The Bulls may have stumbled onto a far better answer at forward than the one they’ve been paying for.
Leonard Miller turned heads in the preseason, flashing exactly the kind of pop Chicago has been missing from the position. He dropped 26 points against the Denver Nuggets and followed that with 18 against the Milwaukee Bucks, giving the Bulls something real to think about as the 2026-27 regular season approaches.
That matters because Patrick Williams has become a costly problem. Chicago took him at No. 4 overall in the 2020 NBA Draft, then committed to him with a five-year, $90 million deal despite questions about whether he would ever grow into a true high-level 3-and-D wing, much less the All-Star upside expected from a top-five pick. Now, with three years left on that contract and little evidence of major progress, Williams is widely viewed as one of the league’s worst deals.
The Bulls do have brighter long-term pieces at forward in Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson. But Williams’ spot in the pecking order is still a headache, especially with his $18 million annual salary and his .385/.350/.722 shooting splits over the last two seasons.
That’s where Miller enters the picture. If his preseason surge carries into the regular season, Chicago could finally have a believable alternative in the rotation and a path toward moving on from Williams, at least on the floor if not on the payroll.
Of course, the cleanest solution would be trading Williams. The problem is obvious: there may be virtually no market for a player owed $54 million in guaranteed or player-optioned money. That leaves the Bulls with a tougher choice - keep playing him or accept that the return on that investment might be limited to whatever he can still give them.
Miller, though, gives them a way out if his 2025-26 form proves real. In 27 games, the 6-foot-10 forward averaged 11.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 1.7 offensive boards, 1.3 assists, and 1.1 three-point field goals made in 23.1 minutes a night, while shooting .555/.356/.762. He also finished in the 80th percentile in defensive positional versatility and the 64th percentile in rim deterrence, according to Basketball Index.
That kind of profile could make him an ideal backup for Wilson in 2026-27.
There are still rough edges. Defending in space remains an issue. But Miller’s appeal is easy to see: he crashes the glass, he can knock down shots, and he has enough offensive range to threaten from multiple spots on the floor.
He doesn’t need the ball to matter. That’s a big part of the appeal.
In 2025-26, he ranked in the 77th percentile in offensive rebounds per 75 possessions and the 75th percentile in screen assists per 75 possessions. He also placed in the 87th percentile in field goal percentage at the rim and the 53rd percentile in midrange shot making efficiency, showing he can contribute both as a finisher and as a player who can create a bit for himself.
The sample is still small, and his contract situation complicates everything. But if Miller keeps climbing in 2026-27, the Bulls could find themselves with a realistic future at forward that doesn’t depend on Williams at all.
In Other News...
Bulls Could Have Another Norman Powell Style Opportunity
An opening has emerged for Chicago to keep one eye on the present and another on the trade market. Kevin Porter Jr. was released by the Bucks ahead of the roster cut-down deadline, putting a productive guard into the kind of free-agent lane that can appeal to a team trying to stay flexible while still adding talent.
For the Bulls, the fit is obvious enough to at least merit a look. They have an open roster spot and cap space, and Porter could address two needs at once as a shot-creator and perimeter defender. It is the same basic kind of play Chicago made with Norman Powell, signing him on an expiring deal with the idea of moving him later, and Porter could give them another chance to work that angle if they choose to chase it. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Have An Obvious Wing Option Worth Watching Closely
Dalton Knechts name is one the Bulls have every reason to keep close tabs on as they look for help on the wing. The Lakers moved on from the 2024 first-round pick on Oct. 19, 2026, opening the door for a player who arrived in Los Angeles with clear scoring upside and, at least early on, looked like he could become a useful perimeter threat.
His path stalled after the Lakers reshaped their roster around Luka Doncic, leaving Knecht without a steady role to build on. For Chicago, that kind of situation makes him a logical flyer: a young wing with shot-making ability and a chance to address a depth chart that still needs more reliable scoring on the edges. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Opener Plans Just Changed With One Roster Absence Looming
The Bulls trip north to open the season got a little thinner before the team even reached Toronto. Dailyn Swain and Jordan Hawkins will not travel with Chicago for the opener because of illness, a late change that leaves the Bulls adjusting their available bodies for a road game that already carries the usual first-night uncertainty.
In their place, two-way players Tobe Awaka and Jaylin Sellers are expected to make the trip and give Chicago some extra depth. The roster picture is also getting a longer-term boost, with the club exercising team options on Matas Buzelis and Noa Essengue for the 2027-28 season, another sign the Bulls are keeping part of their young core in place even as the immediate opener plan shifts. [Read more 🡒]