Explore every episode of the podcast Cash Considerations: A Chicago Bulls Pod

Ricky and Jason recap the Bulls' three games after their disastrous 43-point season-opening loss to the Raptors. The Bulls got their first win under Tiago Splitter by beating the Bucks in a comeback victory after an ugly start, with Splitter benching Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey in crunch time to help secure the win. Then came a close loss to the Wizards that saw a furious fourth-quarter comeback fall just short. The Celtics game was somewhat competitive for about two and a half quarters before Boston unleashed an avalanche on Chicago. 

(16:23) - While it has been a struggle for the Bulls, Caleb Wilson has been a clear bright spot. Wilson's game against the Wizards with 30 and 14 is the headliner so far, but Ricky thinks the Celtics game was actually his best performance. Wilson showed off his versatility on both ends of the court with multiple splash plays, showing why he's arguably the Bulls' best player already. It has been interesting to see Splitter play Wilson deep into blowout games, as the head coach clearly feels the rookie needs the reps regardless of game situation. 

(25:38) - While Wilson has been terrific, Buzelis and Giddey have really struggled. Giddey is apparently dealing with a left wrist injury, but that's no excuse for just how poorly he has been playing and how low the effort has been. Although he's clearly making it more of a point to be a facilitator, he needs to be more aggressive looking for his shot. The numbers across the board are ugly, and while he'll undoubtedly hit a hot streak at some point like he has in the past, it's becoming more and more clear that this roller coaster is just who Giddey is. Wilson will almost certainly need a higher level point guard next to him for the Bulls to reach the next level. 

(34:44) - Buzelis' struggles have also been disappointing and rather mystifying, especially after he talked a big game in the offseason. Buzelis admitted to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times that he's still struggling to find his place in Splitter's offense alongside Wilson and Norman Powell, and there's obviously just something off right now. There's still plenty of time for him to figure things out, but is it time to smash that panic button when it comes to Buzelis' fit next to Wilson and any star equity he may have? 

(45:18) - Final quick-hitter thoughts, including the pleasant surprise of Noa Essengue minutes and Dailyn Swain finally making his debut. 

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The first game of the Bryson Graham and Tiago Splitter era was a total disaster, with the Bulls suffering a historic 43-point loss to Kawhi Leonard and the Raptors. The Bulls got sucked into a perfect storm of bad, with the Raptors presenting a uniquely difficult matchup for a young roster just learning how to play together under a new head coach. 

It was a mess up and down the lineup. Caleb Wilson's debut was marred by nine turnovers and a -45 in the box score, Josh Giddey played arguably his worst game as a Bull, and Matas Buzelis didn't do anything until garbage time. The Bulls' best offense was often Norman Powell grifting, or the occasional Tre Jones drive to the basket. At least Jalen Smith was pretty good too. 

The worst season-opening loss in franchise history was a harsh reminder of just how far the Bulls have to go, with Giddey and Buzelis' struggles the most disappointing. The good news is there's nowhere to go but up. 

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After winning their preseason opener against the Suns, the Bulls then suffered close losses to the Grizzlies and Nuggets. Ricky and Jason go through the roster to highlight the biggest storylines from these two preseason losses. 

(02:14) - Caleb Wilson has been a roller-coaster ride this preseason, but there have been plenty of exciting star flashes. After a quiet first half against the Grizzlies, Wilson exploded in the second half with a barrage of 3-pointers. He followed that up with a solid game against the Nuggets that did still feature plenty of mistakes. The Bulls are clearly giving Wilson a lot of leash to make mistakes, and there are going to be plenty of growing pains. What's the best way to handle Wilson's development? 

(17:45) - Matas Buzelis missed the Grizzlies game with an injury but returned for the Nuggets game and got off to a hot start from 3-point range after missing all of his triples against the Suns. Buzelis cooled off from deep after that but still wound up having a solid overall game as he shows an ongoing determination to get to the rim. However, there are still some concerns about his handle and playmaking ability as he tries to make a major leap in Year 3. 

(23:38) - Leonard Miller has arguably been the Bulls' best player in preseason, with his 26-point performance against the Nuggets really standing out. Not only was Miller everywhere as usual, he also hit four 3-pointers. Miller is making a strong case for big minutes this season off the bench and is making the Ayo Dosunmu trade look much better despite the Rob Dillinngham disaster. 

(35:55) - Rookie Dailyn Swain has been a disappointment so far, and Ricky is second-guessing his positive pre-draft evaluation. While Swain has been better than he was in Summer League, that bar was so low there was nowhere to go but up. Swain just doesn't look like the same guy he was at Texas with his lack of effective slashing, and his ugly 3-point shot needs a total overhaul. Will he get a lot of time in the G League or actually get rotation minutes to start the season? 

(43:26) - While Ricky is quickly souring on Swain, he's keeping more hope alive for Noa Essengue, who has seen more playing time in the last couple games. Essengue continues to struggle offensively, especially with his 3-point shot, but he did a bit more all over the court in Denver. In an intriguing move, the Bulls had Essengue pressuring the ball 94 feet, frustrating Jamal Murray on several occasions. Essengue does look ticketed for a lot of G League minutes and could wind up being a lost cause if he never develops offensively, but it's hard to give up on his size and athletic profile given he's still just so young. 

(56:17) - Final quick-hitter thoughts on Patrick Williams, Jordan Hawkins, Orlando Robinson, Josh Giddey, Tre Jones' return and the Bulls' bench. 

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The Bulls tipped off preseason play with a 124-117 victory over the Suns at the United Center. It was a sloppy, roller-coaster affair as expected, with turnovers aplenty committed by both teams. But all preseason caveats aside, there was plenty to break down all across the roster. 

The main focus was on Caleb Wilson's debut, and it was a predictably messy affair. While there were some tantalizing flashes throughout the night, Wilson's 3-point shot didn't look good and he was a bit overeager on both ends of the court. There will be plenty of growing pains in Wilson's rookie season, and it'll be important for him to learn from his mistakes as he gets more experience. 

Matas Buzelis also took center stage as the last player announced in the starting lineup, and he had an up-and-down game as well. Buzelis got off to a rip-roaring start with aggressive drives to the basket, but his 3-point shooting was a rough spot. The youngster missed all six of his 3-point attempts, including a number of airballs. Defensively, he had a tough assignment guarding the perimeter, leading to a rather mixed bag on that end. 

As for the rest of the starting lineup, Norman Powell did his thing in one half, while Josh Giddey looked like Josh Giddey. Jalen Smith got the start in place of the injured Nic Claxton and showed why he has a case to be the Opening Night starting center. 

Off the bench, Dailyn Swain was thrust into a point guard role again with Tre Jones out, and it looked like it was going to be a disaster at the outset. Swain struggled against ball pressure and committed several ugly turnovers, but instead of spiraling, he got better as the game went on and showed improvement. 

