Bulls Gold: Chicago Bulls Podcast

Swish Theory's Matt Powers joins us for draft discussion a week out from the big night. We navigate through Swish Theory's Big Board with him, starting with Ace Bailey, and what the news of his drop in value could mean for a team like the Bulls. Then we transition into Collin Murray-Boyles, as Matt explains why Swish Theory has him rated so high. We also touch base on Derik Queen and whether he can overcome the defensive concerns surrounding his game. We also discuss Noa Essengue, Rasheer Fleming, Egor Demin, and 2nd round prospects that could be on the Bulls radar next week. 

There's more draft discussion 14 days out. We start with a roundup of the recent draft rumors, centering around the Bulls interest in Egor Demin. We go through some of the players we've settled on at the top of our boards. Then we wonder if there's a more coveted prospect who could end up falling on draft night to the Bulls. We also get into the Bulls interest in Drake Powell and if it foreshadows a potential trade down scenario. We wrap with a discussion on the Indiana Pacers and if their playoff run can be replicated going forward. 

No Ceilings' Corey Tulaba returns to Bulls Gold to discuss the 2025 NBA Draft. Corey explains why this is still a strong draft and why the Bulls still have a good range of prospects available to them at 12. We discuss why Thomas Sorber has a play style that's eerily familiar to Bulls fans. Corey breaks down why the defensive concerns of Derik Queen are overblown and how he can succeed at the next level. Could Kasparas Jakučionis the next Tyrese Haliburton type of steal? The guys then try to determine which of the prospects is an "AK Guy", and Corey has an easy answer. We close the show with Corey's thoughts on the Bulls current situation and what he's looking to see from the team going forward. 

Bulls Gold is back! Minutes after the draft lottery ended, we reacted to the Bulls staying at 12 in the lottery. Should the Bulls have any regrets about their approach to the season? We also break down if there are any silver linings to take away from such a weird season. Then, we give our early takeaways on who the Bulls could target with the 12th pick. Then we get into a conversation about what the Bulls can potentially do in the offseason and if moving up in the draft is a worthwhile move. We close with a discussion about the front office and a temperature check on our confidence in the front office. 

Chicago Tribune's Julia Poe joins us for reaction to the Bulls 3-3 start to the season. We begin with the Bulls fast paced, three-point shooting offense that's quickly become their identity. How sustainable is this approach for the season? Then we shift into discussion about Zach LaVine's success off ball and how Josh Giddey and Lonzo Ball are contributing to it. How optimistic should we be about Giddey's play so far? What has Jalen Smith meant to the team's success so far? We have a conversation about Patrick Williams struggles and the identity he wants to find as a player. Are the Bulls approaching Matas Buzelis development the right way? That and more.

Drew Stevens of The Bigs joins us to preview the Bulls season opener. We recap the offseason and try to figure out how the Bulls rotation will shake out. Which players need to get opportunities the most this season? Then we get into discussion about Josh Giddey and his (lack of) contract negotiations. Are we any more encouraged about his fit with this team? We also get into which players have the best shot at being moved at the deadline, Coby White and Ayo's long-term value, and we give our season win total predictions.

In this episode, we start with a quick review of the Bulls offseason and direction moving forward. Are the Bulls bad enough to secure their first round pick from the Spurs? Salim and Edward have different thoughts on just how poor this year's team could be. Then, we shift into Zach LaVine's consistently non-existent trade market. Which teams could be desperate enough to create a market for LaVine during the season? We also got into Summer League discussion with a lot of praise for Julian Phillips and Matas Buzelis. Then we wrapped with a discussion on Josh Giddey's next contract. What should be the Bulls walkaway price on Giddey? 

CHGO's Will Gottlieb returns for analysis of the Bulls free agent activity. We begin with the Bulls signing Pacers Center Jalen Smith, and the optimism that there's a lot of upside left in his game. Then we discuss Patrick Williams $90M extension. Did the Bulls make a good call committing to Williams before the start of free agency? We transition into DeMar DeRozan's FA market. Will the Lakers make a move for DeRozan or will another team come out of nowhere to sign him? We then reacted to more non-updates on Zach LaVine's trade market. Is the perception on LaVine getting out of hand? All this and much more. 

