Coverage of the 135-92 loss in Toronto falls into three arguments: how low this rebuild sits, how to read Caleb Wilson's first game, and what to do with Josh Giddey and Norman Powell. Some of it holds up against the numbers, and some of it gets ahead of them.
How low is low. The Chicago Sun-Times' Joe Cowley described the opener as a rebuild that "looks like demolition site," then followed with a piece on the team hoping Toronto was rock bottom. The game supports the tone. Chicago never led, trailed by as many as 48 and lost all four quarters.
Wilson, read two ways. Bulls.com led with Wilson's 16 points in his debut. Andrew Hanlon at Pippen Ain't Easy argued that one Bulls rookie did show up, and it was not Wilson. The box score backs Hanlon: 7-of-21 shooting, 1-of-8 from three, nine turnovers and minus-45 in 33 minutes. His three steals are the part worth keeping.
Giddey's ultimatum. Morris Bankston of Pippen Ain't Easy put it bluntly: Giddey either creates or gets traded. He carries the top salary on the roster at $25.0 million, finished minus-39 in 24 minutes in Toronto and is now on the injury report with a wrist issue, expected back Oct. 23. He averaged 9.1 assists last season. The opener did not make the case for patience.
Collins and the size problem. A Sun-Times piece by Cowley said Zach Collins' return gives the Bulls much-needed size. Collins was plus-7 in nine minutes in Toronto, the best mark on the team, but went back on the injury report Oct. 22 with a quadriceps issue. He is expected back Oct. 23. With Nic Claxton out until Nov. 4, Jalen Smith's 15 points and eight boards in 19 minutes were the only steady frontcourt work.
Trade talk, checked. Pippen Ain't Easy has floated turning Powell into more than draft picks, adding Kevin Porter Jr. and bringing in Dalton Knecht for wing depth. These are pitches, not reported moves. Chicago sits at $164.3 million, just under the $165.0 million cap, and owns its first-round picks from 2027 through 2030. Powell scored 21.7 a game last season, which gives him real trade value.
Miller's opening. Maxwell Ogden argued at Pippen Ain't Easy that a Leonard Miller breakout would help the Bulls stop leaning on Patrick Williams. The minutes are there: 28.8 a night over his last 10 games. In Toronto he went 2-of-9 with five turnovers in 26 minutes. The opportunity is real, but the production has not caught up.
How bad was the Bulls' 135-92 loss to the Raptors?
Chicago never led, trailed by as many as 48 and was outscored in every quarter. Caleb Wilson finished minus-45 with nine turnovers.
When will Josh Giddey return from his wrist injury?
Giddey is listed with a wrist issue and expected back Oct. 23, the night the Bulls play at Milwaukee.