Tobe Awaka and Leonard Miller were other standouts, while Noa Essengue and Patrick Williams didn't see the court until the second half. Williams did make a pair of 3-pointers in his second-half action, but Essengue once again struggled offensively and looks targeted for the G League. 

The Bulls play the Grizzlies and Nuggets this weekend as preseason action continues. 

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2026 Bulls Media Day arrived Monday to officially tip off training camp, but before that, the Bulls traded Rob Dillingham to the Hornets for Buddy Hield. Dillingham was almost immediately waived by the Hornets, while Hield will bring a veteran presence, elite shooting and a possible trade chip to Chicago. 

After breaking down the Hield trade, Ricky and Jason go through their biggest takeaways from Media Day. Bryson Graham and Tiago Splitter got the ball rolling and stressed that the Bulls are at the ground floor of a rebuild and that this upcoming season will focus on development. But while there may not be a lot of wins this season, there can still be plenty of fun.

Graham also discussed his first offseason in charge and noted the trade market didn't develop as hoped when it came to acquiring more draft assets, so he used the Bulls' robust cap space to acquire vets Nic Claxton and Norman Powell to improve the floor of the team. The Bulls still have flexibility and there will be more opportunities for moves during the season, but Graham isn't going to mortgage the future for short-term gain. Graham is talking the talk so far, but he needs to prove soon he can walk th walk. 

On the injury front, Zach Collins is predictably already hurting, though he should be back relatively soon. Josh Giddey is at 100% after offseason ankle surgery, and everybody else is good to go. 

As for the biggest player storylines, everything revolves around Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis. The hype train is going full steam ahead for Wilson, though Graham wants to temper expectations and not go too overboard. Buzelis is looking forward to more "freedom" on both ends of the court, and his shot diet is going to be a big talking point this season as he looks to diversify his offensive skill set and take more mid-range shots. Fans will be paying close attention to how Splitter handles Wilson and Buzelis after complaints of Billy Donovan's short leash for Buzelis. 

How rookie Dailyn Swain bounces back from a terrible Summer League will also be something to watch, and Splitter noted it has been a night and day difference at training camp. There hasn't been a whole lot about Noa Essengue, but Splitter noted he's looking aggressive early in camp. 

The Bulls will have about a week of training camp before their first preseason game on Oct. 7 against the Suns. 

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Ricky and Jason go through the Bulls' expected starting lineup for the 2026-27 season. With training camp approaching, the projected starters are Josh Giddey, Norman Powell, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson and Nic Claxton. 

Giddey is facing a make-or-break season in Chicago. After a somewhat disappointing 2025-26 season, Giddey needs to prove to Bryson Graham he's a true foundational piece in order to stick around for the long haul. 

Buzelis is one of the Bulls' foundational pieces right now, and he's looking to make a leap in Year 3. What does he have to do to really break out? 

Next to Giddey in the backcourt is Powell, who's coming off an All-Star season and could be something of a mercenary with the Bulls on a short-term deal. Will the Bulls get the All-Star version or Powell and will he still be in Chicago after the trade deadline? 

Claxton was the other major veteran acquisition this offseason. Several years removed from the best season of his career, will Claxton be rejuvenated by a fresh start? Or will he continue to slip and open the door for Jalen Smith? 

Finally there's Wilson, who should be in the mix for Rookie of the Year after his impressive Summer League. 

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The Bulls are under two weeks from Media Day and the start of training camp, and they just finalized Tiago Splitter's coaching staff. The staff features a nice surprise in the form of franchise legend Taj Gibson, who just retired from the NBA and immediately returned to Chicago as a coach. Ricky and Jason talk all things Taj and why bringing him back is a good move. 

The Bulls also have a plan in place to replace Stacey King, going with a cycle of Adam Amin sidekicks throughout the season. It's a decision that makes sense given King's larger than life persona that will be just about impossible to replace. 

The discussion then turns to the Bulls' projected win total and where they stand in the Eastern Conference. While that win total has spiked since the odds first came out, it's still hard to see the Bulls being better than many teams in a suddenly loaded East. What's their ceiling? 

Finally, there just had to be a little bit of Bears talk after a 59-point season opener. 

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Jason joins Hardwood Knocks' Dan Favale for their annual Bulls season lookahead at the tail end of an eventful offseason that brought about regime change. What's to make of Bryson Graham's first offseason in charge? There was a lot of kicking the can down the road with short-term deals (Norman Powell, Nic Claxton trade, Zach Collins), making the upcoming season an important one for evaluation for new head coach Tiago Splitter before potentially bigger moves later. 

Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis are at the center of it all as they look to develop into a star forward pairing. How do they fit together and what should we expect to see this upcoming season? 

Josh Giddey also plays an important role as the point guard of this offense, and he's facing pressure to prove to Graham that he's worth keeping around as a franchise cornerstone. Giddey has improved upon many of his shortcomings, but his inconsistent last season still leaves plenty of questions about his future. 

Jason then looks at a bunch of the other young players on the roster, including Leonard Miller, Noa Essengue, Dailyn Swain and Rob Dillingham. Essengue and Swain's brutal Summer League performances put a damper on their expectations coming into the season, and it'll be interesting to see how much this group plays under Splitter. 

The end of the pod looks at a number of topics, including team needs, the rotation and lineup predictions, and season predictions. 

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After lengthy forays into restricted free agency, both Bennedict Mathurin and Jonathan Kuminga went off the board in the same day. Mathurin is heading to the Pelicans on a two-year, $16 million deal, while Kuminga is going to the Timberwolves on a two-year deal worth over $12 million. The Bulls were reportedly interested in both players, but did they ever really have a chance? And are the Bulls actually missing out here? 

ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel reported the Bulls as a team that "aggressively" pursued Mathurin via sign-and-trade, though a sign-and-trade would've required a three-year deal and Bryson Graham seemed hesitant to hand out any long-term contracts this summer. Perhaps Graham truly was willing to go that far for Mathurin, but the young guard clearly preferred the Pelicans and will be getting the Clippers to withdraw his qualifying offer in order to sign as an unrestricted free agent.

As for Kuminga, the fit didn't seem right with the Bulls even though they've been rumored to be interested going back to the Arturas Karnisovas regime. Kuminga picked a contender in the Timberwolves over more money from the Lakers, so the Bulls likely didn't have much of a chance even though Jake Fischer noted them being "involved to a real degree."

Ricky and Jason aren't shedding any tears over missing out on Mathurin and Kuminga, even at these small price points. So, how will the Bulls fill that last roster spot? Will they fill it at all before the season? Or will they take it into the season? 

