The Bulls’ preseason run has moved forward without Nic Claxton, and there still isn’t a clear sign he’ll be ready before the games count.
Chicago closes out the preseason Friday against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but Claxton remains sidelined with the hamstring injury he suffered in practice. The team initially put him on a 2-week evaluation, and head coach Tiago Splitter said before the game that Claxton was still the exception among Chicago’s injured players, according to Will Gottlieb of CHGO Bulls.
“3 of those players are on the upswing, except for Claxton,” Splitter said.
Claxton wasn’t the only Bull unavailable. Zach Collins, Issac Okoro, and Tobe Awaka also sat out. Collins is dealing with a soft-tissue injury to his toe, Okoro has a quadriceps contusion, and Awaka is out with knee inflammation.
While Claxton’s return remains uncertain, Jalen Smith has handled the center minutes in his absence and has already posted double-figure scoring nights against the Phoenix Suns and Milwaukee Bucks. If Collins gets back sooner, Chicago would at least regain another option as a backup big in the second unit.
The Bulls brought Claxton in a trade with the Brooklyn Nets in July, betting on the kind of interior presence they’ve been missing. He gives them size, strength, and rim protection, and he can also stretch the floor, push in transition, and operate in the pick-and-roll.
Last season with Brooklyn, Claxton averaged 11.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, and 3.7 assists across 69 games while shooting 57.1% from the field.
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