We react to a busy couple of weeks in Chicago. We give our reaction to the Bulls selecting Matas Buzelis 11th overall. How does Buzelis' two-way upside fit with the Bulls going forward, and can he improve his jump shot? We also get into the the Alex Caruso-Josh Giddey trade. Was Giddey the best value the Bulls could've got for Caruso? We look at how Giddey fits with the team long-term and whether he can be a real building block for the team. Then we get into the Bulls new direction, as the team is seemingly embracing a rebuild. What could the team look like in a few weeks and will the Bulls be able to improve their draft capital? We also get into rumors surrounding Zach LaVine's future, DeMar DeRozan's free agency, and whether we're worried about the latest update on Patrick Williams' injury recovery.

Swish Theory's Larry Golden returns to break down the guard class in this year's draft. We go through Reed Sheppard, Rob Dillingham, Stephon Castle, Nikola Topic, Isaiah Collier, Jared McCain and Devin Carter. Larry get into why Isaiah Collier isn't getting the attention he deserves in this class. We question the fit and interest of the Bulls in Rob Dillingham. Is Stephon Castle transitioning to point guard a wise move? Also, Edward pens another love letter to Bulls fans to explain why they need to get excited about Devin Carter. We also get Larry's thoughts on what direction the Bulls should look to go in with this class, our confidence in Peter Patton being able to rebuild a prospect's jumpshot, and much more. 

No Ceilings' Corey Tulaba returns to break down the wing talent in this year's class. First, we get into the recent rumors of the Bulls eyeing a tradeup in the draft. Is it worth it for the Bulls to move additional assets in this type of class? Then, we discuss Matas Buzelis, a rumored Bulls target and whether he has legitimate two-way upside. Corey explains why he is high on Dalton Knecht and why he has one of the safest fits in this class. We also talk Tristan Da Silva, and wonder if he's being overlooked with his smart, versatile, and experienced game. We wonder why there are no rumors about Cody Williams and the Bulls despite him being the prototypical AK draft prospect. We get into a few more G-League Ignite players, specifically Ron Holland and Corey's emphatic stance on why Holland should not be the Bulls target in this class. All that, and much more. 

Can the Bulls land a promising prospect for their frontcourt in the 2024 NBA Draft? No Ceiling's Tyler Rucker joins us to break down several of the top big men in this class. We discuss if Donovan Clingan is worth moving up for. We get into Kyle Filipowski, and whether the lack of excitement about his game is justified. We discuss two high risk, high reward players in Yves Missi and Ke'lel Ware, and Tyler tells us which player is more likely to pay dividends. We also touch the elephant in the room with Zach Edey. Can his game translate to the next level?

After a brief break, we're back in time for draft season! CHGO's Big Dave joins us for reaction to the NBA Draft Lottery. We try to figure out how the Bulls should approach the draft at #11, and if any trades could make sense. Can the Bulls move Zach LaVine for draft capital? We also discuss a few prospects who the team should consider and their fit. We also express frustration at the Bulls missed attempts to acquire more draft picks at the trade deadline. Then we get into the rumors of the Bulls working on a new contract with DeMar DeRozan. We explain why it's time for the Bulls and DeRozan to split amicably and move forward with a youth movement. We wrap today's show by going way off topic and giving our thoughts on the memorable Drake and Kendrick lamar rap beef. 

The Chicago Bulls are headed back to the Play-In Tournament. We reacted to the last stretch of games and gave our predictions for how we think the team will do in the tournament. We also talked about how the team's minutes load is adding up and whether it's realistic or not for veterans to rest in the last six games. Also, we continued to give Ayo Dosunmu some love and discussed whether or not he could make another jump next season.

