Around the Beat: Miller's Rise, Wilson's Ceiling, Williams'…

By the Bulls Nightly Desk · Thursday, October 15

Chicago outlets spent the week weighing whether Leonard Miller's new workload is a breakout or a showcase for a trade, while debating if Caleb Wilson and Patrick Williams are developing fast enough to match their price tags and promise. Four Bulls remain out as the preseason winds down, with returns pointed at tonight's game against Minnesota and next week's regular-season opener in Toronto.

Bulls Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Miller's rising case. Pippen Ain't Easy debated whether Leonard Miller is a building block or a trade chip, and whether Payton Pritchard is his right benchmark. The numbers lean building block: 26 points at Denver, then 18 on 7-of-11 shooting and a plus-20 off the bench against Milwaukee, with his minutes already up 13 a night from last season's late stretch.

Wilson's growing pains. ESPN posted Caleb Wilson's alley-oop finish against Milwaukee; Pippen Ain't Easy countered that his development shouldn't be this season's top priority. Both have a case: Wilson scored 21 against Memphis and 10 against Milwaukee, the second line coming with four turnovers in 24 minutes, the push-pull of a 20-year-old rookie handling bigger minutes than his hands can keep up with.

Williams' price tag. Pippen Ain't Easy argued Patrick Williams' $18.0 million deal looks worse next to Tyrese Haliburton's season. Williams averaged 7.0 points in 20.5 minutes last season and only climbs into a 34-minute role when a teammate is out — a dependent workload for the fourth-highest salary on the roster.

Essengue's bench audition. Sun-Times detailed Noa Essengue's push to prove he can play physical. Against Milwaukee the 19-year-old managed seven points on 3-of-5 shooting with a steal in 15 minutes off the bench, a plus-9 that says more about a competitive second unit than about contact on the boards — he grabbed two rebounds.

Returns before Toronto. Sun-Times flagged a run of wait-and-sees before the record that counts starts. Okoro, Awaka and Collins are all targeted to return as early as tonight against Minnesota, while Claxton's hamstring points toward the Oct. 21 opener at Toronto — four bodies the roster can't fully judge until they're actually on the floor.

On deck The Bulls host Minnesota in preseason tonight, then open the regular season Oct. 21 at Toronto, with Milwaukee again Oct. 23 and Washington at home Oct. 24 right behind it.

Is Leonard Miller a building block or a trade chip for the Bulls?

Local coverage is split, but his last three preseason games argue for keeping him in the rotation: 26 points at Denver, then 18 points on 7-of-11 shooting and a plus-20 against Milwaukee.

When will Nic Claxton return from his hamstring injury?

Claxton's hamstring has no confirmed return date yet; the target is the Oct. 21 regular-season opener at Toronto.