The Bulls’ summer overhaul has already created a crowded picture in the backcourt, and Rob Dillingham looks like one of the biggest losers in the shuffle.
Chicago brought in a new GM in Bryson Graham and a new head coach in Tiago Splitter, then spent the offseason building a younger roster with plenty of upside. That kind of reset usually comes with opportunity, but it also means some players are going to get pushed down the pecking order. Dillingham, 21, appears to be in that group.
The former eighth-overall pick is trying to salvage a third season that already feels pivotal. His run with the Timberwolves never really clicked, and after being dealt to Chicago at the deadline, he got a late-season look with the Bulls that didn’t produce much. Now the path to minutes looks even steeper.
That’s because Chicago used the 15th-overall pick on Dailyn Swain, and the rookie may not be limited to the wing. On paper, Swain looks like a shooting guard/small forward type, which is the role he filled at Xavier and Texas. But the Bulls seem interested in seeing him handle more than that.
Swain said he will be "on the ball quite a bit in Summer League and beyond," per team insider Will Gottlieb. That lines up with what Splitter has already said about him.
Splitter described Swain as a strong passer and a ballhandler for his size, pointing to his tight handles and his ability to create for others and get into the paint. He also said Swain is "a guy that we can put at the point if we want," per the official Bulls account on X.
That’s the kind of language that matters for a player like Dillingham. Chicago already has Josh Giddey locked in as the starter at point guard, and Tre Jones brings more proven value as the backup. If both are healthy, there just isn’t much room left for Dillingham to carve out a steady role.
He can still function next to another point guard as an off-ball option, but that only works if his defense takes a major step forward. Right now, his size and defensive issues make that fit hard to trust, especially alongside guards like Giddey and Jones.
There will be injuries over the course of the season, and Dillingham should get chances. But if he doesn’t make the most of them early, it’s hard to see him climbing much higher on the depth chart.
In Other News...
John Paxson Finally Exposed The Bulls Superstar Problem
John Paxsons latest reflection on his Bulls days offered a reminder that Chicagos dynasty years were built inside a front office culture that prized order as much as talent. On the Under The Number Podcast, the former executive revisited the 1990s power structure around Jerry Krause, Phil Jackson and Michael Jordan, describing it as uncomfortable and pointing to a mindset that valued the organizations way of doing things above individual preference.
Paxson also made clear that his own approach to evaluating players leaned heavily on winning pedigrees and basketball character, two filters that can sound sensible in theory but often narrow the pool in practice. For a franchise that has spent years trying to regain its footing, the comments land as another look back at how the Bulls once operated and why that model may have made it harder to bring in the kind of top-end talent modern teams need. [Read more 🡒]
Upper Deck Just Turned Jordans Bulls Legacy Into A New Chase
Upper Deck is putting a fresh spotlight on Michael Jordans collecting legacy, naming him its first-ever Legacy Partner and extending a relationship that dates back to 1992. For Bulls fans, it is another reminder of how deeply Jordans image still drives the hobby, especially when it comes to the cards and memorabilia tied to his earliest years in the league.
The company is also rolling out a buyback program built around sealed 1986-87 Fleer Basketball packs, and one of the most intriguing pieces in the release is a unique Rookie Pack among the Jordan-signed inventory. There is also a charity angle in the mix through an auction with eBay, which gives the announcement a broader reach beyond the collector market and keeps the focus on just how enduring Jordans Bulls-era appeal remains. [Read more 🡒]