Hield's Contract Lands, Collins Targets a Return Date

Hield's deal, on paper. Buddy Hield's contract with Chicago is official: $9,658,536, filed this week. He arrived from Charlotte in the trade that sent Rob Dillingham to the Hornets, and the number attached to that swap is now public, not just reported.

Collins eyes Oct. 7. Zach Collins remains out with a sprained right toe, questionable rather than full speed, with a target return of October 7 — the same night Chicago hosts Phoenix in its first exhibition game. Whether he actually suits up that night is still open.

Another vague notes report. Hoops Rumors, via Joel Lorenzi, published Bulls notes naming Powell, Wilson, Buzelis and Essengue on Friday. As with the September 29 version, no details followed — four players grouped under a headline, nothing specific reported on any of them.

Four games, four dates. Chicago's exhibition slate opens October 7 against Phoenix, then October 9 against Memphis with NBA TV carrying the broadcast, before road games at Denver (ESPN) October 11 and Milwaukee October 14. The regular-season opener is set for October 21 at Toronto.

Payroll picture. Chicago's payroll sits at $164.3 million, under the cap line, roughly $36 million short of the luxury tax figure of $200.4 million. Giddey ($25.0M), Claxton ($23.1M), Powell ($21.5M) and Williams ($18.0M) remain the four largest deals on the books.

Miller's minutes climbed. Last season, over his final 10 games, Leonard Miller averaged 28.8 minutes a night, more than 13 minutes above his season mark. He's back in camp now, and that late-season workload is the clearest sign of what Splitter's staff saw in him.