Around the Beat: Duren Buzz, a Wilson Wave and Buzelis Money

By the Bulls Nightly Desk · Thursday, September 24

Fan coverage this week leaned on Chicago's youth movement, with Caleb Wilson drawing praise from multiple angles and a Matas Buzelis extension floated as an early test for new lead executive Bryson Graham. A Jalen Duren rumor and a Brandin Podziemski aside both stayed speculation, unconnected to anything Chicago has confirmed.

Bulls Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Camp additions confirmed. Hoops Rumors' Dana Gauruder reported the Bulls adding to their camp roster alongside Detroit and San Antonio. That lines up with what already happened: guards Houston Mallette and Peter Suder both joined Chicago this month, filling out the training camp roster before any exhibition games are played.

A center bet questioned. Andrew Hanlon at Pippen Ain't Easy floated the Bulls as a mystery team for a $200 million deal for Jalen Duren. Nothing in Chicago's own reporting connects the two sides, and the roster already added Nic Claxton at center this summer, a fact that cuts against, not for, another major front-court investment.

Wilson's approach draws praise. Maxwell Ogden at Pippen Ain't Easy wrote that Caleb Wilson's selfless goals show the mindset the Bulls need. The roster confirms the frame: Wilson is 20 years old and still a rookie, the No. 4 pick this year, with everything about his fit still ahead of him.

Carolina praise, Knicks credit. Morris Bankston put Wilson on a Bulls-Tar Heels Mount Rushmore, while a separate Bankston column argued Bryson Graham should thank the New York Knicks for scouting work that led Chicago to him. Both pieces treat Wilson as the class of this rookie group, which the roster backs up: he is the only top-five pick on it.

Buzelis money question looms. G.C. Bellchamber called a Matas Buzelis extension the first real test for new front-office boss Bryson Graham. Buzelis is entering his third season at 21, coming off 16.3 points a night, and he is not yet among the five biggest contracts on a payroll that sits at $161.5 million, under the cap.

A future free agent eyed. Bankston also flagged Brandin Podziemski's coming restricted free agency as a green flag for Chicago. That is opinion, not a report: Podziemski plays for Golden State, and no rumor in Chicago's own tracking connects him to the Bulls, so this one stays a name to watch rather than anything closer to real.

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

Are the Bulls actually chasing Jalen Duren?

No sourced report says so. Pippen Ain't Easy floated Chicago as a possible mystery team, but nothing in the club's own reporting connects the two sides, and Chicago already added center Nic Claxton this summer.

Did the Bulls add players to their camp roster this week?

Yes. Hoops Rumors reported the addition, and it matches Chicago's own moves: guards Houston Mallette and Peter Suder both joined the team this month.