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Ricky and Jason break down the Bulls' 2026-27 season schedule and make their annual game-by-game predictions. The start of the season is absolutely brutal, putting the Bulls in a position to start slow. Will that make them more likely to look to sell off certain players as the year goes on? Will a softer close to the schedule help them beat Vegas' projections? 

Plus, shoutout to the Bulls for once again killing their schedule release video. This year's was inspired by Grand Theft Auto and is a must-watch. 

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Ricky and Jason are back after a hiatus following Bulls Summer League. Since the last podcast, LeBron James surprisingly picked the 76ers in free agency, adding another bombshell move to the pile this offseason. All the crazy player movement sets up what should be a fascinating 2026-27 NBA season with plenty of potential contenders, and Ricky goes over his offseason power rankings. 

The Bulls are on the other end of the contender spectrum, but they recently popped up in free agency rumors with reported interest in Clippers restricted free agent Bennedict Mathurin. While that interest was then downplayed, it's still worth looking into the possibility of Mathurin taking that last roster spot. Or could the Bulls look to pull off a sign-and-trade that would then open up more roster flexibility? 

Mathurin is a flawed player and something of a one-trick pony, but his talent could be worth the gamble on a team-friendly deal. However, the Kawhi Leonard situation seems to be holding up Mathurin's free agency, leaving the young guard in limbo. 

The guys wrap up with a look at LeBron's move to the 76ers and just how they're going to make it all work, complete with a Bulls-Sixers trade hypothetical that would help both sides.

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The Bulls finished 2026 Summer League with a 1-4 record, with Caleb Wilson, Dailyn Swain and Noa Essengue all sitting the fifth and final game out. The fourth game was an ugly affair against the Lakers, with Swain and Essengue struggling again while Wilson put up nice numbers despite a boatload of turnovers. 

Wilson producing as Swain and Essengue stumbled was a theme of the entire Vegas experience for the Bulls. While this new front office should be thrilled with what they saw from Wilson, who earned All-Summer League First-Team honors, there are red flags abound with Swain and Essengue. 

Swain simply played poorly, shooting a ghastly 4-of-31 from the field and playing with zero confidence. The rookie admitted he was overthinking on the court, and it looks like he's a long way from being ready for real NBA minutes. 

Meanwhile, the Essengue situation was just bizarre. Although he didn't play well, how the Bulls handled him suggests this new regime led by Bryson Graham and Tiago Splitter aren't Essengue fans. The youngster's minutes were jerked around as Summer League went on, and Splitter was very critical of his play. 

Is Essengue already done in Chicago? While it's too soon to declare him a bust, Ricky thinks the writing is on the wall for the Frenchman's time with the Bulls. It would be a major bummer if the Bulls get absolutely nothing out of Essengue after using a lottery pick on him in 2025, but these summer signs aren't promising.

As the Bulls move past Summer League, it does seem as if the roster is mostly set. Perhaps there are more moves to be made once LeBron James makes his decision and the league springs back into action to fill out rosters, but there haven't been many other rumors out there about the Bulls doing anything else. 

As it stands, the early Vegas odds suggest the Bulls will be one of the worst teams in the NBA. That looks true on paper, but surprises do happen and the Wilson/Matas Buzelis duo should be fun to watch no matter the record. Can this pairing develop into the next great young wing duo in the coming years?  

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Caleb Wilson's dominant start to Summer League has Ricky and Jason going all in on the hype surrounding the No. 4 pick. The Bulls rookie took Vegas by storm with a historic 35-point debut against Cameron Boozer and the Grizzlies that saw him make seven 3-pointers, matching the number of triples he hit in his entire lone season at UNC. There's plenty of reason to believe this shooting improvement is real, as Wilson has been putting in a lot of work and he has been cashing in all types of looks from downtown in Vegas.

Wilson has also popped in other ways, showing some off-the-dribble juice and pulling off a number of a highlight-reel blocks. The rookie also had arguably the dunk of the summer with his poster against the Jazz. While he hasn't been perfect, with some turnover and free throw issues plaguing him at times, this Summer League run has undoubtedly been a rousing success for the Bulls' new franchise pillar. The question now is if he'll play anymore games or shut it down. 

As good as Wilson has been, Dailyn Swain has been the exact opposite. Swain has been a disaster, struggling to handle point guard duties and showing a completely inability to make shots. Swain is 3-of-26 from the field and 0-of-7 from 3 so far, missing a number of layups badly and displaying an ugly 3-point shot that needs a lot of work. His inability to finish around the rim has been especially strange given how prolific he was at Texas. 

Swain showed some better signs as a playmaker in the Bulls' victory over the Wizards, but he still missed all seven of his shots and is 0-of-16 over the last two games. Swain should definitely keep playing in Vegas to get more reps. 

Meanwhile, Noa Essengue has been a mixed bag and also should see more minutes in Vegas. While Essengue has shown tantalizing flashes as a defender, his offense is very raw and a major work in progress. He needs to get a lot stronger so he's not always getting knocked off his spots and hitting the deck, and he really needs to tighten up his handle and decision-making. 

Bulls head coach Tiago Splitter benched Essengue to start the second half against the Jazz, and then the second-year forward came off the bench against the Wizards. Is he already in the doghouse? It's not a great sign, but the Frenchman is still trying to catch up after missing almost his entire rookie season. 

As of now, it doesn't look like Swain or Essengue belong in the Bulls' regular rotation, but a lot can change by the time the season gets going. 

Finally, ESPN's Jamal Collier wrote a story exposing a number of the failures of the Arturas Karnisovas regime, ultimately highlighting the improved vibes in the building with Bryson Graham leading the show. But will the results be better? Time will tell. 

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The Bulls started NBA free agency by bringing back Zach Collins on a two-year, $17 million contract extension, and then they made their big move by landing Norman Powell on a two-year, $45 million deal. While the Collins deal seemed weird on the surface, the team option on Year 2 helps and he could be a tradable piece almost immediately. 

The Powell move was telegraphed heading into free agency, and getting him on a two-year deal with a team option is a good piece of business for a Bulls team that badly needed to add shooting. Powell is at nearly 40% from 3-point range for his career and is coming off arguably his two best seasons, making him a solid veteran addition at shooting guard. 

Ricky and Jason break down these deals and how they fit into Bryson Graham's first offseason as a whole. While it hasn't been a slam dunk, Graham has done a fine job adding both young talent and veterans, with the potential of signing another player with the room exception. Could that be Anfernee Simons? 

While there were have been some missed opportunities in the draft and with the cap space, Graham is essentially kicking the can down the road with some of these moves and hoping his first-round picks are big winners. Patience is required to see how Graham will turn out as a lead executive, and it'll be interesting to see what he does with this roster at his first trade deadline. 

