The Chicago Bulls have three developmental questions to answer, and each one could shape how Tiago Splitter manages this young roster.

On today’s Chicago Bulls Central, Haize breaks down why Tre Jones may be more valuable to the rebuild than his own box score suggests, how Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson can attack Milwaukee’s size, and why Jordan Hawkins has earned a legitimate audition for a bigger role.

Caleb Wilson said of Tre Jones, “I trust him with the ball,” while Tiago Splitter emphasized Jones’ speed with the second unit. Jones returned against Denver and recorded five assists with zero turnovers in 9:47, despite not scoring. That raises a bigger question: how much value can an organizer create by putting young players in better developmental situations? Pasted text

Tre’s role could be especially important for Dailyn Swain, Caleb, Matas, Noa Essengue and Leonard Miller. The goal isn’t to remove responsibility from the young players. It’s to give them more possessions where they can recognize an advantage, make a decision and learn from what happens next. Pasted text

Then we look ahead to Milwaukee.

If the Bucks use Myles Turner and Kel’el Ware together, Chicago’s young forwards need to make that size defend movement and space instead of attacking two stationary rim protectors. That could mean using Caleb as a screener, forcing Milwaukee’s bigs into decisions and giving Matas chances to attack a defense that has already shifted. Pasted text

And finally:

FREE HAWK. 👀

Dan Hurley reshared Jordan Hawkins’ Bulls highlights with that message after Hawkins hit two of three threes and scored six points in 10:18 against Denver. Hawkins remains on a two-way contract, so one encouraging appearance doesn’t establish a permanent rotation role. But it absolutely gives Chicago a reason to test him again. Pasted text

🔥 Today on Chicago Bulls Central:

• 🧠 Why Tre Jones matters beyond his own scoring
• 📈 How Tre can support Dailyn Swain’s development
• 🔥 Specific developmental assignments for Caleb, Matas, Noa and Leonard Miller
• 👀 Why Tre still has to threaten the defense himself
• 🏀 How Matas and Caleb can attack Milwaukee’s size
• 💪 Why Caleb screening could force the Bucks’ bigs out of their comfort zone
• 🎯 Jalen Smith’s spacing impact
• ⚡ How to get Matas attacking a moving defense
• 👀 Dan Hurley’s “Free Hawk” message
• 🔥 What Jordan Hawkins must prove beyond making threes
• 🎯 Hawkins vs Buddy Hield as movement shooters
• 🧩 Regular minutes vs situational role vs Windy City development

💬 Who would benefit most from Tre Jones’ minutes, and what should Chicago do next with Jordan Hawkins?

👍 LIKE

🔔 SUBSCRIBE

🐂 Tap into Chicago Bulls Central with Haize!

Podcast Links: https://linktr.ee/BullsCentralPod

Get at us:

Email: BullsCentralPod@gmail.com

Twitter:@BullsCentralPod

Phone: ‪(773) 270-2799‬

Caleb Wilson’s 17 points against Denver may not have been the most important part of his performance.

On today’s Chicago Bulls Central, Haize breaks down why Wilson’s ability to adjust when his three-point shot wasn’t falling could tell us much more about his offensive development.

Caleb finished with 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including just 1-of-4 from three, but he went 5-of-6 inside the arc while also recording five assists. Instead of allowing an inconsistent jumper to eliminate him from the offense, Wilson found production through drives, midrange opportunities and other ways to pressure Denver’s defense. Pasted text

That raises a major developmental question:

Can Caleb consistently identify what the defense is giving him before the opportunity disappears?

We also go Facts or Cap on Noa Essengue.

Noa posted eight points, six rebounds, four offensive boards and two assists against Denver. The debate is whether Chicago should already expect meaningful self-created offense from him, or whether his immediate role should focus on cutting, rebounding, screening, finishing advantages and making quick decisions while his creation develops. Pasted text

My verdict?

CAP on the idea that Noa must become a self-creator before he can help Chicago.

But patience still needs standards.

And finally, we break down Nic Claxton’s impact on the Bulls defense.

Chicago tried different ways to handle Denver’s Nikola Jokic, who finished with 22 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists, while Aaron Gordon scored 25. The bigger lesson wasn’t simply whether Chicago should double. It was what happens AFTER the ball leaves Jokic’s hands. Pasted text

Claxton can give Tiago Splitter more options when he returns, but he cannot defend every action by himself. The guards and forwards still need to communicate, recover, recognize cutters and finish possessions with rebounds. Pasted text

🔥 Today on Chicago Bulls Central:

• Caleb Wilson finding offense when the jumper disappears
• Why Caleb’s 5-of-6 two-point shooting matters
• Caleb’s five assists and five turnovers
• How Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey can simplify Caleb’s reads
• Facts or Cap on Noa Essengue
• Noa’s offensive rebounding and activity
• Why self-creation does NOT have to come first
• How Chicago can keep Noa involved without destroying spacing
• Nic Claxton’s defensive impact
• Why doubling creates another defensive problem
• Matas and Caleb’s responsibilities behind the help
• What Chicago must learn before facing elite Eastern Conference offenses

💬 Which development matters most right now: Caleb’s counters, Noa’s offensive role or Chicago’s defensive communication?

👍 LIKE

🔔 SUBSCRIBE

🐂 Tap into Chicago Bulls Central with Haize!

Podcast Links: https://linktr.ee/BullsCentralPod

Get at us:

Email: BullsCentralPod@gmail.com

Twitter:@BullsCentralPod

Phone: ‪(773) 270-2799‬

Black averaged 15.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 3.7 assists across 64 games last season, giving Chicago plenty to evaluate if his availability ever becomes real. Pasted text

🔥 Today on Chicago Bulls Central:

• 😳 Leonard Miller’s 26-point explosion
• 🔥 Miller’s 52 points through three preseason games
• 🎯 His 4-for-6 night from three
• 🧠 What greater offensive responsibility should actually look like
• 👀 Miller beside Giddey, Caleb, Matas, Powell and Hield
• 📈 How Miller could affect future Bulls roster building
• 🤔 Josh Giddey taking only three shots
• 🎯 Why scoring pressure can make Giddey’s passing even better
• 🌟 How an aggressive Giddey could help Caleb and Matas
• 👀 Anthony Black’s contract situation in Orlando
• 🧩 Whether Black fits beside Giddey
• 💰 Restricted free agency complications
• 🔭 What Chicago should monitor throughout the season

💬 Which development matters most: giving Miller more offensive responsibility, getting Giddey to attack more, or putting Anthony Black on Chicago’s future target list?

👍 LIKE

🔔 SUBSCRIBE

🐂 Tap into Chicago Bulls Central with Haize!

Podcast Links: https://linktr.ee/BullsCentralPod

Get at us:

Email: BullsCentralPod@gmail.com

Twitter:@BullsCentralPod

Phone: ‪(773) 270-2799‬