. 👀🐂**

On today’s **Locked On Bulls**, Haize and Pat The Designer react to Matas finishing with just **four points, five turnovers and only five shot attempts** against Philadelphia. Buzelis admitted he did not bring enough, while Splitter pointed to his tendency to attack crowded areas instead of making quicker decisions.

Is Matas losing confidence, or does Chicago simply need to simplify his offensive role and let him rebuild his rhythm?

The gu...

Could Anthony Black or Dereck Lively II become Bryson Graham’s next major addition to the Chicago Bulls rebuild? 👀🐂

On today’s **Locked On Bulls**, Haize and Pat The Designer break down potential 2027 restricted free-agent targets **Anthony Black, Dereck Lively II and Jaime Jaquez Jr.** and debate which young player would fit best alongside Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson and the rest of Chicago’s core.

The guys also react to **Caleb Wilson’s latest comments about becoming a better passer and leader**. Wilson understands defenses are already adjusting to him, and his decision-making has improved dramatically s...

Caleb Wilson set a career high in 3s for in his rookie season for the Chicago Bulls, but some sloppy play in the 1st quarter let the game slip away early and lead to an easy Boston Celtics team. Tiago Splitters team did play much better in the 2nd half but it was tough in the 1st half.
 

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**Could injuries to the Oklahoma City Thunder create a major trade opportunity for the Chicago Bulls? 👀🐂**

On today’s **Locked On Bulls**, Haize and Pat The Designer discuss whether **Isaac Okoro** could suddenly become more valuable to a contender than he is to Chicago. Oklahoma City has lost Jalen Williams and Cason Wallace to major injuries, and outside analysis has identified the Bulls as a possible trade partner because of players like Okoro and Norman Powell.

The guys debate what Bryson Graham should demand if OKC came calling. Would a protected first-round pick and young player b...

**The Chicago Bulls finally found their offense — and somehow still walked away with a loss. 😳🐂**

On today’s **Locked On Bulls**, Haize and Pat break down Chicago blowing a **19-point lead** against the Knicks despite scoring 127 points, hitting 18 threes and recording 32 assists. Is shooting still the Bulls’ biggest problem, or have defense, rebounding and late-game execution become the real concerns?

The guys also discuss the best performance yet from the **Caleb Wilson–Matas Buzelis pairing**. The young forwards combined for **37 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists**, while each knocked down three three-pointers. Are Bulls fans finally seeing what Ch...

Norman Powell dropped 30, Caleb Wilson made plenty of impressive plays again and we saw a wrinkle and big coaching decision by Tiago Splitter in the Chicago Bulls 133-127 loss to the New York Knicks.
 

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**The Chicago Bulls have now suffered back-to-back third-quarter collapses, and the conversation is shifting from young-team growing pains to whether Tiago Splitter is getting out-adjusted after halftime. 👀🐂**

On today’s episode of **Locked On Bulls**, Haize and Pat The Designer break down Chicago’s latest ugly loss to Boston and a troubling trend that has developed over the past two games.

The Bulls were competitive for stretches against the Celtics, cutting a 16-point deficit down to four and staying within seven early in the third quarter.

Then everything fell apart.

Boston outscored...

**The Chicago Bulls cannot buy a three-pointer right now, but Tiago Splitter is not backing away from his offensive philosophy. 👀🐂**

On today’s episode of **Locked On Bulls**, Haize and Pat The Designer break down one of the biggest early-season debates surrounding Chicago: should the Bulls keep firing from three even when the shots are not falling?

Through three games, Chicago has shot **4-for-36 against Toronto, 12-for-45 against Milwaukee and 12-for-43 against Washington** from beyond the arc. Despite those struggles, Splitter continues encouraging his players to take open threes and develop the shooting necessary to punish d...

The Chicago Bulls open the 2026–27 NBA season with a 135–92 loss to the Toronto Raptors. Locked On Bulls breaks down the opener, the early lessons, and where Chicago can improve as the season gets underway.

We discuss Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson, and the Bulls’ young core, plus the offensive execution, defensive adjustments, and developing chemistry to watch moving forward.

It’s one game in an 82-game season, but there’s still plenty to learn. What can Chicago take from this matchup, and what adjustments would you like to see next game?

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Caleb Wilson had a couple positive moments but overall, it was a struggle for the Chicago Bulls in their loss to the Toronto Raptors. Matas Buzelis & Josh Giddey were non-factors, and the Bulls couldn't buy a bucket, start the season 0-1.
 

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The Chicago Bulls just made two important long-term decisions — and the next ones could shape the entire rebuild. 👀🐂

On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer react to Chicago officially exercising the 2027-28 team options on Matas Buzelis and Noa Essengue, locking both young forwards in for another season. Matas is now set to make $7.58 million in 2027-28 and becomes extension-eligible next summer, while Noa remains under team control as Chicago continues evaluating his development.    Pasted text

The bigger question is what comes next.

Matas averaged 16.3 points, 5.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and...

The Chicago Bulls are getting one big man back just as another remains sidelined. 👀🐂

On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer react to Zach Collins being fully cleared for practice and potentially being available for the season opener. With Nic Claxton expected to miss another two weeks, Collins’ return could become much more important than anyone expected heading into the first week of the 2026-27 NBA season.