Graham's perfectly fine offseason comes amid an NBA that has gone crazy with blockbuster trades. Graham needs to be positioning the Bulls to be in position to make one of those kinds of trades in the coming years, and the hope is steps will be made toward that this upcoming season. 

Of course, this upcoming season still projects to be bad record-wise given the status of the roster, which is totally fine as long as there's youth development and a building of the asset base. We'll see if Graham has any other moves up his sleeve this offseason. 

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After crushing the first round of the 2026 NBA Draft, Bryson Graham's second round was a bummer given he traded out of both picks. The first trade was selling the No. 56 pick to the Lakers for cash considerations, and then while on the clock the Bulls traded No. 38 to the Pacers for Kam Jones, future second-round pick swaps and cash. Will Jones even make the roster after a rough rookie season with the Pacers? 

While this was a disappointing outcome that continued an ugly trend from past regimes, there's no reason to overreact about Graham just yet. There's still a lot of offseason left, and Graham did take the time to speak to multiple local media outlets about his moves. Even if some of his explanations fell flat, it was good to actually hear him defend his decisions. 

With the draft now in the rearview mirror, free agency takes center stage. There has already been a lot of action on the trade front, including a wild LaMelo Ball trade that impacts two former Bulls in Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White. Dosunmu is heading back to the Wolves on a five-year, $112 million contract and will now share a backcourt with Ball and Anthony Edwards, while White is returning to the Hornets on a three-year, $74 million contract to presumably be Ball's replacement.

As for the Bulls themselves, they badly need shooting, and there's plenty of smoke billowing around Norman Powell. Is this legit interest or just an agent using them as leverage? Powell would bring much-needed shooting to the roster, but he is 33 years old, so it would have to be a short-term contract. 

Ricky and Jason look at a number of other possible targets, including a bunch of shooters (guards and bigs) and also Jalen Duren now that it looks like there's a chance he leaves the Pistons. Detroit did beat Chicago to the punch on an Isaiah Joe trade, so that's off the table. Kevin Huerter is also returning to the Pistons. 

Finally, the Bulls did add some intriguing undrafted free agents, and this year's Summer League roster should be a lot of fun. 

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The Bulls drafted Caleb Wilson with the No. 4 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, a choice that was telegraphed for quite some time. Then at No. 15, Bryson Graham went with Dailyn Swain, who had been on Ricky's radar for a while. 

With these two picks, Ricky declares that Graham "crushed" his first draft, bringing hope for the future in Chicago. Ricky breaks down Wilson's game, discusses his SB Nation feature story on the new Bulls star and dismisses comps on both ends of the spectrum to both Kevin Garnett and Tyrus Thomas. 

As for Swain, the Bulls are getting a slasher who can get into the paint at will and who will bring a lot of versatility to the floor. While the pick brings some questions about the roster's lack of shooting, Swain does have some upside there. Could he wind up being a poor man's Jimmy Butler? 

With the first round in the books, Ricky names 3 second-round targets and implores the Bulls to possibly even trade up for them. 

While these draft picks are bringing good vibes, the Nic Claxton trade that went down right before the draft (but can't become official until July) raises some concerns. Once a rising star at center for the Nets, Claxton has declined in recent years, with back issues apparently playing a role. 

Will a fresh start in Chicago help rejuvenate Claxton and turn him into a fringe DPOY candidate again? Or will he continue to be an average-ish center with no further upside? The good news is the trade cost pretty much nothing but cap space, and Claxton's declining contract is a plus as well. 

Finally, the guys look ahead to some possible ways to improve the shooting on the roster. Isaiah Joe, anybody? Coby White reunion? Free agency begins in a week after Round 2. 

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New Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham has finally hired his head coach, luring Tiago Splitter away from the Blazers after he helped lead the franchise back to the playoffs for the first time in five years. It seemed like bringing Splitter back was a no-brainer, but new Blazers owner Tom Dundon's cheapness got in the way. 

Longtime friend of the program and Blazers insider Sean Highkin of The Rose Garden Report and Rip City Radio 620 joins Ricky and Jason to talk all about Splitter's brief tenure in place of Chauncey Billups, who was arrested one game into the season due to his involvement in a bombshell gambling scandal. Splitter took over and overcame the tough circumstances to get Portland into and through the play-in tournament, giving Chicago the No. 15 pick before ultimately losing to the Spurs in five games. 

Highkin goes into detail about why Splitter isn't returning to Portland (Dundon is the main factor), the job he did with the Blazers, what he'll bring to the Bulls and what still needs to improve. It's a hire that makes sense for Chicago given the circumstances, with Splitter and Graham aligned on how to move forward with a rebuilding roster. Splitter was liked and respected by his Blazers players, and now he'll look to enact a culture change for this Bulls franchise. 

And could Walker Kessler be Splitter's new Donovan Clingan? A report from Sam Amick of The Athletic suggests Kessler isn't happy with the Jazz, which could open the door for the Bulls to make a run in restricted free agency. 
 

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Ricky is joined by Memphis-based NBA Draft analyst Chip Williams to talk about the Grizzlies' pick at No. 3, which will influence what the Bulls do at No. 4. The consensus outcome for the Grizzlies is Cameron Boozer, but there has been some buzz about Boozer going to the Jazz at No. 2. If that happened, what would the Grizzlies do at No. 3 and how would that impact the Bulls? 

Chip then gives his full breakdown of Caleb Wilson, who still appears to be the likeliest option for the Bulls at No. 4. While he has Wilson a tier below the top three, he's still the clear No. 4 prospect with a lot of upside. Ricky and Chip talk multiple comps for Wilson and how he'd fit with the Bulls. 

The discussion then shifts to the No. 15 pick, with talk about Ebuka Okorie, Morez Johnson, Dailyn Swain and more. With the Grizzlies picking at No. 16, they share a lot of interest in what the Bulls will do. 

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Ricky and Jason react to the tragic death of legendary Bulls broadcaster and three-time NBA champion Stacey King, paying tribute to a giant in the Chicago sports landscape. The guys remember King's best calls and nicknames, and Ricky discusses his personal connection to the late announcer. 

The Bulls will never be the same without King, but the franchise has to soldier on in the wake of his tragic passing. Bryson Graham continues his head coaching search, with finalists coming into focus this week. There's a lot of buzz around Tiago Splitter and Micah Nori, and a final decision should be coming soon. 

Finally, there's some draft chatter about the Bulls trading up from No. 15. Illinois star Keaton Wagler was among the prospects to get a workout and has gained some buzz for the Bulls, but it's unclear if they'll be able to trade up. 

