Bulls Overhaul Roster and Coaching Staff for 2026-27 Season

Chicago selected UNC standout Caleb Wilson with the fourth overall pick and hired Tiago Splitter as head coach following a 31-51 finish.

The Chicago Bulls enter the 2026-27 season following a 31-51 finish and a fourth consecutive year missing the playoffs. According to ESPN, the organization initiated a full-scale overhaul by hiring Bryson Graham as head of basketball operations and Tiago Splitter as head coach. The team selected Caleb Wilson with the No. 4 pick in the NBA draft, positioning the UNC standout as the new face of the franchise after he ranked as the sixth-leading scorer during summer league play.

Chicago utilized significant cap space to acquire center Nic Claxton and guard Norman Powell, while also re-signing forward Zach Collins. Claxton, who averaged 2.5 blocks per game in 2022-23, saw his rim protection decline to 1.1 blocks per game last season while allowing 60% shooting at the basket. He joins a rotation that includes 2024 acquisition Josh Giddey and young prospects Matas Buzelis and Rob Dillingham. Zach Kram assigned the Bulls' offseason a C+ grade, noting the team proactively traded for Claxton's $23 million salary slot rather than using it for free agency.

The roster also features 2025 first-round pick Noa Essengue, who missed nearly all of the previous season. ESPN’s Basketball Power Index ranks Chicago at No. 26 heading into the new campaign. While Wilson enters the season with +350 odds to win Rookie of the Year, analysts noted his offensive net points in college correlated weakly with team success, suggesting a secondary offensive role as he transitions to the professional level.