When the Bulls’ young core gets the spotlight this season, Tre Jones might end up doing some of the most important work in the background.
Chicago’s attention will naturally drift toward Caleb Wilson, the No. 4 overall pick who followed a strong Summer League showing with the kind of buzz that makes him look like the organization’s best developmental piece since Derrick Rose. Matas Buzelis is also headed into a Year 3 stretch that should draw plenty of interest after he took a clear step forward last season.
Josh Giddey, still just 23 even as he enters his sixth NBA season, is coming off his most efficient year from three and a better run getting to the line. And then there’s Dailyn Swain, the No. 15 pick, who may spend time in the G League but still looks poised to become part of the rotation as a rookie.
For all of that upside to turn into something real, the Bulls need the right kind of support around those players. That helps explain why the front office brought in Norman Powell for shooting and Nic Claxton for rim protection. The team may not be built to pile up wins, but it does need an identity and a steady level of competition.
That’s where Jones comes in.
The simplest reason he matters is roster construction. Chicago didn’t load up on backcourt depth, which leaves the team thin behind Giddey when it comes to traditional ball-handling.
Jones and Rob Dillingham are the only true point guard options in that spot, and Dillingham still has a long way to go before he’s ready for meaningful NBA minutes. If injuries hit, Jones could be asked to carry a heavy load.
He’s also earned that kind of responsibility. Last season, the former Spurs guard put up 14.1 points, 5.4 assists, and 1.2 steals across 64 games while shooting 55.3 percent from the field. That’s efficient production, plain and simple.
But the real value in Jones’ game is the way he organizes an offense. He can push the pace in transition, make quick reads in the half-court, and keep the ball moving without overcomplicating things. Like Giddey, he brings feel and distribution, and that matters even more on a roster full of young players still learning how to read NBA defenses.
That’s why Jones could wind up being a major help to Wilson, Swain, and Buzelis. Chicago may want those guys to grow into on-ball roles, but that process takes time.
The Bulls also have a group that’s been praised for athleticism and the ability to run the floor, and Jones is the kind of guard who can make that translate. Giddey will fill that role with the starters, but with plenty of staggering expected, Jones could be the one steering the second unit.
There’s another angle here, too. Jones may not just be useful on the floor; he could also become a trade chip.
He was already part of deadline conversation last season during his breakout year, and now he’s entering the second year of his contract at $8.0 million. The third year is a team option, so the deal can practically be viewed as expiring.
For a player with his skill set, that’s a reasonable number.
The Bulls could certainly decide to keep him if he continues to provide exactly what they need. But Bryson Graham is going to keep his options open. Jones might help this team in the short term without being part of the long-term picture in Chicago, and that’s the kind of decision a front office has to weigh carefully.
Either way, he should matter. Jones may not grab the headlines this season, but he has a real chance to make the Bulls better.
In Other News...
Bulls Fans Can Finally Judge Bryson Grahams First Big Roster Bet
Bryson Grahams first offseason running the Bulls basketball operations office gave Chicago plenty to evaluate before training camp even gets rolling. He used the summer to reshape the roster around a young core, taking Caleb Wilson at No. 4 overall, adding Norman Powell on a two-year deal, landing Nic Claxton in a trade and bringing back Zach Collins, all while signaling that development would remain a priority for a team trying to move forward without boxing itself in.
The bigger question now is how those moves will hold up once the season pressure starts to build. The Bulls still have room to keep tinkering before opening night, and the way Graham has approached the roster suggests he wants options as much as immediate help, which means the real judgment on this first big bet may not come until the front office decides whether to stay patient or make one more move. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Offseason Pivot Around Patrick Williams Just Got More Serious
The Bulls offseason has already turned into a search for ways to reshape the roster around a younger core, and Patrick Williams has emerged as one of the more notable names in the conversation. Chicago has been weighing different trade scenarios with teams such as the Clippers and Kings, using Williams contract and uneven production as part of a broader effort to improve the roster without waiting for internal growth alone.
What makes the discussion more interesting is the direction of the Bulls interest. The front office is not just looking to move money around or add another stopgap piece, but is trying to land a player who better fits the timeline and, in the process, collect added draft help. Until a deal actually gets done, the Williams chatter remains part of the larger offseason pivot, but it is a strong signal that Chicago is prepared to be more aggressive than usual. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Suddenly Have A Dailyn Swain Problem They Can't Ignore
Dailyn Swains first run with the Bulls did not do much to quiet the questions around his long-term fit. Over four Summer League games, the rookie struggled to finish plays cleanly and never found any real rhythm, with erratic ball handling and shaky decisions making it hard to see an immediate path to steady NBA minutes. For a team looking to sort out the back end of its roster, that kind of showing matters, even in a setting where growth usually counts more than results.
The Bulls still have preseason chances to get a clearer read on how far Swain has to go and whether there is a role for him sooner rather than later. For now, the bigger issue is development, and there is already a sense among observers that a stint in the G League may be the best next step before he can be trusted with meaningful playing time in Chicago. [Read more 🡒]