Corey Tulaba of No Ceilings returns for reaction to the Bulls comeback win over Sacramento. We discussed the development of Coby White following his 37-point performance, and continue to wonder whether he can take another step in his development in the future. Then, we continued our discussion of the play-in tournament and whether the Bulls are giving us more optimism that they'll get one of the playoff seeds. Then, we got Corey's thoughts on the development of Julian Phillips and Onuralp Bitim. Finally, we wrapped the show with some college basketball discussion, as Corey dives into the top prospects in this class, players who could potentially be a fit for the Bulls, and more. 

The Bulls continue to be up and down following a loss to the Pistons and a win against the Cavs. We discussed where the team is headed for the remainder of the season. Will they come out of the play-in tournament? Following Onuralp Bitim's solid performance against Cleveland, we looked at how the Bulls are winning on the margins with young talent. We're also still salty the Bulls passed on deals at the trade deadline to move off veteran pieces. Then, on this week's "Project Pat" segment, we reacted to Patrick Williams season ending injury. We wonder if Williams will end up signing a team friendly deal or if the Bulls will have competition from other teams.

Full reaction to the Bulls uneventful trade deadline. We discuss the potential moves the Bulls had on the table with Golden State and Philadelphia involving Caruso, Drummond and DeRozan. Were the Bulls being irresponsible by not making these trades? Then, we tried to make sense of AK's comments and trade expectations at his presser. This led to us wondering if any recent NBA teams have been successful at using a strategy similar to the Bulls by treading competitive waters. We also have a converstion about Coby White and whether the Bulls are failing to maximize his play on a team-friendly contract. Then, we tried to figure out if the Bulls front office has a strength that can make fans optimistic for what's to come in the future. 

You know the vibes....Big Dave and C-Dub are back for our annual Trade Deadline episode. We start with a temperature check on the Bulls 24-27 record, and whether it's where we thought the team would be. We get into a discussion on the front office to see if we're still good with "letting AK cook". We continue to be marveled by Coby White's breakout season, leading to the question of whether Coby can be a franchise player and how the team could build around him. We transition into Trade Deadline discussion and wondered whether there's more urgency than ever for the Bulls to make moves on Thursday. Are the Bulls overvaluing their assets and potentially passing on reasonable deals? We went through the trade value of Caruso, DeRozan, and Drummond, and gave our predictions for trades, and talked about the deals we would love to see in an ideal world. 

CHGO's Mark K joins us after the Bulls road win against the Charlotte Hornets. Coby White puts in another great game, and we put his breakout in perspective and discuss the amount of responsibility he has picked up this season. Then, we shift to the much-maligned Nikola Vucevic, and why games like this show the nuance in his value to the Bulls. Next, we reacted to a report that suggests the Bulls will stand pat at the trade deadline, and wondered if it's more urgent than ever for the Bulls to make moves in the next few days. We closed with a discussion on the mysterious nature of Patrick Williams injury and what we're looking forward to seeing from Julian Phillips in his absence. 

BullsOnTap's Morris Bankston joins us. We react to the Indiana Pacers acquiring Pascal Siakam and wonder whether the trade will have any impact on Zach LaVine's market. We also discuss where this trade puts the Pacers long-term in the Eastern Conference. Then we get into more discussion on LaVine and the chances that the Bulls may not find a trade partner at the deadline for him. Do the Bulls have to make a trade at this year's deadline? We explain why they have to. We then wrap with a look at the rest of the Bulls schedule for January and their chances of reaching .500. 

Swish Theory's Charlie Cummings joins us for reaction to the Bulls loss to the Golden State Warriors. We discussed the Warriors season, the direction they're heading, their young talent, and how the team could look to improve at the trade deadline. Then we shift to the Bulls, and how the team has looked since Zach LaVine's return to the team. We continue discussion on Coby White's fantastic season, Patrick Williams moving back to the bench, and if the Warriors will have legitimate interest in LaVine. We then close the show with reaction to fans irrational behavior during the Bulls Ring of Honor night.

After a long holiday break, we discussed the Bulls play in December that's sparking some optimism around the team's present and future. We talked about the progress of all of the young players, including some encouraging signs from Dalen Terry and Coby White's breakout season. Then, we wondered if the Bulls recent play could change the goal of this season. Finally, we wrapped with a conversation about Zach LaVine's return and the lack of traction with his trade request. What's the worst and best case scenario for the Bulls in a LaVine trade? 