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Ricky and Jason welcome Maxwell Baumbach of No Ceilings to the show for Bulls NBA Draft talk, but first is an update on the head coaching search and some new hires in the front office who are tight with Bryson Graham from his Pelicans days. There's still not a whole lot of clarity in the head coaching search after Sean Sweeney went to the Magic last week, except that Graham should be picking his finalists very soon. Billy Donovan's top assistant Wes Unseld Jr. is expected to be one of those finalists. 

Ricky and Maxwell then dive deep on Caleb Wilson, focusing first on his offensive upside before examining his defensive potential. The conversation turns to the No. 15 pick, where Morez Johnson is a popular option but Ricky unleashes a hot take about the possibility of Kingston Flemings falling and being available. Does Maxwell agree that this scenario could play out? 

This isn't Ricky's hottest take of the pod, as he also proposes a wild trade up involving Matas Buzelis to get Cameron Boozer, who gets an unexpected comparison to one of the greatest players of all time.

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Bryson Graham's Bulls head coaching search is moving along slowly, with a wide net of candidates and no clear presumptive favorite. As we wait on a head coach, NBA Draft prep continues as Ricky and Jason welcome draft expert Finn Vandergriff of The Double Bonus and The Center Hub to the show. 

Finn breaks down all things Caleb Wilson and then goes into some of the options with the 15th pick. He also hypes up Noa Essengue and Leonard Miller while looking at how all these players would fit with Matas Buzelis and the rest of the Bulls roster. Plus, some Josh Giddey trade talk and a sneaky free agent point guard target to pursue. 

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Jason and Ricky welcome NBA Draft analyst Latif Love of Love My Takes to the show to recap the NBA Draft Combine and take a deep dive into the Bulls' options with picks 4 and 15.

Before all the draft chatter, the guys discuss Bryson Graham hiring Stephen Mervis and Acie Law IV as his top lieutenants in the front office. Next up is the head coaching search, with The Stein Line's Jake Fischer reporting Spurs assistant Sean Sweeney, Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, Thunder assistant Dave Bliss, James Borrego and Tiago Splitter among the named candidates. (NOTE: Fischer later also named Hornets assistant Lamar Skeeter and Hawks assistant Ryan Schmidt as candidates, but they weren't discussed on this pod.)

Moving on to the draft, Ricky breaks down his experience at the combine and some of his highlights at the annual event in Chicago. Ricky and Latif then go back and forth with a full breakdown of Caleb Wilson, the Bulls' likeliest pick at No. 4. They go over strengths, weaknesses and how he fits with the Bulls' other core players. While Wilson is likely a tier below the top three guys in this draft and has a lot to work on, the potential is tantalizing. 

Ricky and Latif then go over a number of options for the Bulls at No. 15. Will Aday Mara actually still be around? How about Mara's Michigan teammate Morez Johnson? Cameron Carr was a big combine winner, but there are question marks. Plus a look at several others. 

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Bryson Graham and the Bulls got some NBA Draft Lottery luck on Sunday, moving up from No. 9 to No. 4. This sets up Graham especially well for his first offseason as the Bulls' lead exec and will allow him to put his stamp on the roster. Graham acquitted himself well in his introductory press conference earlier in the week before the lottery, and now he'll get to put his money where his mouth is with the No. 4 pick, the No. 15 pick, the No. 38 pick and nearly $60 million in cap space. 

As for that No. 4 pick, Ricky and Jason break down all the possible scenarios. The likeliest selection right now  is UNC's Caleb Wilson (Ricky gives his full sales pitch), but there's always a chance for a surprise, whether it's somebody else falling or a trade. Ricky is a big Cameron Boozer guy, and some of the recent buzz suggests he could drop. Darryn Peterson could also be a fall candidate because of his bizarre freshman season at Kansas, which was apparently caused by heavy creatine usage. 

Whatever happens, the Bulls should get a great prospect at the top of this draft, and then they'll have a chance to add another at No. 15. What's the ideal outcome for this draft and offseason? 

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The Bulls have their man to run the front office as Arturas Karnisovas' replacement, and it's a bit of a curveball. Instead of bringing Timberwolves GM Matt Lloyd back to the franchise as speculated, the Bulls decided to hire Hawks exec Bryson Graham to run the show. Graham, 39, spent 15 years with the Pelicans organization, starting as an intern and rising up to GM before leaving for the Hawks when Joe Dumars took over in NOLA. 

Ricky and Jason give their immediate reactions to the hire, which is definitely a surprise but brings some excitement given the blank slate Graham will start with. While some fans may be upset with a young first-timer, especially after seeing the Mavericks hire Masai Ujiri earlier in the day, Graham should be given time to prove he's the right man for the job. 

Of course, Graham is being thrown right into the fire with an important draft coming up with two first-round picks and around $60 million in cap space in free agency. He'll have his chance to put his stamp on the roster right away in addition to building out his front office, reportedly with full autonomy to do as he sees fit. Will the Reinsdorfs be an obstacle to anything Graham wants to do? It's understandable to be skeptical given their history, but hopefully Graham can advocate for himself and do what needs to be done to build the infrastructure needed for long-term success. 

There's also the matter of hiring a coach, though there hasn't been a whole lot of buzz about candidates just yet. That will come in time, but the immediate focus now turns to Graham's introductory press conference on Wednesday and Sunday's NBA Draft Lottery. 

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The Bulls' front office search is moving forward with a group of finalist candidates: Matt Lloyd, Dennis Lindsey, Bryson Graham and Dave Lewin. Jason and Ricky discuss this candidate list reported by The Stein Line, as well as the details that John Paxson is taking a key role in the search and the Bulls are talking "rebuild" in their interviews. 

A new hire is expected before the NBA Draft Lottery on May 10, which will be a big day for the Bulls as they learn the fate of their first first-round pick. And as the Bulls move forward under a new regime, the NBA's anti-tanking reforms will have an impact on how they build. (NOTE: This episode was recorded before ESPN's latest report on the league's anti-tanking efforts, which involve different changes than the ones discussed.) 

Before getting into Ricky's latest SB Nation mock draft, the guys make sure to give a shoutout to Ayo Dosunmu for his heroic 43-point effort for the Timberwolves against the Nuggets. But while it's awesome to see Ayo succeed in the playoffs, trading him still wasn't the wrong move. 

As for Ricky's mock draft, he gives the Bulls a pair of college teammates at No. 9 and 15, but there are a number of enticing options with both picks. 

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Billy Donovan finally made his decision on his future with the Bulls, and he's walking away after six seasons. While the Reinsdorfs wanted Donovan to stick around with a new front office, Donovan felt it was better to give them a clean slate and pursue other opportunities. 

Ricky and Jason give their final thoughts on the Donovan era, which was mostly underwhelming, albeit not necessarily because of him. The bigger failure was above Donovan in the front office, which gave him substandard rosters he squeezed the most out of. 

