Suns Up Wednesday While Bulls Notes Stay Empty

Two Days Out. Chicago hosts Phoenix on Wednesday, the first of four preseason games that continue with Memphis at home, then road trips to Denver and Milwaukee. It's the first look at Splitter's rotation against anybody but itself, after a camp that has shed three players since September 22.

Notes Without Substance. Hoops Rumors ran a Bulls item Sunday naming Powell, Wilson, Buzelis and Essengue, credited to Joel Lorenzi. The headline carried no transaction, trade talk or injury update — the second such vague item in a week, following one that named Graham, Wilson, Claxton and Buzelis on September 29.

Grace for Williams. Bulls.com's Sam Smith wrote that Patrick Williams deserves patience entering his seventh season in Chicago. Williams appeared in 72 games last season, averaging 20.5 minutes, 7.0 points and 3.0 rebounds — modest production for a forward whose role has barely grown across six years with the team.

A Price on Buzelis. Pippen Ain't Easy argued no player is untouchable, including Matas Buzelis, despite a 2025-26 season in which he played 77 games, averaged 16.3 points and shot 34.9 percent from three. The piece stopped short of naming an actual number.

Wilson's First Tests. Pippen Ain't Easy also covered Caleb Wilson, the rookie forward facing his first real test in Bulls camp. He's one of four rookies on the roster, joining Dailyn Swain, Jaylin Sellers and Tobe Awaka, all competing for spots behind Claxton, Williams and Collins up front.

The Number. $164.3 million: what the Bulls have committed across 14 contracts, roughly $36 million below the $200.4 million luxury tax line. Giddey ($25.0M), Claxton ($23.1M) and Powell ($21.5M) are the three biggest deals on the books.