Bryson Graham didn’t need much time after his first NBA Draft as the Chicago Bulls’ lead executive to point out the obvious: this roster needs shooting.
That reality helped shape the Bulls’ offseason. Chicago went out and brought in Norman Powell on a two-year, $45.0 million deal, adding a proven perimeter threat who has shot nearly 40.0 percent from three for his career and cleared that mark in five of his last six seasons. But one shooter does not solve a modern NBA spacing problem, and the Bulls still have work to do.
They’ve got one open roster spot and the $9.4 million room exception available, but the market has moved quickly. That leaves the front office with fewer obvious options and raises the possibility that the answer could come from inside the building - maybe even from one of the undrafted guards they’ve already brought in.
Chicago made its priorities clear after the draft by targeting shooting. Among the newcomers, Jaylin Sellers looks like the most established bet.
The Providence guard signed a two-way deal in June, so the Bulls already view him as part of the organization’s plans when the season begins. Sellers isn’t a flashy athlete, but he knows how to put the ball in the basket and plays with a high motor.
Last season, he shot 42.9 percent on nearly 6.0 three-point attempts per game and hit 85.9 percent of his free throws while getting to the line 4.5 times a night.
Tiago Splitter has already noticed. During Summer League camp, the Bulls’ new head coach praised Sellers for how hard he’s worked in practice, along with his shooting and his ability to get into the paint. The real proving ground comes in Las Vegas, but Chicago clearly likes what it has seen so far.
Donovan Atwell is another undrafted name worth watching. The Texas Tech senior put up eye-popping numbers from deep, knocking down 45.8 percent of his threes on 8.4 attempts per game across 34 games. He doesn’t offer much creation for teammates and isn’t known for breaking down defenses off the dribble, but the shot is real enough that Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report said he had a case to be the best shooter in the draft.
Houston Mallette is a different kind of long shot, but he’s in the mix too. The Alabama guard has made 37.2 percent of his threes over his college career, and plenty of people remember his big NCAA Tournament moment this year, when he buried five triples to help the Crimson Tide reach the Sweet Sixteen. His path to a roster spot or a two-way contract is tougher than some of the others, but his jumper can still make noise in Summer League.
Chicago also added two G-League guards who know this environment well: Antonio Reeves and Boo Buie. Reeves shot 38.7 percent from deep on 7.7 attempts per game with the Hornets’ G League affiliate this past season, while Buie posted nearly identical numbers for the Mexico City Capitanes. Reeves also has a past connection to Graham, who drafted him with the New Orleans Pelicans a couple of years ago, and that certainly doesn’t hurt his case.
The Bulls are clearly betting on volume, skill and repetition to uncover a shooter who can stick. Around the league, players like Sam Houser, Sam Merrill, Max Strus and Isaiah Joe have shown that elite shooting can keep a career alive. Chicago is hoping one of these names can follow that path and carve out a real NBA role.
In Other News...
Josh Giddey Just Got A Real Bulls Backcourt Warning
Chicagos backcourt picture already has a new layer to it, and it starts with rookie Dailyn Swain. Head coach Tiago Splitter and Swain both talked recently about the rookies potential to handle point guard duties, which matters because the Bulls are not just looking for another ballhandler, they are looking for someone who can push for real minutes in a crowded rotation. For a team trying to sort out its guard hierarchy, that makes Swain more than a developmental name to watch.
Josh Giddey still sits at the center of that conversation, but his hold on the job is not being treated as untouchable. The Bulls know the ball security issues have been there, and Swains college profile suggests he can create pressure in different ways, including drawing contact. The next few months should tell the story, from Summer League to training camp and into the opening stretch of the season, when Chicago will get a better read on whether this is just competition or the start of a real challenge. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Just Got Hit With A National Ranking Fans Wont Accept
The Bulls spent the offseason trying to reshape the roster around Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis, and the front office did not exactly sit on its hands. Chicago added Caleb Wilson, Dailyn Swain, Nic Claxton and Norman Powell, a mix of youth, size and proven scoring that gives the roster a different look heading into the new season. Tiago Splitter also arrives as the new head coach, so there is more than just personnel change at play here.
Still, Bleacher Report was not impressed enough to move Chicago out of the lower tier, slotting the Bulls 27th in its post-free-agency power rankings. That kind of placement is the sort of thing a fan base notices quickly, especially when there is at least a plausible case that the new pieces can make the group more competitive and put the Bulls in the play-in conversation. Whether the national view catches up to the rosters actual upside is the part worth watching. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Face Painful Truth As Rebuild Hits Harsh Ceiling
Dean Olivers latest look at the Bulls roster offered a blunt reminder of where the rebuild stands. Using his Net Points per 100 Possessions metric against different levels of competition, the basketball analytics expert found several Chicago players struggling no matter who was on the floor across the 2025-26 season, a pattern that helps explain why the front office has already started making changes. The departures of Guerschon Yabusele and Anfernee Simons fit into that larger reset, and Collin Sextons exit only adds to the sense that Chicago is still searching for a workable core.
What makes the analysis sting is that the concerns are not limited to fringe pieces. Olivers numbers also raise questions around Matas Buzelis, Isaac Okoro and Rob Dillingham, players the Bulls would prefer to see trending upward as the rebuild takes shape. Instead, the data suggests the ceiling may be lower than hoped, with too many rotation candidates flashing the same warning sign regardless of competition level. For a team trying to chart a faster path back to relevance, that is the kind of reality check that can force hard decisions sooner rather than later. [Read more 🡒]