You can make a pretty strong case that the Bulls’ 2026-27 opener is now one of the more interesting early games on the schedule.
The reason is Kawhi Leonard, whose trade from the Clippers to the Raptors finally appears ready to be signed off after sitting in the background for weeks. The deal was first made public on June 30, but the Aspiration news pushed it out of the center of the NBA conversation. Now, per Shams Charania of ESPN, Leonard is headed back to Toronto - the place where he won the 2019 title - in exchange for Brandon Ingram, Gradey Dick, two unprotected first-round picks, one first-round pick swap and two second-rounders.
For Chicago, that means the season starts with a serious test in Toronto on Wednesday, Oct. 21.
And if Leonard shows up looking anything like the player he was last season, the Bulls will be dealing with a real problem right out of the gate. The 35-year-old played 65 games and averaged 32.1 minutes per night in a bounce-back year. He put up 27.9 points, 6.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.9 steals while shooting 50.5/38.7/89.2, earning Second Team All-NBA honors and finishing seventh in MVP voting.
That’s the version of Leonard Chicago could see when it opens the year in Toronto.
The Bulls’ schedule doesn’t exactly ease them in after that, either. They get what should be a pair of manageable games next, first on the road against the Milwaukee Bucks and then at home against the Washington Wizards. After that, the calendar gets a lot less forgiving.
Beginning on Oct. 26, Chicago faces seven straight games against title contenders: the New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs. Then comes another stretch against playoff teams from last season in the Atlanta Hawks, Minnesota Timberwolves and Cleveland Cavaliers.
There’s plenty for Bulls fans to like heading into the year. Caleb Wilson, the No. 4 pick in this past summer’s draft, already looks like a superstar.
Matas Buzelis returns for his third season after another offseason of growth. And with executive VP of basketball operations Bryson Graham steering the ship, the organization at least seems to be headed in a more coherent direction.
Still, none of that guarantees immediate results.
Not even in the opener.
In Other News...
Bulls Center Decision Could Still Come Back To Haunt Chicago
Chicagos offseason center picture took another turn when Nick Richards found a new home in Miami after the Bulls decided not to bring him back following the Nic Claxton acquisition. Richards fit in Chicago became expendable once the frontcourt hierarchy changed, and now the Bulls are left to see whether moving on was the right call as he lands on a team with a clear need for size and physicality.
Miami is leaning on Richards as a possible rotational answer in a frontcourt that got thinner after the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade, a role built around defending the rim and helping on the glass. For a player whose NBA career has been uneven and interrupted by injuries, the opportunity is still there to settle into a useful stretch, and Chicago will be watching to see whether the parting of ways ends up looking prudent or premature. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Fans Just Got An Early Look At Splitters New Era
Tiago Splitters first Bulls staff is now official, giving Chicago a first real look at the structure around its new head coach before the season gets rolling. The group includes Taj Gibson, Rex Kalamian, Jamelle McMillan, Jonah Herscu, Blake Ahearn and Jordan Brink, with several names carrying over, changing roles or arriving with a fresh set of responsibilities as the organization settles into a new era.
The mix also says plenty about the direction the Bulls want to take under Splitter, blending familiarity with new voices and a heavy emphasis on development. Wes Unseld Jr. is back in the fold for a third season in Chicago, and Brinks arrival from New York adds another layer to the bench and the player-development side of the operation, even before the roster starts to fully take shape. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Center Search Just Got Linked To A Fascinating Rockets Situation
The Bulls ongoing search for help at center has now been loosely tied to an intriguing Houston subplot, one that could matter if Chicago decides to keep probing the market for young, high-end big men. Alperen Sengun has already shown why hes become one of the Rockets most important pieces, with real offensive skill that stands out for a player his size, even as questions remain about his defense and rebounding.
For a Bulls team still trying to build a more stable long-term core, any hint of movement around a player like Sengun is worth watching. He is under contract in Houston, so this is far from a simple opening, but the idea of Chicago monitoring the situation makes sense if the Rockets ever become willing to listen. For now, the connection is more about possibility than momentum, which is exactly why it has become such a conversation piece. [Read more 🡒]