The Bulls made a frontcourt move Friday, and the timing says plenty. One day after Caleb Wilson had a procedure on his right hand, Chicago added Orlando Robinson to the full-time roster and used its 15th and final spot on the 26-year-old big man.
Robinson had been with the Windy City Bulls in the G League, where he played in the team’s first three games. Now he moves up to the NBA roster and gives Chicago a fourth center alongside Jalen Smith, Nic Claxton, and Zach Collins. That extra body could open the door for Smith, who has been on fire to start the year, to spend more time at the four while Wilson is out.
But the bigger reason for the move appears to be roster math. By filling the final spot, the Bulls can maximize the use of their two-way players.
NBA teams are allowed three two-way contracts, but those players can only appear in 50 games if the active roster is at 15. If Chicago had stayed at 14, its two-way players would have been limited to 90 combined active games.
For a rebuilding team that has already leaned on those spots, that would have been a real problem.
Tiago Splitter has shown no hesitation using that group early. Jordan Hawkins, Jaylin Sellers, and Tobe Awaka have all logged meaningful minutes, and Hawkins has even worked his way into the rotation over the last couple of games.
That’s why Robinson may not be headed for a major role. His deal is likely non-guaranteed, which gives the Bulls flexibility if they need to keep adjusting the roster. Still, injuries have a way of changing the picture, and Robinson does bring NBA mileage with him.
He went undrafted in 2022 after his run at Fresno State, then signed with the Miami Heat and later earned a two-way deal as a rookie. Miami eventually promoted him to the full roster ahead of 2023-24 on a two-year contract before waiving him later that season.
Robinson then landed with the Sacramento Kings on a one-year deal, played nine games, got hurt, and was waived. After that came a stint with the Toronto Raptors, first on a 10-day contract and then on a two-way deal.
The next stop was Orlando in 2025-26, again on a two-way contract. He played only four games there before losing his roster spot in February. In all, Robinson has 115 NBA games on his résumé.
At 6-foot-11, he brings size, physicality, and a willingness to battle on the glass. He’s not known as a flashy finisher, but he can create second-chance points, stretch the floor, and pass well enough to help from the middle of the floor. Whether that translates into real minutes in Chicago remains to be seen, but the Bulls clearly see enough value to keep him around as another option in a frontcourt that could use one.
In Other News...
Bulls Need Matas Buzelis To Answer One Big Scoring Challenge
Caleb Wilsons absence leaves the Bulls with a real scoring hole to patch, and it comes at a time when they were already looking for more from Matas Buzelis. Wilsons hand surgery removes one of Chicagos more reliable offensive options for the next stretch, which pushes the spotlight toward Buzelis and Norman Powell to help keep the attack moving while the rotation adjusts.
Buzelis had a strong 2025-26 season, but the early part of this campaign has not matched that standard, and the Bulls need him to settle into a bigger role quickly. Chicago does not have much choice but to lean on his shot-making and confidence, because the alternative is asking the offense to survive on thinner margins until Wilson is back in the lineup. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Should Finally Give Jaylin Sellers A Real Offensive Chance
Caleb Wilsons hand injury has opened a spot in the Bulls rotation at a time when the offense could use just about any lift it can get. Chicago has spent much of the season near the bottom of the league in offensive rating and three-point shooting percentage, which makes this a natural moment to look beyond the usual options and give Jaylin Sellers a longer runway.
Sellers has only seen limited minutes with the Bulls, but his G League work has suggested he can bring more than just depth. His shooting and playmaking are the traits that stand out most, and with Wilson sidelined, Chicago has a chance to see whether that translates when the games count and the offense is searching for answers. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Keep Finding New Ways To Lose As Pressure Builds On Splitter
The Bulls have spent the opening stretch of the season searching for any kind of stability, and instead they keep finding new ways to let games slip away. Their latest loss came against San Antonio, a game in which Chicago built a comfortable lead before the night unraveled, leaving the team with eight straight defeats and a 1-9 start that has only intensified the scrutiny around the locker room and the bench.
Turnovers have been a recurring problem, and the defensive breakdowns have made it even harder for Chicago to protect leads or settle games down once momentum turns. With pressure mounting on Tiago Splitter to find answers, the Bulls are also dealing with another setback in the background, as rookie Caleb Wilson underwent surgery on a fractured right hand, adding another layer of uncertainty to an already rough start. [Read more 🡒]