A 1-7 start has the Bulls sitting in a rough spot eight games into the 2026-27 season, and the questions around this team are piling up fast.
Chicago is 14th in the East, with only the Milwaukee Bucks behind them. The Bulls have been dealing with one struggle after another, and their last game only added to the frustration: a 30-point loss to the Knicks on Nov.
- They won’t get back on the floor until Sunday against the Philadelphia 76ers.
One of the biggest swing factors is Nic Claxton. Based on a report from CHSN’s K.C.
Johnson, there’s a good chance he plays Sunday. Tiago Splitter, when asked about Claxton’s status, smiled and said, “Probably.”
Chicago has not had its starting center available this season, forcing the team to lean on Jalen Smith. That absence has shown up in a major way on defense.
According to NBA.com, the Bulls are last in the league in defensive rating at 123.5 and in opponent points per game at 129.6. They’re also 27th in opponent points in the paint per game at 53.
That’s where Claxton could matter most. If he can tighten things up around the rim, it would give Chicago a much-needed anchor inside.
And if the paint is better protected, it could help the guards and forwards get more stops on the perimeter too. There’s also the offensive side to consider, because the Bulls need more there as well.
Their offensive rating of 105.9 is better than only the Jazz and Hornets, per NBA.com.
Matas Buzelis is another player under the microscope. So far, he’s averaging 12.9 points per game while shooting 40.8% from the field and 27% from 3-point range.
He’s also turning it over 2.8 times per game. During preseason, Buzelis showed more aggression attacking the rim, and that approach could help him now.
More drives, more midrange looks and fewer giveaways would all go a long way if the outside shot keeps misfiring.
The larger issue is whether this roster has more to give at all. Eight games is a tiny sample in an 82-game season, but the Bulls have looked rough enough that it’s fair to wonder if what fans are seeing now is close to the ceiling.
Chicago needs to show soon that there’s a path to better basketball with this group. If not, the conversation shifts even more toward what comes next.
And that’s the final question hanging over the season: what does this roster look like next year? The Bulls are still early in their rebuild, so more changes are coming.
The real unknown is who, beyond Caleb Wilson, is still in key roles next season. It will also be worth watching how Tiago Splitter’s system looks with a different lineup, and how well it works if the pieces around it change.
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The Windy City Bulls opened their G League season with a convincing 127-102 win over the Noblesville Boom, and the early takeaway for Chicago fans was the debut of Dailyn Swain. The Bulls No. 15 overall draft pick wasted little time showing why the organization was intrigued, filling the box score in his first G League game and giving the team a glimpse of the all-around playmaking that made him such an interesting addition.
Swain was hardly the only bright spot, either, as Houston Mallette paced Windy City with 26 points in an efficient outing that helped turn the opener into a comfortable night. For Bulls fans, the more meaningful part may be what Swain looked like in a live setting, because the first real test of his transition to the pro game offered encouraging signs without answering every question just yet. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Suddenly Face A Real Lineup Decision They Cant Avoid
Nic Claxtons return is getting close, and with it comes a lineup question the Bulls cant really sidestep much longer. After missing time with a preseason left hamstring strain, Claxton is expected back soon on a limited workload, giving coach Tiago Splitter a new frontcourt piece to sort through as Chicago tries to steady itself through a difficult opening stretch.
Splitter has already signaled that he wants to test different combinations once Claxton is available, including looks with Claxton and Jalen Smith on the floor together. That kind of double-big setup would give the Bulls more size and flexibility, but it also means some current rotation choices could get squeezed as the staff weighs lineup balance, possible trade options and the best way to keep the season from drifting further off course. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Still Have One Lineup Problem They Can't Ignore
The Bulls most-used starting group still has not found its rhythm, and the early returns have left Tiago Splitter juggling more than just rotations. Chicago has some intriguing pieces, but the mix of offensive styles has been awkward at times, especially with Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis trying to fit into the same framework while the team searches for a cleaner way to play together.
Caleb Wilsons recent benching against the Knicks added another wrinkle to the picture, underscoring how quickly Splitter is willing to adjust when the effort or decision-making slips. There is still reason for optimism if Nic Claxton returns to steady the rim protection and give the offense another layer, while Noa Essengue remains a longer-term bet on defense, but the Bulls still have a lineup issue they cannot keep ignoring. [Read more 🡒]