Around the Beat: The Hield Trade Is Real, Wilson Hype Meets…

By the Bulls Nightly Desk · Thursday, October 1

Local coverage this week separated what is confirmed from what is not around Bulls camp. The Hield-for-Dillingham trade is a completed transaction, Taj Gibson is officially part of Splitter's staff, and the loudest praise for rookie Caleb Wilson is being met with caution from the team itself.

Bulls Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Hield deal closes. Pippen Ain't Easy wrote that Buddy Hield brings more than a moveable contract as the rebuild starts, and the Sun-Times quoted Hield taking shots at friend Jimmy Butler. The trade itself is no longer just a report: transaction records show Hield arriving from Charlotte on September 27, with Rob Dillingham moving the other way in that deal.

Sellers' door, Dillingham's doubt. Pippen Ain't Easy framed Dillingham's exit as an opening for Jaylin Sellers, then wrote separately that Dillingham's career outlook looks shaky after the trade. Sellers sits on the roster as an unproven rookie, so the opportunity read holds up; nothing in the roster or rumor record can confirm or deny a verdict on Dillingham's future.

Wilson hype, team caution. Pippen Ain't Easy compared rookie Caleb Wilson to Michael Jordan among others, and Bulls.com wrote that Wilson doesn't carry himself like an average rookie. The Sun-Times reported the Bulls are trying to temper that excitement internally. Wilson, the No. 4 pick, is 20 years old with zero NBA games played, a gap that favors caution over comparisons to Jordan.

Gibson back on staff. Pippen Ain't Easy covered Taj Gibson's move from retired player to assistant coach as reviving a Bulls coaching legacy. That move checks out: Gibson retired on September 14, the day Tiago Splitter's staff was announced, with Splitter hired in June after Billy Donovan stepped down.

Claxton pushes back. The Sun-Times reported new center Nic Claxton pushing back on a back-issues narrative. Nothing on the injury list backs up any Claxton concern: the only entry right now is Zach Collins, a toe injury with an expected return of October 7.

Giddey awaits a system. Pippen Ain't Easy wrote that a fully formed Josh Giddey is waiting on Splitter's offense, and Bulls.com quoted Bryson Graham and Splitter discussing the rebuild directly. Giddey averaged 17.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 9.1 assists last season, the clearest evidence of what he can do once a system gets built around him.

On deck Preseason opens October 7 when the Suns visit, followed by Memphis on October 9, Denver on October 11 and Milwaukee on October 14, ahead of the regular-season opener October 21 at Toronto.

Is the Buddy Hield-for-Rob Dillingham trade final?

Yes. Transaction records show Hield joining the Bulls and Dillingham moving to Charlotte on September 27, confirming a deal outlets had been reporting since late September.

Does Nic Claxton have a back injury?

Nothing on the Bulls' injury list names Claxton. The only player currently listed is Zach Collins, with a toe injury and an expected return of October 7.