Bulls Notebook: The News Comes From Press Row

By the Bulls Nightly Desk · Monday, September 21

Nothing broke out of the building in the last day and a half, so the week's storylines are coming from outside beat writers instead of the front office. Local pieces previewed the frontcourt pairing, revisited Taj Gibson's new job, and floated a hypothetical trade, while four players share the same target return date on the injury list.

Bulls Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Buzelis and Wilson, paired. The Chicago Sun-Times previewed Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson as a forward pairing worth building around, tying last season's breakout wing to the No. 4 pick before either has played a preseason minute for Splitter.

A Giddey-Claxton fit. Pippen Ain't Easy floated Josh Giddey and Nic Claxton as a potent skill pairing for Chicago, a fit conversation from a columnist ahead of any preseason tape, not a report of team plans.

Gibson's blueprint. The same outlet ran a separate piece on what Taj Gibson says it takes to build a competitive Bulls roster, a day after he traded his locker for a spot on Splitter's bench.

A trade idea, not a report. Pippen Ain't Easy also pitched a hypothetical Tyler Herro deal. It's a columnist's idea, not sourced reporting, and nothing in the roster situation points to actual talks.

Minutes worth remembering. Rob Dillingham averaged a starter's workload over his last three games last season whenever the teammate ahead of him sat, a 13-minute jump worth noting now that Dillingham himself is day-to-day.

Same return date, four names. Dailyn Swain, Zach Collins, Josh Giddey and Rob Dillingham are all day-to-day, and all four carry the same target return of October 1, days before the preseason opener.

A fan-facing perk. Pippen Ain't Easy also flagged something built into training camp this year meant to give back to fans, a small item but one more sign the building is filling in ahead of games.

On deck Preseason opens October 7 at home against the Suns, followed by the Grizzlies on October 9, a nationally televised trip to Denver on October 11, and Milwaukee on October 14, before the regular-season opener October 21 at Toronto.

When do the Bulls play their first preseason game?

October 7 at home against the Suns, with the regular-season opener set for October 21 at the Raptors.

Is Josh Giddey injured heading into camp?

Yes, Giddey is day-to-day with a right ankle issue and an estimated return of October 1, alongside Dailyn Swain, Zach Collins and Rob Dillingham.