But while Donovan is a good coach, getting that clean slate is for the best. This allows the new lead exec to come in and pick his own coach and start a proper rebuild of the roster. A patient approach should be taken given the circumstances, with no reason to try to skip steps in a desperate attempt to get to contention. 

But who will be running the show? ESPN's Shams Charania released a list of six names, with former Bulls exec Matt Lloyd a notable candidate. While Lloyd's Bulls ties make him seem like a good bet to get the job, perhaps there will be a surprise. 

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A wild night of NBA Play-In Tournament basketball ended with a thrilling Blazers comeback win over the Suns, which resulted in the Bulls getting another first-round pick in the upcoming draft. It's a pick the Bulls have been waiting on since the Lauri Markkanen trade in 2021, and it gives the new front office another asset to play with to rebuild the roster.

In the early game of the night, Coby White played hero for the Hornets in a wild overtime victory over the Heat. After several years of play-in disappointment against the Heat, White got redemption with a third-quarter flurry and a circus game-tying 3-pointer to force overtime. White is in a perfect spot with the Hornets, and hopefully they're able to get to the playoffs. 

But now that the Bulls do have another first-rounder, what should they do with these picks? Ricky breaks down his draft strategy depending on multiple scenarios and reviews a number of possible targets. The Bulls could also look to package these picks for a trade up (or for a proven player), but would that be worth it? 

While the Bulls just finished up a miserable season, this added draft pick and the firing of Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley bring some hope. Now everybody waits on Billy Donovan. 

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The Bulls fired Arturas Karnisovas and Marc Eversley before the end of the regular season, a pleasant surprise after years of calling for their heads. Jason and Ricky break down why their firings were warranted for so long.

But while AK and ME are out, Billy Donovan is still badly wanted by ownership, as evidenced by Michael Reinsdorf's media session where he said the new lead exec needs to be willing keep the head coach around if he wants to get hired . Should the Bulls go all in on Donovan and let him effectively run the show? Or should they go for a clean slate? Who are some of the options to replace Karnisovas as Donovan looms over everything? 

Whatever happens with Donovan, there are also major questions about the roster. Should Josh Giddey be a trade candidate? Will the Bulls try to get in on the Giannis sweepstakes or try to make another big win-now move? Reinsdorf's no-tanking mandate, Donovan's philosophy and some of the reporting out there suggests the Bulls think they're a quick fix away from contention , which is short-sighted and off-base. 

This year's draft is where the Bulls' roster changes will begin, and Ricky was at the Final Four to see some potential options up close and personal. And if the Bulls finally get the Blazers pick, two first-rounders will hopefully help the cause of rebuilding the roster.

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The Bulls' brutal season just got even worse with the Jaden Ivey situation going totally off the rails. While the Bulls were right to quickly move on from Ivey after his series of social media rants, Arturas Karnisovas comes out of this mess looking worse than ever. This is especially true given Karnisovas hasn't even made any kind of statement on the matter, failing to show immediate accountability and forcing Billy Donovan and his players to comment on it first. 

It's yet another reason why Karnisovas should be fired, and there's very little reason to keep him around at this point. Nobody in the organization apparently has any faith in AK's plan, so will Michael Reinsdorf make the right decision? The public pressure after this Ivey mishap could prove to be too much to keep AK around. 

With the Karnisovas decision hanging over ownership, Donovan's future is also in question. There's smoke billowing that Donovan is ready to resign after the season, especially if Karnisovas is retained. Is there a scenario where Karnisovas is fired but Donovan moves into the front office to run basketball operations? 

There still is basketball happening on the court as the Bulls play out the string, with Leonard Miller one of the few bright spots. Matas Buzelis also continues to show flashes of being a potential star down the line, but there are still plenty of things for him to work on. 

Finally, the Final Four is here and Ricky has plenty of thoughts on how the top NBA Draft prospects have fared in the NCAA Tournament. Has Cameron Boozer's stock dropped at all after a somewhat lackluster run? Who has improved their draft stock? What's the Bulls' draft situation looking like? 

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The Bulls are 4-4 in March after going 0-11 in February, with Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis leading the way. Giddey has been the best version of himself in March throughout his career, and he's doing it again by being a triple-double machine and shooting the lights out from 3-point range. It's very similar to what happened last season, although a 15-5 finish likely isn't in the cards this time around. 

Meanwhile, Buzelis has enjoyed some monster games of late, including a career-high 41 points in an overtime win over the Warriors. What has Buzelis been doing well and what still needs to improve next season for him to take another leap into star status? 

With the Bulls winning games again and Billy Donovan pushing to keep winning, they look destined to finish in the No. 10 lottery slot. It's a battle between them and the Bucks for 9/10 in those lottery standings, but Milwaukee has been horrible and Giannis Antetokounmpo just got hurt again. 

With the draft in mind, it's officially time for the 2026 NCAA Tournament. Ricky goes through region by region and highlights draft prospects to watch along with potential juicy matchups. His deep dive looks not at just the star prospects who could be in the Bulls' first-round draft range but some deeper sleepers who could be selected in the second round. 

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The Bulls have won a couple of crazy games since their 11-game losing streak, but they also just lost to the lowly Kings and look destined to finish in the No. 9 or 10 lottery slot. There's not a whole lot to write home about with the young players, with Matas Buzelis' growth stagnating a bit, Rob Dillingham looking rough and Leonard Miller going back to the bench against the Kings after some nice flashes in prior games when he got to play due to injuries. But, hey, at least Collin Sexton was enjoying a nice start to Mickey Mouse March before his leg injury in Sacramento. 

With the Bulls essentially playing out the string and March Madness about to kick into high gear, it's time to really start diving into 2026 NBA Draft. Ricky breaks down some of the top prospects in Chicago's current draft range, including Illinois star freshman Keaton Wagler. Ricky then examines some of his favorite prospects, such as Duke center Patrick Ngongba. 

And if the Bulls get lottery luck? Ricky looks at the much-hyped top of this draft, with Cameron Boozer sitting at No. 1 on his board and the Darryn Peterson saga adding a layer of intrigue to his draft stock. 

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The Bulls haven't won yet in February, going 0-10 so far with the worst net rating in the NBA by a mile. There has been a lot of ugly basketball after the trade deadline overhaul, with a 32-point loss to the Hornets in Coby White's return to the United Center the latest example. Where do the Bulls currently stand in the tank race? 

There hasn't been too much to glean from these games with all these new players and a bunch of injuries, but Matas Buzelis was a silver lining in the Hornets game with his career-high 32 points. Buzelis had been stagnating a bit before that, and the hope is he can build on this performance the rest of the season and give fans a reason to watch. 

