Friday night gave the Chicago Bulls their clearest offensive snapshot of the preseason, and the picture was all about pace, cutting, and life above the rim. The ball kept finding its way into the paint, and once it got there, the Bulls kept making Minnesota pay.
The dunk parade started early and never really let up. Caleb Wilson, Matas Buzelis, Dailyn Swain, and Jaylin Sellers all threw down highlight finishes, with several of them getting to the rim more than once. The whole thing fit the kind of attack Chicago seems to be leaning into: move fast, attack space, and punish breakdowns before the defense can recover.
Buzelis stood out the most in that group. The third-year forward put on a show with a pair of alley-oops from Tre Jones, including one that came after what was basically a slip screen and a communication mistake by the Timberwolves. Buzelis slipped free, got a step on his man, and finished the play with authority for what was Chicago’s first poster of the 2026-27 season.
Later in the third quarter, Jones connected with him again, this time on a long outlet look after Buzelis raced up the floor. Jones launched the pass from halfcourt, and Buzelis finished it like it was routine.
Those two plays were about more than just highlight value. They were a reminder of what Jones brings to this group and why Chicago wants a creator like that on the floor with its athletic wings. When the roster is built around players who can fly, somebody has to be able to feed them.
Sellers made his own case, too. On two separate fast-break chances, he glided in with control before rising for a powerful one-handed finish.
Since Summer League, the former Providence guard has kept showing why the Bulls used their first UDFA signing on him. The athleticism is obvious, but it’s the edge he plays with that really seems to match what Chicago is trying to put together.
Caleb Wilson had a strong final preseason outing as well, and it looked like the kind of performance fans can expect to see once the games count. He finished with 16 points, 7 rebounds, and 4 assists, shooting 7-15 from the field and 2-5 from three.
Several of his baskets came from simply being in the right place at the right time. His first score came after Jalen Smith grabbed an offensive rebound, and Wilson quickly slid into the open lane before exploding for a one-dribble, two-handed dunk.
His best sequence came late in the first quarter. Wilson drove, spun, and tried to finish through contact, saw the shot bounce off the back of the rim, then stayed with it and ripped down his own miss for the putback dunk. That mix of burst and second effort has been part of what made him such a standout at UNC.
He also made his presence felt defensively. Wilson finished with two big blocks, including one with both hands, and he and Buzelis looked capable of bothering shots in the lane even if the Bulls still have work to do down low.
The passing may be the quietest but most important part of Wilson’s preseason. He recorded at least three assists for the third time this preseason, and that matters for a team that clearly wants the ball in his hands.
Wilson has been open about that part of his game, and the Bulls’ offense is built on quick decisions, tempo, and moving the ball. Against Minnesota, Chicago delivered 34 assists, and Wilson was a major part of that flow.
Jordan Hawkins also flashed in a way that should keep him on the radar. The new two-way guard got his best look yet for Chicago, and he made the most of it against a makeshift Minnesota group.
Hawkins played 19 minutes and finished with 14 points, hitting 4 of 5 from three. He also added 3 assists, 3 rebounds, and 2 steals.
The former Bryson Graham lottery pick in New Orleans never fully settled in there after limited production, but his shooting still stands out. For a Bulls team looking to place more shooting around its young core, that makes him at least interesting. It’s too soon to say he’ll get major minutes anytime soon, but a game like this makes it easier to see how he could earn a longer look.
And if Buddy Hield misses time, Hawkins is the sort of option Tiago Splitter might not be able to ignore.
In Other News...
Caleb Wilson Is Forcing A Bulls Question Tiago Splitter Can't Ignore
The Bulls closed their preseason with a 133-116 win over Minnesota, and Caleb Wilson gave them one more reminder that his rise is becoming part of the conversation in Chicago. The rookie was active from the start, scoring efficiently, helping on the glass and making plays as a passer and defender in a game that showcased why the organization is already taking a long look at what he can become.
Tiago Splitter praised Wilsons development afterward and made clear how central the young forward is to the teams future, but he also flagged the bigger challenge sitting ahead of this group. Wilson can supply energy and production in a hurry, yet the Bulls still have to build an offense that doesnt lean too heavily on one newcomer, even one with star potential. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Still Waiting On A Frontcourt Piece They Really Need
The Bulls are still waiting for Nic Claxton to join the frontcourt group they envisioned when they brought him in, and the hold-up has stretched into preseason. Claxton has been out because of a hamstring injury, leaving Jalen Smith to handle the big-man minutes in his place while Chicago keeps piecing together its interior rotation.
There is at least some movement on the injury front elsewhere, with Zach Collins, Issac Okoro and Tobe Awaka all reportedly improving. The broader outlook around those sidelined players looks better, which only sharpens the focus on Claxton as the one big man the Bulls are still missing most, and the one whose return remains the most important unresolved piece. [Read more 🡒]
Derrick Rose Just Gave Bulls Fans A Powerful Reminder
The Bulls had more than a preseason game to think about at the United Center, where Derrick Rose made an appearance and reminded everyone how much he still means to this franchise. The former MVP and Chicago native has stayed connected to the organization, and his presence around the team carried the kind of weight that only comes from years of shared history and a city that never really stopped claiming him as one of its own.
Rose also spent time around training and crossed paths with Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain, another sign that his bond with the Bulls is still active, not just sentimental. With Chicago now turning its attention toward the regular season opener against the Toronto Raptors on October 21, moments like this add a little extra texture to camp, especially when they come from a player whose connection to the team still resonates this strongly. [Read more 🡒]