The Bulls thought they were addressing a major need when they went after Nic Claxton, and on paper, that move made plenty of sense. Claxton brings the kind of athleticism and rim protection Chicago has been missing, and he’s long been one of the more overlooked centers in the league.
But the problem with counting on Claxton has always been availability, and his latest hamstring injury has put that issue right back in the spotlight. If it’s minor, he could still be ready for the start of the regular season. If not, the Bulls may be looking at a multi-week absence.
That’s the part that stings for Chicago: even after making a swing for help, the center rotation still looks awfully fragile.
Zach Collins was supposed to deepen that group, at least in theory. He adds some useful skill, but his own injury history is even more concerning over the long haul, and he’s currently day-to-day with a toe injury. That leaves the Bulls staring at the same basic question they had before Claxton was added - who exactly is holding down the middle?
Right now, Jalen Smith and Collins, if he’s available, are the names anchoring the paint. Smith plays with energy and competes hard, but the Bulls pursued Claxton for a reason, and grit alone isn’t enough to solve this spot. Collins has flashed solid minutes at times, but depending on him to stay upright for an entire season is a risky bet.
There are other options if Chicago wants to get creative. Noa Essengue and Caleb Wilson could be used at the five in small-ball lineups, giving the Bulls a longer, more flexible look with a young group that fits the modern game. But that kind of setup could be messy before it starts to click.
And with coach Tiago Splitter needing time to sort through other parts of the roster, Chicago may not be in a hurry to chase perfection at the position. The Bulls don’t need to panic about wins this season, but they do need answers in the middle.
For now, the hope is that Claxton’s hamstring issue is only a short-term setback. Still, his injury history makes it hard to ignore the possibility that center could be a season-long headache at United Center.
In Other News...
Matas Buzelis Sees A Different Bulls Team Taking Shape
Matas Buzelis opened training camp sounding like a young player who has already felt the difference between a team searching for answers and one trying to build something sturdier. After a season in which Chicago was sorting through change, the second-year forward said the tone around the organization has shifted, with more intensity and a clearer sense of purpose as the Bulls move through an overhaul and into a new phase of the rebuild.
Buzelis also spoke with the patience of someone focused on the long game, stressing that his own approach is to keep improving every day and help wherever he can. For a roster trying to establish itself, that matters as much as any single skill point. The real test now is whether the early signs of order and accountability can hold once the games start to pile up. [Read more 🡒]
Michael Jordan Weighed In On A Bulls Reality Fans Know Too Well
Michael Jordans latest remarks offered a familiar kind of reminder for Bulls fans: the game has changed around the franchise, but the standard he set has not. Speaking at the SBC Summit in Lisbon, Jordan said modern sports betting and the nonstop statistical noise of todays NBA would not have altered how he approached basketball. His emphasis, as ever, was on winning, studying opponents and staying locked in on the next challenge rather than getting pulled into everything swirling around the game.
Jordan also touched on how different the current landscape would feel for players now, with social media adding a layer of scrutiny his era never had to deal with. For a franchise still measured against his shadow, the comments hit on a reality Chicago knows well, even if the details of how he would navigate todays betting-heavy environment remain his to spell out another time. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Preseason Opener Already Puts Their Rebuild Under Pressure
The Bulls are barely into preseason, and the mood around the opener against the Suns already feels more about survival than evaluation. Before the first practice even got going, Zach Collins was hurt, while Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis are expected to get the first look in the starting group as Chicago begins sorting through a roster that still has more questions than answers.
Chicago also moved quickly to address its depth, bringing in Jordan Hawkins to fill the last roster spot. The early injuries only sharpen the pressure on a team trying to make its rebuild look like progress, and the next few days will say plenty about how much the Bulls can learn before the games start counting for real. [Read more 🡒]