Will this blog provide analysis for every game? doubtful. Every preseason game? certainly not. But before I get into the 2026 Preseason opener, reminder to subscribe via RSS or email so you don’t need to know any kind of bloggin’ “schedule”:
Let’s zoom out, first: I think this team will have very few victories this season. But I don’t care, and based off of their comments this training camp, I don’t think the Bulls braintrust1 much cares either.
What they (and I) care about is how certain players develop over the course of a season. And that is a tricky balance not so much in terms of winning games, but if the lineups these players are in provide good laboratories for them to grow. You want players pushed within a role, but don’t want them to be so overmatched in that role it junks the entire lineup.
What looks to be the largest variable in this dynamic is Dailyn Swain running point guard. While Swain performed better offensively in this preseason game than he did in all of Summer League, he severely struggled handling defensive pressure, with 3 turnovers in his 22 minutes including an 8-second violation. This is a case where I don’t so much worry about his own development as a future lead ballhandler, it’s as if his struggles making the whole lineup inoperable offensively, except in transition. We can’t even be sure that Swain would have even played PG minutes if not for the late scratch of Tre Jones. Would he have played much at all? But interesting to note that the Bulls don’t have an emergency/3rd PG on the roster after trading Rob Dillingham.
There’s a similar situation at Center, where the injury to Nic Claxton (and perpetual absence of Zach Collins) meant a starting nod to Jalen Smith and the backup being Undrafted Rookie 2-Way signing Tobe Awaka. Both played well on offense (Smith with two 3s, Awaka with 6 offensive rebounds) but the lack of rim protection means there was a lot of stress on the perimeter defenders, particularly Caleb Wilson.
This is bad lede-ing! Here’s what you all came to see: Wilson’s offensive highlights in his preseason debut:
But Wilson was a very rough watch on the defensive end, a tweener not able to stay up on the perimeter and a lack of strength in the defensive frontcourt. Again, I’m not concerned about better team defense translating to victories, but will having a better rim protector allow Wilson to better grow as a disruptor on defense?
Even if so, I’m not sure it’s worth the downgrade on offense to not have Smith play a lot. Both Wilson and Matas Buzelis were dreadful shooting the ball (combined 0-10 from three including several airballs) but scored inside when there was space for them.
It’s only one game, but I’m wondering if the Nic Claxton acquisition was a mistake in priorities. He will help the team’s record to provide better defense and better turnover generation towards transition offense, but I am concerned with a lack of spacing from the non-Wilson&Buzelis spots (Norm Powell was good, Giddey was Giddey) making the half court offense of both should-be-high-usage forwards too challenging.
This extends down the rotation, and we will have to see how Tiago Splitter wants to play based on who he plays. Preseason, with the absence of Claxton and shockingly-critical Jones, isn’t going to be the most informative example but I have some early ideas under the unlikely scenario everyone is healthy and available:
Starters should be Giddey/Powell/Wilson/Buzelis/Smith. Claxton is higher-paid but doesn’t have the status belying a guaranteed starting spot, especially coming back from injury and missing all of camp.
Then off the bench I figure Jones and Swain as guards, which hopefully means not requiring Swain to bring the ball up the court. Leonard Miller as backup forward (maybe their best 22-and-under performer last night?). With Claxton as backup center, I would prefer Buddy Hield getting the next nod in the rotation over Okoro due to his shooting. Okoro, Pat Williams, and Noa Essengue don’t need to play, with the latter being sent to the GLeague to get a lot of minutes, if only to stress test his physical readiness. I don’t put Essengue over Miller in terms of priority of development just due to draft status.
Again, that’s all in the regular season and with everyone healthy. We have a few preseason games to go and there may be more absences planned or unplanned. There are 2 games this weekend, Friday at home versus The Grizzlies and Sunday in Denver.
not using that term sarcastically…yet
I think it was interesting to see swain giving orders and moving guys around on both offense and defense. I think splitter is more invested in the project that is swain as a means of recreating deni. When we got Tiago as a coach I had a feeling swain would be his pick as an athletic 6'8 wing who had been running point in college.
But it's one thing to run point in college when you have every athletic advantage most nights, and running point in the nba where every player is either an Uber athlete or a basketball genius - if not both.
In summer league and even in swains opening stint yeaterday, it wasn't the turnovers that were an issue to me...it was his demeanor and lack of confidence.
Before being pulled the first time Swain sat in the right corner hands down. The play happened without him and it was a missed shot. Swain was one of the last to transition to defense...I think it was tobe who was on court that got the offensive rebound. He was looking for someone to come get the ball and there was an opportunity for Swain to cut to the basket. He didn't. He essentially stayed in the corner. That was a concern.
Fortunately he came back and shook off whatever mental block he had. And I thought he played well
He needs reps. I think he may have a lot of stings in gleague, because to me he can't just be another wing. He was selected for his potential as an on-ball playmaker and that's where his value lies. I'm hoping he figures it out because I think he can be a force if he's able to be a full time of.
Caleb I thought looked great, boxscore be damned. He plays a lot like a wing and I'd like to see more effort on the boards and defense instead....but he looks every bit athletic as advertised and has a ton of confidence.
Powell surprised me with his passing, handles were underwhelming but his vision and instincts are great. I can see how he was an all-star.
Buzelis underwhelmed me, I don't think he's pat level bad and it's only preseason, but I was hoping to see a bit more polish from him...but it's one preseason game so that's on me for having such expectations.
I also thought it was funny seeing the bulls purposely slowing down and running plays out of the half court rather than trying to run. Funny because it really highlights our rosters flaws. Like giddey looked uncomfortable at times. But I think this is needed. We can't be playing to hide flaws right now, we need to see where the issues are and address those things with development and roster construction.
There's hope in players like Caleb and Swain, but this team is very much far away from being competitive I think