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Four Bold Chicago Bulls Predictions in 2026-27 from Roundtable Staff
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- Four Bold Chicago Bulls Predictions in 2026-27 from Roundtable Staff
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On Wednesday night, the Chicago Bulls will tip off their 61st season in franchise history when they take on the Toronto Raptors.
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The season is sure to be full of intrigue. Led by executive vice president Bryson Graham and head coach Tiago Splitter, the Bulls have finally entered a rebuild, headlined by a pair of top-15 draft picks and a new identity.
Our staff at BullsRoundtable each chipped in one bold prediction ahead of the 2026-27 season:
Gavin Dorsey: Tre Jones gets traded, Norman Powell does not
When Norman Powell signed a 1-and-1 contract with the Bulls this summer, it seemed all but certain that Chicago would look to flip him for future draft capital at the midseason trade deadline. But Powell has already emerged as a leader on this team and is someone that young players like Caleb Wilson, Dailyn Swain and Matas Buzelis have found themselves coming to for advice. Powell also provides a level of three-point shooting that will create much-needed spacing for said young players to thrive.
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Tre Jones has become a fan favorite, but his $8 million salary and team option next summer will be highly desirable to opposing teams at the deadline. Playing both Josh Giddey and Jones will significantly hinder Swain's on-ball playing time and potential growth, and if the No. 15 overall pick shows enough promise, Jones could find himself traded to a contender mid-season.
Luke Kurtzweil: Jalen Smith finds himself in the MIP race
The Bulls' center rotation is already banged up, and both Zach Collins' and Nic Claxton's injuries could nag throughout the season. Jalen Smith finds himself in line for a larger workload than he's ever had, and his improved skillset could translate to a big year production-wise. Smith's shooting, floor-running ability, rebounding ability and improved defense could wind up with him averaging 15-10 with a block or so, if he plays enough minutes this year. He's talented and a worker on the floor. He could be ready to make the leap from a solid backup big man to a productive NBA starter.
Oct 16, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Jalen Smith (25) shoots against the Minnesota Timberwolves during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images
Izzy Randazzo: Josh Giddey is a borderline All-Star
I really do see Josh Giddey being in the All-Star conversation. He has a lot more room to facilitate and is going to need to, which will allow him to showcase more of his talent when he has a more enhanced supporting cast around him on the floor. If he could basically average a triple-double last season, imagine what he could do with new additions and new coaching from Splitter!
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Michael Walton II: Leonard Miller wins Sixth Man of the Year
The Bulls would likely have to stay in the Play-In/playoff mix for this to truly be attainable. But Miller's preseason play shows that a 2024 Naz Reid-type run is possible, where Reid averaged 13.5 PPG, 5.2 RPG, shot 41% from 3 and won the award.
