Four Gone, Four Still Unavailable Before Toronto

By the Bulls Nightly Desk · Sunday, October 18

The Bulls released four camp invitees on October 18, five days before the regular-season opener at Toronto, while Claxton, Collins, Okoro and Awaka remain without a clear return. The preseason closed 3-2 after Chicago beat Minnesota 133-116, a result that still doesn't count toward the 0-0 record.

Bulls Nightly artwork — Illustration by Hoops Nightly.

Camp cuts finalized. The Bulls released four camp invitees October 18: Orlando Robinson, Drew Peterson, Brandon Boston and Jalen Bridges. Robinson had scored 9 points in relief just two nights earlier against Minnesota. The move sets the group that carries into the opener October 21 at Toronto.

Four still unavailable. Claxton, Collins, Okoro and Awaka are each day-to-day, every one of them projected to return October 21, the same date Chicago opens at Toronto. That's four names the staff needs cleared in five days, and nothing in Sunday's rumor roundup moved any of their timelines forward.

Preseason wraps 3-2. Chicago closed exhibition play October 16, beating Minnesota 133-116. Caleb Wilson led with 16 points and 7 rebounds, Matas Buzelis scored 14, and reserves Jordan Hawkins and Leonard Miller combined for 26 more. The bench outscored the starters 70-56. None of it touches the record, which opens at 0-0.

Notes column, no new detail. Joe Cowley's October 18 roundup grouped Giddey, Claxton, Collins, Wilson and Miller under one headline. It added nothing new on any player's status. Until a report says otherwise, Claxton's hamstring situation and Collins' toe stand exactly where they stood last week.

Payroll still has room. Chicago's payroll sits at $164.3 million, under the cap, led by Giddey's $25.0 million, Claxton's $23.1 million and Powell's $21.5 million. There's space to add here before the opener. So far, the only roster movement has been subtraction.

Opener five days out. The Bulls open the regular season October 21 at Toronto, then play at Milwaukee October 23, host Washington October 24 and visit Boston October 26. Four games in six days to start a season with four players still unresolved.

On deck The regular season opens October 21 at the Raptors, followed by games at Milwaukee October 23, at home against Washington October 24 and at Boston October 26.

Will Nic Claxton play in the Bulls' season opener?

Claxton is day-to-day and projected to return October 21, the same date as the opener at Toronto, but no report has confirmed he will play.

What was the Bulls' final preseason record?

Chicago finished the preseason 3-2 after beating Minnesota 133-116 on October 16.

By the Bulls Nightly Desk, written from the club's data and the reports on file, with every name and number checked against them. How the desks work.