Bulls Notebook: Gibson Hangs It Up, Splitter's Staff Set

Gibson hangs it up. Taj Gibson retired as a player on September 14 and joined Tiago Splitter's bench as an assistant coach, Hoops Rumors reported. The Bulls announced the rest of Splitter's coaching staff the following day, September 15, closing out the front office's coaching search less than two weeks before camp.

Powell mentioned again. Hoops Rumors included a Bulls note on Norman Powell in its September 15 Eastern Conference roundup, run alongside items on Konchar, the Heat and Kolek. Powell led Chicago with 21.7 points a game last season and is owed $21.5 million this year, the third-largest contract on the roster.

Buzelis extension question. Writer Morris Bankston argued this week that Matas Buzelis needs self-awareness about his next contract as extension talk builds. Buzelis averaged 16.3 points and 5.8 rebounds last season on 34.9 percent shooting from three, numbers that will shape what Chicago is willing to pay him.

Outside eyes, bleak read. Local coverage has been blunt about where this roster stands: G.C. Bellchamber listed three things the Bulls must do to avoid the league's new relegation zone, and Andrew Hanlon used a mock expansion draft to show how thin the roster runs beyond the top names.

Four bodies, one date. Dailyn Swain, Zach Collins, Josh Giddey and Rob Dillingham are all nursing minor injuries, each carrying the same estimated return date of October 1. That's six days before the preseason opener, so none of the four figures to miss real time once camp games begin.

Camp clock. The preseason opens October 7 against the Suns, followed by the Grizzlies on October 9, a road trip to Denver on October 11 (ESPN) and Milwaukee on October 14. The regular season opener is set for October 21 at Toronto.