The Bulls are getting closer to a healthier frontcourt, and Nic Claxton’s name is finally moving in the right direction.
Chicago upgraded Claxton to doubtful ahead of Monday night’s matchup with the Philadelphia 76ers, marking the first time this regular season he has carried that designation. The 27-year-old has missed all of the preseason and the first six games of the regular season because of a hamstring strain.
That doesn’t mean he’s about to jump straight into action. Tiago Splitter made it clear Monday that the Bulls are still easing him back carefully.
Claxton is listed as doubtful. Following practice Sunday in Philly, Tiago Splitter said "he's still not ready to play. We're taking it day by day to see how his body feels after this practice.Put two practices together and see how his body adapts to that load.He's getting better"
For Chicago, though, the update still matters. Claxton was brought in as an offseason addition, and even after some uneven seasons in Brooklyn, there’s belief he can still be a useful piece in a new setting.
The Bulls have struggled badly on defense, especially around the rim, and that’s been a big reason they’ve stumbled to 1-5. Claxton may not overpower people physically, but at six-foot-eleven with quick feet and real mobility, he offers a different kind of presence than Jalen Smith or Zach Collins.
The Bulls may need that help soon, but probably not immediately. With this much time missed, Chicago appears intent on making sure Claxton is fully conditioned before putting him back into a game.
The rest of the frontcourt picture is a little cleaner. Jalen Smith is dealing with a finger issue and Tobe Awaka has an ankle problem, but both are expected to play against the 76ers. Each suited up through the same injuries against the Boston Celtics and logged double-digit minutes, so they could be asked to carry the load again in Philadelphia if the Bulls are short-handed at center.
On the other side, Joel Embiid is listed as questionable with foot issues. Philadelphia has already sat him twice this season while trying to manage the injury, though he did miss the Halloween game against the Charlotte Hornets, which could make a return against Chicago more likely.
If Embiid does go, the Bulls know what kind of challenge that brings. He has a history of punishing Chicago, and there’s little in this current frontcourt setup to suggest that trend changes Monday night.
Chicago’s injury report also includes Dominick Barlow, who is out with a back issue, and Ariel Hukporti, who remains out with an Achilles injury.
In Other News...
Nets Finally Have A Chance To Prove This Wasn't A Fluke
Nic Claxton is back in full practice after the hamstring injury that slowed him in training camp, and that gives the Bulls a new frontcourt decision to sort through. Jalen Smith has held up well in the early going, giving Chicago a reason to think twice before changing what has worked so far.
The timing makes the choice even more interesting. Smith has played his way into the conversation with steady production through six games, but Claxtons return adds a different look and a longer-term question about how the Bulls want to build their rotation. For a team trying to keep momentum, the next stretch could say plenty about whether this becomes a true competition or just a temporary pause in the status quo. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Face A Brutal Test Against A Contender Showing Cracks
The Bulls are heading into a difficult early-season measuring stick with Philadelphia sitting atop the Eastern Conference at 6-1, even if the 76ers have not looked fully polished on offense. Chicago, off to a 1-5 start, gets a chance to see where it stands against a contender that has still found ways to win, often in tight games, while sorting through its own issues on both ends of the floor.
Philadelphia has leaned on its top-end talent and enough late-game execution to keep stacking wins, but there are signs the attack has not been as clean as the record suggests. For Chicago, the bigger question is how much of a challenge this becomes if the Sixers are missing a key piece, with Joel Embiid listed as questionable as the matchup approaches. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls May Already Have A Caleb Wilson Problem To Solve
The Bulls latest look at Boston did little to quiet the questions around how their young core fits together on the defensive end. Caleb Wilson drew the most attention for the right reasons, especially after a stronger second half that reinforced how quickly he is becoming one of the teams most important players, while Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey were part of a group that had trouble consistently getting stops.
What makes the issue tricky is that the Bulls are trying to build around talent that clearly matters, but the combinations have not always helped them on the floor. Wilsons rise gives Chicago something real to lean on, yet the broader lineup picture still needs sorting out if the defense is going to hold up over time, and the way the staff handles Giddeys role may end up being part of that conversation. [Read more 🡒]