SBNation Writer and co-host of Cash Considerations Ricky O'Donnell joins. We react to the Bulls entertaining stretch of wins against Milwaukee and New Orleans. We discuss if the Bulls play in those games without Zach LaVine is a coincidence or nothing. We give flowers to Coby White for his breakout play and discuss whether his ceiling is higher than we thought. We get into our "Project Pat" segment. Is Patrick Williams is starting to maximize his effectiveness as a roleplayer? Then, we circle back to Zach LaVine's future. We go over more potential trade options and players we'd target in a deal for LaVine.

It's time for the Chicago Bulls to blow it up. We react to the past few weeks of news surrounding Zach LaVine's trade request, his beef with Billy Donovan and what the market for his trade looks like. We talked about Vucevic's regression and if the Bulls have locked themselves into a bad contract for the forseeable future. We also looked at the mistakes of the front office and wondered whether they'll learn from them in the next build of this team. We also discussed the trade value of Alex Caruso and Demar DeRozan, and whether the report of the front office wanting to retain both players is realistic. We ended with a conversation about what this team could look like after all the veteran pieces are moved, and why Patrick Williams time to prove himself one way or another is on the horizon. 

Big Dave of CHGO joins us for reaction to the Bulls overtime loss to Phoenix including Alex Caruso's impact on the team. We picked back up on our discussion of Zach LaVine and his situation after his disappointing performance in the 4th Quarter and OT against Phoenix. We also discussed the team's slow start to the season and wondered what could be the first domino to fall if the Bulls decide to clean house. We also got into Patrick Williams slow start and wondered what he needs to start showing more consistency on offense. 

Bleacher Nation's Elias Schuster joins us for reaction to the Bulls win over the Jazz and the last stretch of games. We get into the recent impact of Jevon Carter, and wonder when his role will start to expand. We also looked at Patrick Williams play off the bench so far, and discussed if we're concerned about his slow shooting start. We then get into the Bulls Big 3 and the consistent reasons why the trio is not working well together. We end the show with a discussion on how Zach LaVine's future with the Bulls will play out this season.

We're joined by Swish Theory's Larry Golden minutes after the Bulls 112-105 win over the Pacers. We give our immediate reactions to the game and the first week of action for the Bulls in the regular season. We also got into the Bulls shot profile, Patrick Williams tough start to the season, starting lineup decisions, and our confidence in the team going into the remainder of this week's games. 

CHGO's Matt Peck joins us to discuss the beginning of the Bulls regular season. We start with the news of Patrick Williams not receiving an extension from the Bulls, and discussed the chances of him getting a lucrative deal next summer. We get into starting lineup decisions at point guard and power forward, and wonder if Williams is better suited off the bench to begin the season. We also discussed the importance of the Bulls getting off to a good start with a favorable home schedule to start the season, gave our win/loss predictions, and more.

CHGO's Will Gottlieb joins us for reaction to the Bulls first preseason game. We got into Coby White's game, observations about Patrick Williams, lineups and rotations, and discussed the Bulls efforts in improving their shot profile. We also wondered if there's cause for any concern with Dalen Terry's game. We also discussed what an extension for Patrick Williams might look like and if there are any roadblocks to expect during talks. 

Swish Theory's Larry Golden joins us for reactions to the Bulls 2023 Media Day. We talked about the Bulls continued desire to change their shot profile and moving faster on offense. We also got into the things we're looking forward to seeing when the Bulls begin preseason on Sunday. We also discuss the Bulls starting PG competition and wondered whether there's a chance that Coby White could win out. Finally, we close the show with reactions to the Bulls rumored involvement in the Damian Lillard and Jrue Holiday trade discussions over the last couple of weeks.

CHGO Producer Joey Spathis joins us to discuss the latest Twitter trade rumors involving Zach LaVine. We also discuss the Bulls offseason and whether they'll actually see continuity pay off this season. We take another look at the Eastern Conference picture to see if there's any room for the Bulls to overachieve. We also talked to Joey about his experiences at CHGO and how it's shaped him as a Chicago sports fan. 