The guys break down what Collins can bring immediately, how Tiago Splitter should manage the center rotation, and whether Collins or Jalen Smith shou...

Who are the BEST and WORST teams in the NBA heading into the 2026-27 season? With opening night just around the corner, Locked On NBA Daily reveals its official 30-team NBA Power Rankings, organized into S-through-F tiers! Wes Goldberg, Matt Moore and Haize unveil rankings voted on by hosts from all 30 Locked On NBA team podcasts, debating the biggest surprises, overrated contenders and underrated playoff hopefuls. The Oklahoma City Thunder, San Antonio Spurs and defending champion New York Knicks headline the exclusive S Tier. But do Victor Wembanyama's Spurs belong alongside the NBA's elite? Meanwhile, the Denver Nuggets, Los...

The Chicago Bulls may not be done reshaping the roster, and Dalton Knecht is now a name to watch. 👀🐂

On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer react to reporting that the Los Angeles Lakers contacted Chicago about Dalton Knecht, with the Bulls mentioned alongside Milwaukee and Utah as teams the Lakers reached out to while trying to trim their roster. Knecht was the No. 17 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, but his value has fallen after an uneven start to his career.    Pasted text

The guys debate whether Bryson Graham should tak...

Did the Chicago Bulls quietly win the Ayo Dosunmu trade? And is national media seriously underrating Josh Giddey?

On today’s episode of **Locked On Bulls**, Haize and Pat The Designer revisit one of the most important moves of the Bryson Graham era: **Chicago’s trade of Ayo Dosunmu and Julian Phillips to Minnesota**.

The Bulls received **Leonard Miller, Rob Dillingham and four second-round picks**, then later turned Dillingham into **Buddy Hield**. Meanwhile, Miller has emerged as one of Chicago’s most intriguing young players. Pasted text

Ayo remains a proven NBA contributor and si...

The Chicago Bulls’ preseason just created a fascinating new rotation debate: did undrafted rookie Jaylin Sellers already move ahead of first-round pick Dailyn Swain? 👀🐂
On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer react to Sellers making his preseason debut and immediately receiving meaningful first-quarter minutes from Tiago Splitter. Sellers responded with 10 points on 4-for-6 shooting, two made threes and two steals in just under 15 minutes, while Swain played a little over 10 minutes and did not enter until much later in the game.    Pasted text
That raises a bigger question about the new Bulls regime...

The Chicago Bulls are one week away from opening night, and three major questions are starting to take shape around the future of this roster. 👀🐂
On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer start with the biggest long-term debate surrounding Chicago’s young core: who eventually becomes the Bulls’ No. 1 player, Caleb Wilson or Matas Buzelis?
Both forwards have the size, athleticism and two-way upside to become foundational pieces, but they may develop into very different types of stars.

Does Caleb Wilson’s explosiveness, physical tools and growing creation ability give him the h...

The Chicago Bulls may have a bigger advantage than anyone expected heading into the 2026-27 NBA season: depth. 👀🐂
On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer break down whether the Bulls’ bench could become one of the strongest parts of Tiago Splitter’s roster after Chicago’s reserves outscored Denver’s bench 75-56.
Leonard Miller scored 26 points, Buddy Hield added 15, Tre Jones returned to the rotation, and players like Noa Essengue and Jordan Hawkins continued getting developmental minutes.
The question is no longer simply whether Miller deserves a bigger role.
It is whether Ch...

Caleb Wilson vs. Cameron Boozer is back, and this time the matchup could give Bulls fans an early look at two of the biggest Rookie of the Year contenders in the 2026 NBA Draft class. 👀🐂
On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer preview Chicago’s next preseason matchup and break down the growing comparison between Caleb Wilson and Cameron Boozer, the players selected No. 4 and No. 3 in the 2026 NBA Draft.
The two already gave fans a show during Summer League, when Wilson exploded for 35 points and seven made threes, while Boozer answered with 23 po...

The Chicago Bulls got their first preseason win, but the biggest stories may have come from two young players almost nobody expected to steal the show. 👀🐂

On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer break down Tobe Awaka’s breakout preseason performance, after the undrafted rookie put up 14 points, 11 rebounds, six offensive boards, one steal and one block in just 21 minutes. Awaka even led Chicago in rebounding despite playing fewer minutes than several of the Bulls’ bigger-name young players.    

That raises a real rotation question: did Awaka just force Tiago Splitter to ta...

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.
Th...

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 C...

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...

The Chicago Bulls offense is starting to reveal some real questions about roles, development and fit heading into the 2026-27 NBA season. 👀🐂
On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer start with Josh Giddey and ask whether Chicago’s lead guard is becoming too passive in Tiago Splitter’s offense.

Giddey has continued to move the ball well and create for teammates, but his shot volume has remained low through preseason. That leads to a bigger question: can the Bulls reach their offensive ceiling if one of their best players is mostly opera...

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...

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...

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 Sw...

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...

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 wh...

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 Wi...

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 simpl...

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 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 C...