Caleb Wilson is wasting no time forcing the Bulls to answer bigger questions about their future.
The rookie has already started to look like the kind of player people were talking about when they called his upside “otherworldly.” He has scored at least 20 points in five of his past six games, and he’s doing it while flashing real value on the defensive end, too. That kind of start changes the temperature around a team fast, and in Chicago it’s putting a harsh light on the players who were supposed to be part of the foundation.
Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey are the obvious names in that conversation. Before the 2026 NBA Draft, both looked like pieces the Bulls could build around.
Buzelis had a strong second season in 2025-26, with his scoring volume jumping and his defensive playmaking continuing to show up. Giddey, meanwhile, looked like a nightly triple-double threat.
That picture looks a lot less settled now.
So far, neither player has exactly popped next to Wilson, and that matters because this could be the trio that defines Chicago’s next era. Maybe there’s a natural adjustment period here.
Buzelis and Giddey are no longer being asked to carry the offense the way they once did, and that shift to second- and third-option roles behind Wilson may take time. But the Bulls’ offense has looked out of sync, and the veteran cornerstones have been a major part of that mess.
There’s still plenty of season left, but Wilson’s arrival ahead of schedule is already exposing some uncomfortable truths about the long-term plan.
Wilson himself is going to have rough nights in 2026-27. That comes with being a rookie, no matter how gifted he is. But the Bulls can’t afford the same kind of uneven production from Buzelis, a third-year scorer, and Giddey, a sixth-year playmaker.
The new coaching staff and system give both players some cover, at least for now. Even so, Giddey has gone long stretches without taking over games despite being the starting point guard and primary playmaker. Buzelis has also had his issues, turning the ball over, missing open shots, and slipping on defense.
And since neither one is making much of an impact defensively at the moment, the fit question only gets louder if the offense doesn’t come around.
It’s early - only seven games into the season - and this kind of conversation can feel premature. But Buzelis and Giddey didn’t enter 2026-27 with clean slates anyway. Now they’re sharing the floor with a true franchise player, and the spotlight on how they complement him is only getting brighter.
In Other News...
Bulls Had No Answer For A 76ers Team Looking Unstoppable
The Bulls ran into a Philadelphia team that has quickly started to look like one of the leagues early problems, with the 76ers winning again to stretch their streak to four and move to 7-1 on the season. Chicago could not keep pace with the way Philadelphia moved the ball and kept pressure on the defense, as Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown set the tone and Joel Embiid, LeBron James and V.J. Edgecombe all chipped in to keep the offense humming.
For the Bulls, the frustration was less about one hot hand than the overall rhythm Philadelphia found and sustained. The 76ers were getting quality looks, sharing the ball and forcing Chicago to chase for long stretches, which is exactly the kind of night that can make a good defensive plan look thin. If this is the version of Philadelphia the Bulls are going to see again, they will need a much cleaner answer than the one they came up with here. [Read more 🡒]
Caleb Wilson Is Giving Bulls Fans A Reason To Believe Again
Even in a loss to the 76ers, Caleb Wilson kept giving the Bulls something to hang onto. The rookie put up 24 points and seven rebounds, another steady night in a start that has quickly turned him into one of the most watchable young players in Chicago.
Wilsons early production has already put him in rare company, and the numbers are starting to pile up fast. He is averaging 21.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, a pace that has Bulls fans looking past the disappointment of one loss and toward what this stretch might mean if he keeps it up. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Visit To New York Suddenly Centers On Nic Claxton
The Bulls trip to New York on Wednesday has taken on a different feel because of the injury report, with Nic Claxton suddenly in the mix for the Knicks after being listed as questionable with a left hamstring strain. Claxton has yet to appear in a game this season or in the preseason, so his status matters not just for New Yorks frontcourt plans but for the way Chicago has to prepare on the road.
Jalen Smith has been handling the center duties in Claxtons absence and is listed as probable despite a left finger sprain. If Claxton is able to go, it would change the look of the matchup quickly, but for now the Bulls are left waiting on a decision that could shape how the game is played inside. [Read more 🡒]