Bulls Notebook: Preseason Dates Set, King Gets His Night

Preseason slate is out. Four games before it counts: Oct. 7 vs. the Suns, Oct. 9 vs. the Grizzlies, Oct. 11 at the Nuggets on ESPN, and Oct. 14 at the Bucks. The regular season opener is Oct. 21 at the Raptors.

King gets his night. The Bulls announced on Sept. 10 that they'll honor Stacey King during the 2026-27 season, a nod to a franchise that's added names to its Ring of Honor before.

Powell's jab plays well here. Pippen Ain't Easy's Andrew Hanlon wrote that Norman Powell's dig at the Lakers makes Chicago's offseason look sharper in hindsight, framing it as the kind of edge this roster needed.

The defense question won't quit. Pippen Ain't Easy's Morris Bankston argued the Bulls should call Tim Connelly again, pointing at a defense that finished 22nd in the league last season as reason enough to keep dialing.

Rollins name floated again. Hanlon's column made the case that now is the Bulls' best shot to pry Ryan Rollins away from Milwaukee, betting the timing works in Chicago's favor before the Bucks lock him in.

Guard room under the microscope. The Sun-Times' Joe Cowley previewed the backcourt, questioning whether the talent stacked up at guard actually shows up on the floor once games count.

Four still day-to-day. Giddey, Swain, Collins and Dillingham remain day-to-day, each targeting an Oct. 1 return, a deadline that lines up with the start of camp under Tiago Splitter.