The Bulls have added another name to the mix as training camp approaches, and one of the more intriguing additions is a familiar one for Lakers fans.
Chicago signed Peter Suder and Houston Mallette to training camp deals, setting up a competition for roster spots that is still very much in motion. Mallette is viewed by The Consensus as the likelier candidate to be waived, which would send him to the Windy City Bulls. Suder, meanwhile, is expected to battle Isaiah Stevens and Marquell Sutton for Chicago’s last two-way spot.
That’s a notable turn for Suder, who was waived by the Lakers shortly after landing a two-way contract with them. Now he gets another shot, this time with a Bulls team that has spent the offseason reshaping itself around a new head coach, new front-office leadership, and a young core that already includes Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson. Chicago also landed Norman Powell and was part of one of the summer’s first blockbuster moves to acquire Nic Claxton.
The bigger picture in Chicago is clear enough: the roster is taking shape, but the final two-way slot remains open for business. And Suder has a real case to make.
At Miami (OH), the 23-year-old built a reputation as a reliable shooter, a secondary creator and a willing defender. His first two seasons at Bellarmine were modest, producing averages of 10.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.9 assists and 1.1 steals per game.
The jump came after that. In 34 games during the 2024-25 season, Suder averaged 13.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 1.3 steals while shooting 49.7% from the field and 35.1% from three.
He took another step in his senior year, helping Miami (OH) to a 32-2 record while leading the RedHawks in scoring at 14.8 points per game. He added 4.6 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 1.3 steals, and his efficiency climbed again to 54.6% shooting and 42.1% from deep.
His Summer League stint with the Lakers didn’t match that production. In six appearances, Suder averaged 5.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 1.2 assists while shooting 33.3% from the field and 22.2% from beyond the arc.
Still, Chicago may see a different path for him. With limited room in the rotation, a two-way deal would likely mean time with the G League affiliate and a chance to keep developing under the Bulls’ watch.
If Suder can carry over the shooting and defensive effort that made him stand out in college, he could carve out a case as a future 3-and-D option. For now, though, he’ll have to earn it in camp.
In Other News...
Bulls Could Find Cheap Frontcourt Help In One Crowded Knicks Battle
The Knicks 2026 training camp roster is shaping up to be a crowded one, with several players who already have NBA experience all trying to carve out a spot. Bruce Brown, James Wiseman, Ochai Agbaji, Drew Eubanks and John Konchar are all in the mix, but New Yorks financial constraints make it unlikely the team can hold onto everyone, which naturally puts other front offices on alert.
For the Bulls, that creates a possible path to inexpensive frontcourt help if the market breaks the right way. Chicago has been tied to the idea of monitoring that group closely, but the appeal appears to be centered more on the size and role of Drew Eubanks and James Wiseman, while the other names are drawing less enthusiasm because of fit and career-stage concerns. If New York has to trim the roster, this could become one of those late-summer situations where a team like Chicago waits patiently and tries to land the right bargain before someone else beats it to the punch. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Rebuild Already Faces One Frustrating Question Around Its Young Core
Chicagos reset under new executive vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham has been easy to spot, even if the direction has remained carefully measured. The Bulls spent the offseason trying to balance development with stability, bringing in veterans Norman Powell and Nic Claxton to steady the locker room while also making room for young pieces such as Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey to grow into bigger roles.
Still, the rebuild is already running into the kind of question that tends to linger around teams in this stage: whether the front office is being patient or simply too cautious with its flexibility. The Bulls had cap room to work with and a chance to chase more young talent, but the path they chose leaned toward immediate structure and veteran presence, leaving the organization with a clearer identity and, for now, an open debate about whether it maximized a rare opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
Josh Giddey Just Gave Bulls Fans A Reason To Watch Him Closer
Josh Giddey is giving Bulls fans a little more than highlight-reel offense to think about this week. The guard posted a YouTube breakdown examining the closing moments of a late-season game from last year, and it offered a rare look at how he sees the floor when the possession is over and the film is rolling. For a player whose creativity and playmaking already stand out, the video added another layer to the conversation around what he brings to Chicago.
What made it worth a closer look was Giddeys willingness to dig into his own mistakes on defense during that stretch, even in a game he helped decide with a clutch shot at the buzzer. That kind of self-scouting matters for a Bulls team trying to sort out its ceiling heading toward the 2026-27 season, because Giddeys offensive gifts are obvious enough. The bigger question is how much his defensive impact can grow, and he just gave everyone a reminder that he knows that part of his game still has room to improve. [Read more 🡒]