Matt Gentile and Drew Stevens of Rebuild-A-Bull join us for our 200th episode. We get into the Bulls schedule for the upcoming season and discuss how important it is for the team to get off to a hot start with a favorable opening schedule. We also looked at the Eastern Conference and wondered how much the landscape will change this season. We also talked Bulls Fest, and Marc Eversley's comments on the team's offseason. This led to a discussion on Coby White, and if Eversley's comments suggest a breakout season for White is in the cards. 

Doug Thonus of the Bulls Beat joins us for reaction to the Bulls re-signing Ayo, as we wonder if he'll be able to earn a consistent role in the rotation this season. We also got into Javon Freeman-Liberty's two-way deal with the Toronto Raptors and whether the Bulls got it wrong by not finding a place for JFL on the roster. We also talked Onuralp Bitim's two-way deal with the Bulls, looked at the Bulls win total upside with the current roster, and more. 

Sporting News' Steph Noh joins us for reaction to the Bulls Summer League. We get into Dalen Terry's play and discuss whether Terry has a path to playing time this upcoming season. We also talked Javon Freeman-Liberty's play and wondered how the Bulls will proceed forward with him after a solid Summer League. We also get Steph's reaction to the Bulls offseason and if the team can realistically bounce back from last year with the additions of Jevon Carter and Torrey Craig

Swish Theory's Larry Golden joins us for reaction to the Bulls latest free agent signing in Torrey Craig. He helps us break down Craig's fit with the team, whether the Bulls could actually win more games this season, and how Craig's signing could affect Patrick Williams. We then shift to summer league talk, and discuss Dalen Terry's outlook and why the Bulls have to prioritize playing him this year. We also get into a little talk about Adama Sanogo and Julian Phillips. We also talk the Disabled Player Exception, who we're looking forward to seeing in Summer League, and some watercooler talk around the association. 

Corey Tulaba of No Ceilings joins for reaction to the Bulls moves in NBA free agency so far. We discuss Coby White's return, Nikola Vucevic's contract extension and the signing and fit of Jevon Carter. We then turn to the Twitter-rumors of a potential Zach LaVine trade brewing and wondered whether LaVine could be linked to any of the major offseason trade developments. Corey also gives us his insight on Julian Phillips, Adama Sanogo, and Onuralp Bitim. 

The Athletic's Darnell Mayberry joins us for reaction to the Bulls trading into the draft to select Julian Phillips and if it was a wise long-term move for the team. We also continued discussion on the likelihood of the Bulls making a significant trade with one of their veteran pieces. We also had reaction to AK's post-draft presser and wondered if his moves in free agency will align. We wrapped the show with a comparison of Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu and the chances the team brings back both players.

CHGO's Matt Peck and Big Dave join us for a pre-draft show. We discuss the rumored numbers Vucevic's extension and whether retaining him is a wise move. We also get into all of the trade speculation surrounding Zach LaVine and if the Bradley Beal deal has any ties to a potential move. This leads to a conversation about LaVine's negative career perception and why it could create a weaker trade market than deals for past all-stars. We also talked Lonzo Ball and how the team will proceed with his future, our draft expectations, and more.

CHGO's Stephen Pridgeon-Garner joins us to discuss the Chicago Sky's start to the season. We talk the team's roster overhaul led by James Wade in the offseason, how they're building around Kahleah Copper, new acquisition Marina Mabrey, and where they'll end up finishing at the end of the season. We wrapped the episode with some Bulls talk on a possible new contract for NIkola Vucevic, an update on Lonzo Ball's future, and continued confusion about what exactly the Bulls can do this offseason to restore good vibes. 

CHGO's Will Gottlieb joins us to discuss Zach LaVine's trade value and if this offseason is the Bulls last chance to get optimal value for their all-star. We all discuss the likelihood of a trade between the Blazers and Bulls, DeMar DeRozan's trade value, and Will's experience at the NBA Draft Lottery and Draft Combine. 