Besides Buzelis, Josh Giddey has been a rough watch since his return from injury, while notable trade acquisition Rob Dillingham has also really struggled. However, the Bulls need to keep giving Dillingham as many minutes as possible. 

On the injury front, the Jaden Ivey situation took a strange turn after the All-Star break, and now it's unclear if he'll play again this season due to a nagging knee issue. How will that impact his free agency? Elsewhere, Jalen Smith is dealing with a nagging calf problem and Anfernee Simons has a fractured wrist. There's no reason to rush these guys back. 

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The Bulls have lost six straight games heading into the 2026 NBA All-Star break, with a total blowout in Boston to cap things off. The Bulls have been working in a bunch of new players after the trade deadline while also dealing with injuries to Josh Giddey, Tre Jones and Jalen Smith, so things have been a mess. While the team should look a bit better once healthy, how long will that good health last and just how many more wins are left on the schedule? 

Racking up losses isn't a problem, though, as the priority should be winding up in the lottery while developing the young prospects acquired at the trade deadline. Namely, Rob Dillingham and Jaden Ivey should get a lot of burn. Will Billy Donovan actually play those guys big minutes when the roster is healthy? Or will he push hard to win every game and ride the more veteran players? If it's the latter, is he even the right coach for this team at this point? 

As the Bulls navigate the post-All-Star break schedule, the tanking discourse is kicking into full gear. Is there a fix? Ricky also breaks down some draft prospects for where Chicago is currently projected to land. 

Finally, the Bulls deserve more scorn for the Coby White situation, which saw them losing out on one of their second-round picks because of his nagging calf injury. White played 30 minutes in a blowout loss the day before he was traded, so there's another good reason for ownership to clean house (which won't happen). 

NOTES: 

• The Bulls signing Jeremy Sochan was discussed on the show, but he was then signed by the Knicks after recording. 
• The Bucks beat the Thunder on Thursday night, pulling them into a tie with the Bulls in the standings. 
• There was talk about North Carolina star Caleb Wilson, but news broke after recording that he has a broken hand and will miss time. 
• The Jazz and Pacers were fined for tanking measures on Thursday night after recording. 

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The Bulls made seven trades ahead of the 2026 NBA trade deadline, a shocking amount of activity as Arturas Karnisovas totally overhauled the roster. Ricky and Jason recap the entire deadline and discuss the first game afterward, a 16-point loss to the Raptors that saw newcomers Anfernee Simons, Jaden Ivey and Guerschon Yabusele play pretty well. 

The guys then go back and discuss the trades made on Wednesday night and Thursday, starting with the Dalen Terry-for-Yabusele trade and highlighted by Ayo Dosunmu going to the Timberwolves. The Bulls also got Nick Richards in a three-team deal. 

Did Chicago get good value on these trades? And how about the trade deadline overall? While the Bulls were active and did some good things by acquiring some young players and a boatload of second-round draft capital, it still felt a bit messy and incomplete. The Dosunmu and Coby White trades also felt underwhelming, with the issue there stemming from waiting too long to take action. 

But Arturas Karnisovas doesn't regret his delayed actions, and he spoke about his plan in a press conference after the deadline. It was mostly a waste of time, and Ricky once again not only points at AK but ownership for the Bulls' current predicament. 

There are some interesting things to watch for the rest of the season, though, and we'll be watching the standings and whether Chicago will secure a spot in the lottery. 

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The Coby White era in Chicago is over, with the longest-tenured Bull getting traded to the Hornets along with Mike Conley Jr for Collin Sexton, Ousmane Dieng and three second-round picks. It's an unwhelming draft haul for a player who easily could've fetched more last season, but Arturas Karnisovas has made a habit of holding onto players too long. But even with White's low trade value, it felt like it was time to say goodbye as AK retools the team. It's also a good spot for White as he heads into free agency, and he has a chance to help push the surging Hornets past the Bulls in the standings. 

What comes next? The Bulls have a mess of a roster and are looking to make more moves before Thursday's trade deadline. But even besides that, the focus should be maximizing draft position for a loaded 2026 draft and setting up for a push in free agency for young players on the restricted free agent market. 

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After years and years of calls for it, the Bulls finally traded Nikola Vucevic, sending him to the Celtics for Anfernee Simons. Second-round picks changed hands in the trade, with Chicago set to get a pretty juicy one from the Pelicans. Will the Bulls keep that pick or flip it elsewhere? Jason and Ricky celebrate the Vucevic era finally coming to an end so the franchise can move on, and the veteran big man can play for a contender in Boston. 

Before the Vucevic trade went down, the Bulls got in on another three-team deal, acquiring Jaden Ivey from the Pistons and Mike Conley Jr. from the Timberwolves. Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric are off to Detroit, with Minnesota making the move to maneuver for its Giannis Antetokounmpo pursuit. Conley isn't expected to remain in Chicago. 

What did the Bulls get in Ivey? He's another talented young player who didn't work out with his first team after getting drafted in the lottery, which continues a theme for Arturas Karnisovas acquisitions. While Ivey has untapped potential, there are concerns about his recent injuries. Chicago will also be faced with his restricted free agency this summer. 

What comes next for the Bulls? Are Coby White and/or Ayo Dosunmu next? Will Simons be flipped? Is tanking the rest of the season in order with the Hornets on the rise? There should be more action to come leading up to Thursday's deadline, and the rest of the NBA is already getting crazy with the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade and the James Harden-Darius Garland swap. 

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Jason and Ricky discuss the Bulls going 1-2 in their three-game mini-series against the Heat, which featured a close loss at the United Center, a truly improbable win in Miami with a skeleton crew and a 43-point loss in Miami to cap it all off. The Bulls won the middle game behind 20 3-pointers and a star showing by Ayo Dosunmu in the second half, including a number of clutch baskets down the stretch. However, the final game wasn't even close from the very start, even with Coby White and Nikola Vucevic back in the lineup after missing the win. 

Right after the surprise victory, the Bulls got in on a three-team trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Sacramento Kings. Chicago took on Dario Saric and got two second-round picks for the trouble, with Jevon Carter getting waived in the process. While not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, it was a smart piece of business with little cost. Is it a sign of things to come for the rest of the trade deadline action?

The guys then talk about the rest of the trade market and explore the Giannis Antetokounmpo possibility. Could the Bulls make a competitive offer? Should they make an all-in offer with where they're at while considering Giannis' age and injury history? 

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Jason joins the guys over at Miami Heat Beat to discuss the first of a three-game mini-series between the Bulls and Heat. Miami took the first game of the set 116-113 at the United Center, barely squeaking out a road victory after nearly blowing a double-digit fourth-quarter lead. Ayo Dosunmu almost single-handedly brought the Bulls back late in the fourth quarter, but Coby White's game-tying 3-point attempt missed badly. 

