The Chicago Bulls start the 2026-27 season in a place that should feel unfamiliar to anyone who has followed this team over the past few years: the beginning of an actual rebuild.
Last season was another disappointing chapter, as Chicago finished 31-51 and missed the playoffs for the fourth season in a row. The Bulls were entertaining at times, especially with their fast paced offense and heavy emphasis on ball movement, but the defense was a disaster. Chicago allowed 121.5 points per game, good for 28th in the NBA, while finishing with a -5.1 net rating
The organization finally decided that enough was enough. Artūras Karnišovas and Marc Eversley were dismissed, Billy Donovan stepped away after six seasons, and Bryson Graham took over the basketball operation. Tiago Splitter was then brought in as the new head coach, with Taj Gibson retiring from his playing career to become an assistant coach on the Bulls staff.
Currently, the Bulls aren’t pretending they’re one move away from contention. They drafted Caleb Wilson fourth overall and Dailyn Swain 15th, then added veteran scorer Norman Powell and defensive minded center Nic Claxton. There is still a long way to go. But for the first time in a while, the direction actually makes sense.
Bulls’ Biggest Offseason Loss: Anfernee Simons
The Bulls had a pair of notable departures this offseason, including Collin Sexton and Anfernee Simons. Of the two, Simons is the biggest loss.
Chicago acquired Simons during last season’s deadline deal that sent Nikola Vučević to Boston, and although his time in Chicago was brief, he immediately provided something the Bulls desperately needed, high level shot creation and three point shooting. The problem is that losing Simons is probably part of the point.
The Bulls aren’t trying to squeeze another 38-win season out of a veteran-heavy roster anymore. They are trying to figure out which young players are worth building around. Simons was a talented scorer, but his departure creates more opportunities for Josh Giddey, Rob Dillingham, Matas Buzelis and the rest of Chicago’s young core.
That doesn’t mean replacing his production will be easy. Chicago already ranked near the bottom of the league in overall offensive efficiency last season, and Simons’ ability to create a shot when an offensive possession broke down was valuable. The Bulls will also miss Sexton’s aggression and scoring ability, but losing Simons feels more significant because of what he represented offensively.
The good news is that Chicago didn’t simply lose talent without a plan. The team replaced some of that veteran scoring with the aforementioned Norman Powell, while simultaneously giving its young players a much clearer path toward meaningful minutes. In other words, the Bulls might be worse in the short term, that’s probably okay as the younger players grow and will hopefully keep the team in contention for years to come.
Bulls’ Biggest Offseason Addition: Nic Claxton
Norman Powell is probably the most obvious answer here. He gives Chicago an experienced scorer who can space the floor, attack mismatches and take some offensive pressure off Josh Giddey. But Nic Claxton is the Bulls’ biggest offseason addition, and it’s not particularly close.
Chicago was one of the worst defensive teams in the NBA last season, and adding Claxton gives Tiago Splitter an athletic big man who can protect the rim without completely destroying the team’s ability to defend in space. The Bulls acquired Claxton as part of the four team offseason trade, while also resigning Zach Collins and bringing back much of the young frontcourt. Claxton also makes sense specifically because of the direction Chicago is taking.
Josh Giddey is at his best when he can grab a rebound and immediately push the ball. Matas Buzelis needs room to operate and develop. Caleb Wilson is entering the league as one of the most important pieces of the rebuild. Having a mobile center who can defend, rebound and finish around the rim should make life easier for all three.
And most importantly, Claxton gives Chicago something it lacked last year, a defensive identity. The Bulls don’t need to become an elite defense overnight. But if Claxton can head a defense that becomes respectable, this team will already look very different from last year’s group.
Bulls’ Best Case Scenario Outcome
The Bulls’ best case scenario is probably not a playoff berth. It’s finding the foundation of a playoff team.
If everything goes right, Chicago could finish somewhere around 35-40 wins, stay in the Play In conversation and, more importantly, have several young players emerge as legitimate long term pieces.
Caleb Wilson is obviously the biggest swing. The fourth overall pick has the opportunity to immediately become one of the faces of the franchise. Dailyn Swain also gives Chicago another young, athletic piece, while Matas Buzelis enters his third season with a chance to make a major leap. The Bulls’ young core also includes Josh Giddey, Noa Essengue and Rob Dillingham.
For this scenario to happen, Wilson has to look like a future star, Buzelis needs to take a significant step forward and Giddey needs to continue developing into a reliable lead creator. Dillingham also needs to prove that his scoring ability can translate into consistent NBA minutes. And then there is Splitter.
If the new coach can establish a defensive culture while keeping the team’s young players moving in the right direction, the Bulls could become one of the more interesting young teams in the Eastern Conference.
A Play In appearance would be a nice bonus. The real victory would be looking at this roster in April and thinking, Chicago might actually have something here.
Bulls’ Worst Case Scenario Outcome
The worst case scenario is pretty straightforward, the young players aren’t ready, the veterans don’t move the needle and Chicago ends up right back at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. There is a legitimate possibility of that happening.
The Bulls don’t have a proven superstar. Their best players are either young and developing or veterans who aren’t likely to carry a rebuilding team into contention. If Wilson struggles as a rookie, Buzelis fails to make the expected leap and Giddey’s offensive limitations become more noticeable, Chicago could have trouble generating enough consistent offense.
The defense could also remain a problem. Claxton should help, but one player isn’t going to magically turn the 28th-ranked defense into a top 10 unit. There is also the possibility that Norman Powell’s scoring doesn’t translate into enough wins to justify his role on the roster. Chicago ranked second in the NBA in ball movement and player movement last season, but also had one of the league’s weakest overall offenses.
If the Bulls end up around 25 wins, spend another year near the bottom of the standings and don’t identify a true franchise cornerstone, then the rebuild will feel like it has barely started.
That would be disappointing considering the opportunities Chicago had this offseason.
Bulls’ Biggest Question Heading Into 2026-27 Season
Do the Bulls actually have a future star? That’s really what this season comes down to.
Chicago has accumulated young players, draft picks and cap flexibility. Now somebody has to emerge. Maybe it’s Caleb Wilson, maybe it’s Matas Buzelis, maybe Josh Giddey takes another leap. Maybe someone nobody expects becomes the centerpiece of the rebuild.
If Chicago finds that player this season, the 2026-27 campaign will be a success regardless of the final record. If it doesn’t, the Bulls could be staring at another long rebuild with even more questions heading into next summer.
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