The Chicago Bulls may not be done reshaping the roster, and Dalton Knecht is now a name to watch. 👀🐂
On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer react to reporting that the Los Angeles Lakers contacted Chicago about Dalton Knecht, with the Bulls mentioned alongside Milwaukee and Utah as teams the Lakers reached out to while trying to trim their roster. Knecht was the No. 17 pick in the 2024 NBA Draft, but his value has fallen after an uneven start to his career. Pasted text
The guys debate whether Bryson Graham should take another low-cost swing on a former first-round pick after already finding developmental value in players like Leonard Miller and Jordan Hawkins. Would Knecht’s movement shooting fit next to Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson? Or does Chicago already have too many players competing for similar perimeter minutes?
And if the Lakers may eventually release him, should the Bulls give up anything at all?
Haize and Pat also dive into the growing concern around Patrick Williams.
Williams averaged just 12.1 minutes, 5.6 points and 2.8 rebounds during preseason, while shooting 28.6% from three. Those numbers are not disastrous in isolation, but they become much harder to ignore when Williams is earning $18 million this season and competing with Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson, Leonard Miller and Isaac Okoro for forward minutes. Pasted text
The question is no longer simply whether Patrick Williams can become the player Chicago once hoped for.
Does he even belong in Tiago Splitter’s best rotation right now?
The guys discuss whether his salary should matter when setting the rotation, whether the Bulls need to rebuild his trade value, and if attaching an asset to move the contract would actually help the rebuild.
Plus, Haize and Pat break down one of the most encouraging developments from preseason: Tiago Splitter may already be finding the style that best fits this roster.
Chicago has emphasized offensive rebounding, aggressive switching, quick decisions and relentless rim pressure. In the preseason finale against Minnesota, the Bulls scored 133 points, 76 points in the paint, grabbed 17 offensive rebounds and threw down 15 dunks. Pasted text
That raises a fascinating question: what if Chicago’s biggest advantage is not elite shooting or star power, but simply being more athletic, more aggressive and better at creating extra possessions than opponents?
With players like Caleb Wilson, Matas Buzelis, Leonard Miller, Jalen Smith and Tobe Awaka, Splitter may have the personnel to make offensive rebounding and rim pressure part of the Bulls’ identity.
The Bulls may not have a superstar-driven identity yet, but Tiago Splitter appears to be building one around pace, physicality, extra possessions and aggressive young players.
Now Bryson Graham has another decision to make: keep collecting upside plays like Dalton Knecht, or trust the roster already in place.
🎙️ Tune in to Locked On Bulls as Haize and Pat break down the Dalton Knecht trade buzz, Patrick Williams’ uncertain role and whether Tiago Splitter has already found the formula that can make Chicago better than the sum of its parts.
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