What outside reporters are saying about the Bulls this week checks out against the team's own record: the Sun-Times' read on Claxton matches the injury list, and Hoops Rumors' report on camp cuts matches the four transactions filed this week. The hype after the Minnesota finale and the early praise for Caleb Wilson are real, but neither moves anything until games that count are played.
Claxton's status, confirmed. The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Nic Claxton is expected to be the only Bull not ready for opening night. That lines up with Chicago's own listing: Claxton remains uncertain with a hamstring strain, with an estimated return dated to October 21, the same night the Bulls open at Toronto.
Four names behind the cuts. Hoops Rumors reported that the Bulls cut four camp invitees on October 17. The transactions filed that stretch name them: Orlando Robinson, Drew Peterson, Brandon Boston and Jalen Bridges all left the roster, closing out turnover that has run through camp since September.
Preseason finale, played up. Bulls.com and ESPN both covered the 133-116 finale against Minnesota, and Pippen Ain't Easy called it the right way to close the exhibition slate. None of it changes the ledger Chicago actually plays under: the preseason record was window dressing, and the regular season still opens 0-0.
Betting big on Wilson. Pippen Ain't Easy cited an NBA GM survey calling Caleb Wilson a franchise player already. Wilson is a rookie, taken fourth overall in June, with no regular-season minutes logged yet. The praise is outside noise until he plays a game that actually counts.
Powell's ceiling, debated. Another Pippen Ain't Easy piece laid out the best-case outcome for Norman Powell's run in Chicago. He signed this summer on a deal worth $21.5M, the third-largest on the books, and he averaged 21.7 points a game last season, the kind of scoring the Bulls need from him now.
Will Nic Claxton play in the Bulls' season opener?
Outside reporting says he is expected to be the only Bulls player unavailable for opening night, which matches Chicago's own estimate of an October 21 return from his hamstring strain.
Which Bulls camp players were cut this week?
Orlando Robinson, Drew Peterson, Brandon Boston and Jalen Bridges all left the roster on October 18, the four camp invitees reported cut by Hoops Rumors.
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