Taj Gibson has always occupied a special place in Bulls lore. He was one of the defining members of the Bench Mob, a classic Bulls role player, and the kind of hard-nosed presence that fit the franchise’s old-school image. One moment still stands out above the rest: his poster dunk on former Bulls guard Dwyane Wade in the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals, a play that still feels like pure peak Bulls playoff energy.
But that kind of nostalgia is not the same thing as a roster plan.
Gibson is back on the market after the New Orleans Pelicans waived him Wednesday, a move that followed Tuesday’s trade with the Memphis Grizzlies, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania. The deal sent Jordan Hawkins, Micah Peavy, a future second-round pick and a future second-round pick swap to Memphis for AJ Johnson and Gibson.
For Bulls fans wondering whether the team should use its final open roster spot on a reunion, the answer is no. Chicago is trying to build something new, and this front office has bigger priorities in its first season under lead basketball operations executive Bryson Graham.
The idea here is simple: Gibson deserves respect, but not a comeback tour. A ceremonial retirement contract would make sense.
A real roster spot would not. The Bulls are not in the business of chasing old feelings while they try to move past the play-in treadmill.
That means the focus has to stay on Caleb Wilson. Every decision Chicago makes in 2026 should be about building around him, from the main roster all the way through the three two-way slots. If the Bulls are going to add anyone, the better move is another shooter, not another throwback.
There’s also the development angle. Tiago Splitter has spent the summer talking about player development, and the Bulls would be better served by bringing in someone he can actually mold into part of the next group.
As for the veterans the Bulls seem ready to carry into 2026-27, that picture has already been drawn. Fans will get Nic Claxton, Norman Powell, and Zach Collins, and that’s the mix they’re being handed.
So yes, celebrate Taj Gibson forever. He earned that. But the Bulls also have to stay locked on the future, and that means making Caleb Wilson’s rookie season the priority.
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The harder question is what the Bulls can live with on the other end, because Giddeys impact still comes with real defensive baggage in perimeter matchups. Chicago can appreciate the playmaking and scoring, but the longer this goes on, the more the team has to decide whether his offensive value is enough to cover the defensive concerns or whether his role needs to be managed in a different way. [Read more 🡒]