The Bulls look like a different team because they are one. And not just in the obvious talent-upgrade sense. The real shift is in the shape of the roster, which now feels built around a very specific idea: long, versatile, two-way athletes who can slide around the floor and play positionless basketball.
That’s the footprint executive VP of basketball operations Bryson Graham has stamped on Chicago. He used the No. 4 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft on North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson, then followed that by taking Dailyn Swain at No.
- He also brought in Nic Claxton to stabilize the middle and added veteran guard Norman Powell to help stretch the floor.
Matas Buzelis remains a major part of the picture, too.
It’s the kind of roster construction Bulls fans have been waiting to see. Here’s how it breaks down by spot.
At point guard, Josh Giddey is the clear headliner, with Tre Jones and Rob Dillingham behind him. This setup should let Giddey lean into what he does best.
With lob threats like Wilson, Buzelis and Claxton around him, the 6-foot-7 floor general has the kind of support system that suits him as a passer more than a scorer. Claxton and Wilson should also make life easier for him in pick-and-roll actions and on the defensive end.
Jones gives Chicago a steady, efficient backup option, while Dillingham, acquired in the Ayo Dosunmu trade at last season’s trade deadline, may already be looking at a spot near the end of the bench.
Shooting guard is where things get a little murkier. Powell is the obvious starter and should handle most of the minutes when healthy, but the Bulls don’t have much true depth at the position.
How new head coach Tiago Splitter handles Swain will be worth watching. If Chicago really sees the 20-year-old Texas product as a guard, despite his wing-sized frame, then this is where he should spend most of his time.
Jones and Giddey can both slide off the ball in certain lineups, though that’s not their natural home.
The wing is where Buzelis should finally settle in. Last season, Chicago’s guard-heavy roster pushed the 21-year-old into the four spot more than it should have.
That changes now. Buzelis is a thin 6-foot-10 forward who looks far more comfortable defending on the perimeter than banging inside, and his growth as a 3-point shooter last season only strengthens the case for him as a full-time small forward.
He and Wilson look like the kind of pairing Chicago can build around. Behind him, Essengue is back from a shoulder injury that essentially wiped out his rookie season, but he deserves real developmental minutes and brings the same kind of length and flexibility the Bulls are clearly chasing.
Power forward is where Wilson should settle in right away. He’s built to create mismatches, and Giddey should make the transition smoother as Wilson gets his NBA footing.
Buzelis is locked in on the wing, which leaves Wilson at the four as the natural fit. Jalen Smith is the steady stretch big in the mix, the kind of veteran frontcourt presence who quietly helps keep things organized.
Leonard Miller also has a lane here after showing promise last season following his arrival from Minnesota. He brings a different look as a power-based four who attacks the glass.
Claxton changes the center picture in a major way. The move may have been overshadowed by some of Chicago’s flashier additions, but the 27-year-old gives the Bulls exactly what they’ve been missing: a low-usage rim protector, rebounder and interior finisher.
Zach Collins is a useful backup if he can stay healthy, and Jalen Smith can also play small-ball five. So can Essengue and Wilson, which opens the door to some intriguing lineup combinations featuring Giddey, Swain, Buzelis, Wilson, Essengue and Miller together.
Splitter also has Patrick Williams and Isaac Okoro available as veteran fallback options, though if the roster stays intact, their minutes should be limited.
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