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.