After breaking down the game from every angle, Jason gives his thoughts on Derrick Rose's jersey retirement. While Rose is a hero to Chicago, there are still some conflicting feelings about his legacy. 

The Bulls have two more games coming up against the Heat, with both of them coming in Miami just days before the NBA trade deadline. 

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The Bulls entered their United Center showdown against the Lakers on a four-game winning streak after Kevin Huerter's game-winning 3-pointer against the Celtics on Derrick Rose Jersey Retirement Night. Luka Doncic put a stop to that with a 46-point masterpiece in a Lakers victory. Ricky was in the building to see Luka's show, which featured an ugly second quarter with 10 Bulls turnovers. Matas Buzelis also only played 22 minutes in a disappointing showing as the winning streak came to an end. 

Ricky and Jason address the latest trade rumors and try to figure out which direction the Bulls will go now that they're close to a top-six seed. Three upcoming games against the Heat could prove pivotal with the NBA trade deadline in just over a week. Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu's names continue to pop up in trade rumors, but it feels like Arturas Karnisovas may look to buy given the Bulls' place in the standings. 

Ricky has other ideas, though, and he presents a plan for the Bulls for this trade deadline and an offseason in which they should have a boatload of cap space. The Bulls need to get younger and better on the wing and at center, and Ricky presents some options. 

Finally, the guys talk Derrick Rose Night and the feelings surrounding all of it before wrapping up with a shoutout to Illinois star freshman Keaton Wagler for his 46-point masterclass at Purdue. 

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The Bulls got back to .500 with a clutch road win over the Timberwolves to move their winning streak to three games, with Tre Jones making clutch play after clutch play and Anthony Edwards folding in crunch time. Jones has been playing at a ridiculous level, making his hamstring injury that was announced after the recording of this episode a tough blow. Josh Giddey also returned to the fold against the Wolves and had a big game off the bench. 

With the Bulls at 22-22 and playing better with just under two weeks left until the trade deadline, what will they do? Ricky and Jason discuss a number of trade scenarios, including ones with the Wolves due to their need for a guard. Could Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu or Jones (more unlikely now after this injury) head to Minnesota? The guys also talk about the idea of a Jonathan Kuminga-Nikola Vucevic swap and the Zion Williamson rumors, plus more. 

Finally, Derrick Rose Jersey Retirement Night is here! 

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The Bulls are at the halfway point of the 2025-26 NBA season, and they're right in the same place as the last three seasons. Is Arturas Karnisovas actually feeling the heat to pull the trigger on some trades? The Bulls are in position to make moves with three weeks to go before the trade deadline, but it's unclear just what the strategy will be even as buzz builds about them being sellers. Plus, bonus Bears playoff talk after Ricky witnessed Bulls-Mavericks at the UC while the Bears were playing the Packers, with a Bill Wennington surprise. 

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As the Bulls battle more injuries, including to Josh Giddey and Coby White, Matas Buzelis has taken a clear step forward and is a beacon of hope for the franchise. Plus, the latest on the trade front and what the Bulls should be looking to do. White is at the center of it all, but the front office should be as active as anybody ahead of the deadline. And how about those playoff Bears?! 

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The Bulls got healthy and ripped off another five-game winning streak highlighted by crazy finishes, but it came to an end with a loss to the Bucks in Giannis Antetokounmpo's return to the lineup. Giannis also sparked fireworks in the final seconds with a windmill dunk that angered Bulls players. 

With Chicago now back near .500 after a month-plus of terrible play made it look like tanking was on the table, what is the current reality of this team and what will be the trade deadline strategy? Jason and Ricky discuss the possibilities, starting with Coby White. 

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Jason and Ricky welcome ClutchPoints Cavs reporter Spencer Davies to the pod to talk about the Bulls-Cavs home-and-home series, which began with a 127-111 Bulls victory at the United Center. While the Bulls have had their share of struggles this season, they ran the scuffling Cavs off the court and exposed their myriad problems right now. Just what the heck is going on in Cleveland? Plus, revisiting the Lonzo Ball-Isaac Okoro trade, which isn't going well for the Cavs at all. 

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The Bulls have lost seven games in a row after embarrassing home losses to the Pacers and Warriors, and Ricky and Jason have seen enough: it's time to clean house and play for the 2026 NBA Draft. That all starts with Arturas Karnisovas, but everybody knows nothing will happen and the Bulls will trudge along this season trying to compete.  

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The Bulls' dream start to the season has turned into a nightmare thanks to a bunch of injuries and a five-game losing streak featuring losses to a number of the worst teams in the NBA. The Noa Essengue season-ending shoulder surgery is a huge bummer, and Matas Buzelis' current stagnation only adds to the sudden despair Ricky and Jason are feeling about this season. 

Meanwhile, the Giannis Antetokounmpo trade rumors are beginning to heat up again. Will the Bulls even try to get in the mix? Would they even have a chance? And what's the latest on Anthony Davis? 

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After a pair of crazy wins seemed to stem the losing tide, the Bulls got stomped by the Heat in the NBA Cup, needed a big comeback to beat the lowly Wizards at home, got called "soft" by Nikola Vucevic after said Wizards game and got whipped by the dreadful Pelicans. Ricky and Jason discuss the dwindling trust in the Bulls after the hot start and what the next steps should be. Are there any moves they should consider to try to bolster the roster? Or should they start thinking about selling off expiring contracts in an attempt to get assets? The front office doesn't want to sell, but if things don't turn around, the choice should be easy. 

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The Bulls just finished up a 2-2 road trip that appeared headed toward disaster before crazy wins over the Nuggets and Blazers, the latter of which featured a Nikola Vucevic buzzer-beater after a wild fourth-quarter collapse. Meanwhile, Coby White is back from injury and looks better than ever. As the Bulls keep playing crazy game after crazy game, just how good will they be with White in the lineup? The upcoming schedule offers an opportunity to go on another run. 

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The Bulls have stumbled a bit after their 5-0 start, dropping to 6-4 through 10 games of the season. Still, there's plenty of reason to think this team can compete for a playoff spot. Ricky and Jason discuss what looks legit and what's concerning after these first 10 games before examining how the Bulls stack up against the rest of the East. 

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Ricky and Jason welcome back Stephen Noh of The Sporting News to the pod to talk about the 6-1 first-place Bulls, who are coming off a stunning 24-point comeback victory over the 76ers. The mea culpas are out for Josh Giddey as he continues his All-Star-level play to start this season. The guys also toss bouquets at Billy Donovan for the job he's doing coaching this group, and Nikola Vucevic gets plenty of love as well for his late-career renaissance playing such a key role. Plus mailbag questions on Coby White's injury return, Matas Buzelis comps, whether the Bulls will look to make any trades and more! 

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