Denver edged Chicago 124-117 in a fast-paced preseason clash where the Bulls showed defensive leakage and continuity gaps as they work to establish an identity. Chicago’s foul trouble and the Nuggets’ interior finishing kept the margin wide, underscoring questions about rim protection and discipline even as young talent flashed promise.

Matas Buzelis anchored the Bulls’ future, dropping 20 points and swatting five shots, signaling two-way upside and a potential defensive backbone as he grows into the NBA pace. Josh Giddy delivered a stat-stuffing performance for Oklahoma City, while veteran frontcourt pieces and bench players kept Chicago competitive late, highlighting growth areas and the pace of development ahead of the regular season.

On the Bulls, Nikola Vucevic’s limitations were highlighted against Denver’s bigs, even as Patrick Williams and Zack Collins offered bright spots from the bench. Ayo Dosunmu and Dalen Terry showed flashes of the role players Chicago hopes to lean on, with Terry in particular emblematic of the guard depth the team will rely on as it tightens rotations for the opening grind. Upcoming finale vs Minnesota looms as the last live tune-up before the real grind begins.

ACL injury to Fred VanVleet tightens Rockets' window and sparks speculation on replacements, with Kobe White and Reed Shepard floated as options while Chicago weighs dollars and development paths. The Bulls' staff debates whether Houston would value Kobe, Reed, or Tari Eason in a swap as Chicago balances youth with veteran know-how.

Defensive identity looms large as the panel weighs which Bulls could emerge as all-defense candidates. Dalen Terry and Julian Phillips are pressed to prove they belong in the rotation through disruptive defense, shot-making, and efficiency, while the group maps a path to meaningful minutes and a playoff-minded trajectory.

Midseason moves, cap realities, and a push for faster, tougher basketball define the chat. The Bulls' mix of promising defenders and shooters will be tested as they chase consistency and a stronger defensive ceiling in a crowded Western-centric landscape.

Dalen Terry lays out a road map for the Bulls’ season: heavy offseason conditioning, a pescatarian diet tweak, and a sharper focus on corner threes as Chicago eyes the playoffs. The chat digs into Billy Donovan’s player-friendly approach, Terry’s evolving role, and the team’s faster, more energetic pace, while stressing defensive identity and the bench’s growth as a realistic path to deeper rotations.

The interview also spotlights leadership from DeRozan, chemistry with Io DeSumo and Kobe White, and a crowded, competitive rotation that could hinge on on-court discipline, smart shot selections, and continued defensive progress after a strong late-season finish.

Giddy’s four-year, $100M extension cements him as Chicago’s cornerstone, shaping a cap plan that could unlock a high-end FA window by 2026-27 while keeping Kobe White and I.O. DeSumo in play. Bulls fans are weighing a potential trade path for a true star and how to balance cost with flexibility as the cap rises. Rule changes on late-heave attempts and the NBA Cup tweaks add seasonal drama and fantasy upside, even as the team plots its path around Giddy’s development.

The show weighs the 26-27 cap picture, exploring how ascending vs flat deals affect long-term space and extensions, plus whether a Brown-style blockbuster is feasible. It also emphasizes Giddy’s two core goals this season: finish at the rim with efficiency and sustain a potent three-point threat off the ball, all while leading an offense that must stay cohesive even if defense remains a work-in-progress.