Corey Tulaba of No Ceilings joins us to discuss the Bulls draft strategy without any picks in hand and second round and undrafted talent that could be of interest. We also reacted to some trade rumors and looked back on the 2022 Draft to wonder if Dalen Terry is still the right selection. Also discussion of Brandon Miller vs. Scoot Henderson, the Thompson twins, and more. 

Swish Theory's Kris Amundson joins us to discuss the Bulls offseason plans, as we continue the discussion of retool vs. rebuild vs. run it back. We looked deeper into the front office's comments on changing the shot profile of the team for next season. We also look into Coby White's free agency to figure out if the Bulls will prioritize retaining him. Also, Kris provides a great review of Patrick Williams in this week's Project Pat segment, we discuss the NBA playoffs and give our current finals predictions, and Salim takes a victory lap on Jimmy Butler's elite postseason peformance. 

Rob Schaefer joins for reaction to the Bulls play-in loss to the Miami Heat. We get into the perception of Zach LaVine after a bad performance in Miami, the front office's end of season presser, speculate about which players won't be in Chicago next season, whether retooling the team makes sense, and the chances of re-signing Coby White. We also discuss whether Bulls fans should be down on AK and Eversley and we get into some reaction from around the NBA in the playoffs so far. 

Mark Schindler returns to discuss the regular season finale after the Bulls defeated the Detroit Pistons. We got into predictions for the Bulls play-in game against the Raptors Wednesday and looked at how the two teams match up. We also wondered who the Bulls would want to face between Miami and Atlanta, if they beat Toronto. We also discussed Pat Bev's impact on the team, what went right and wrong for the offense and defense this season, Coby White's improvement and future with the team, and more. 

Swish Theory's Larry Golden joins us to discuss what's been a solid March for the Chicago Bulls. We reacted to the Bulls win over the Los Angeles Lakers, complete with Pat Bev antics, and discussed why his acquisiton has been so necessary to the team's improved play. We looked at the play-in picture and wondered if the Bulls are peaking at the right time with eight games left. We also give Coby White his flowers, discussed why Ayo didn't take a jump this season, and got in our Project Pat bag to provide some perspective on the improvements he's made this season. 

Morten Jensen returns for reaction to the Bulls solid play in March and how Patrick Beverley has been instrumental in the team's performance. We wondered whether this play is meaningful for the team's direction and got into a conversation about what a rebuild or a retool could look like in the offseason. We also discussed what Zach LaVine's elite production after the all-star break means for his future in Chicago and we reacted to the latest Lonzo Ball injury update and what it means for his career.

Corey Tulaba of No Ceilings joins us to discuss his reaction to the trade deadline, Patrick Beverley's early impact on the Bulls, the Bulls shutting down Lonzo Ball for the season, the team's chances of making the play-in, and our guesses of what direction the team will go in during the offseason. We also got into some NBA Draft discussion and looked at players who could fit the Bulls if they end up getting a pick in the draft.

CHGO's Will Gottlieb joins for reaction to the NBA Trade Deadline, the trade rumors surrounding Zach LaVine, Vuc's future with the team, the chances of the Bulls making the play-in, and whether adding Russell Westbrook makes sense for the rest of the season. 

Big Dave and C-Dub of Bawl! Sports join us for our annual trade deadline episode. We get into what direction the Bulls should take, which players are most likely to be dealt, which players should not be moved, targets from other teams, and much more. We also discuss the latest on Lonzo Ball, revisit Billy Donovan's secret contract extension, and the improvements the team is making game-by-game.

Jackson Frank joins us to discuss the play of the Bulls Big 3 during their 17-game stretch, Coby White and Patrick Williams development, the team's approach to the trade deadline, the Eastern Conference playoff picture, and more. 

Elias Schuster of Bleacher Nation joins us to discuss whether the Bulls can become a legitimate playoff team, Zach LaVine's return to form, Patrick Williams deadline, thoughts on Lauri Markkanen's revenge game against the Bulls, and the urgency level the team is working with as they approach this year's trade deadline.