A former first-round pick just hit waivers, and the Chicago Bulls have an open roster spot. Should Bryson Graham take the swing?
On today’s Chicago Bulls Central, Haize breaks down whether Chicago should investigate Walter Clayton Jr., why Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson’s biggest opening-night test may come on defense, and the three things the Bulls must prove during the first week of the regular season.
Memphis waived Clayton on October 19 while trimming its roster. He was selected 18th overall in the 2025 NBA Draft, and there is currently no verified Bulls pursuit. The conversation is simply whether Chicago should consider him now that he is available.
Clayton’s profile is intriguing because he has shown both scoring and playmaking ability. In his final season at Florida, he averaged 18.3 points, 4.2 assists and shot 38.6% from three. As an NBA rookie, he averaged 7.8 points and 4.0 assists, but his three-point percentage fell to 30.7%.
Chicago could potentially develop him as:
- 🧠 A secondary ball-handler next to Josh Giddey
- 🎯 A creator for developmental lineups
- 🔥 A guard who can relocate and shoot after giving up the ball
But Chicago already has Giddey, Tre Jones, Norman Powell and Buddy Hield on standard deals, while Jordan Hawkins, Jaylin Sellers and Tobe Awaka occupy the three two-way spots. That means the Bulls would need an actual development plan, not simply excitement over Clayton’s draft pedigree.
Then we turn to opening night.
With Nic Claxton unavailable, Chicago’s young forwards will face a serious defensive responsibility against Toronto. The source document frames a possible matchup with Matas defending Kawhi Leonard and Caleb taking Scottie Barnes, while emphasizing that this is a proposed matchup, not an announced coaching decision. Pasted text
The key isn’t whether Matas and Caleb shut down elite scorers.
It’s whether they:
- Communicate through screens
- Help at the correct time
- Recover under control
- Stay disciplined when contesting shots
- Finish possessions with rebounds
That defensive partnership may tell us more about their long-term fit together than one big scoring night. Pasted text
And finally, Chicago opens with Toronto, Milwaukee and Washington, including an early back-to-back. Haize lays out three things the Bulls need to prove:
🔥 Create quality offense when transition disappears
🧠 Play aggressively without giving away possessions
📈 Show that Tiago Splitter and the players can adjust from game to gamE
💬 Would you use Chicago’s final roster spot on Walter Clayton Jr., and what matters more opening night: Matas and Caleb scoring big or defending well together?
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