Giddey & Claxton Could Define The Bulls’ Season! Plus Matas Extension Talk 👀🐂

The Chicago Bulls are getting closer to real basketball, and three major storylines could shape the 2026-27 season: the Josh Giddey–Nic Claxton partnership, Matas Buzelis’ future contract, and preseason finally being just a little over two weeks away. 👀🐂

On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer break down just how important the Josh Giddey and Nic Claxton duo could be for Chicago this season. Giddey’s passing, rebounding, pace, and ability to create advantages could pair perfectly with Claxton’s rim running, screening, athleticism, lob threat, and defensive impact.

The question is whether that chemistry can become one of the foundations of Tiago Splitter’s offense.

Can Giddey consistently create easy looks for Claxton in pick-and-roll situations? Can Claxton help Giddey by giving him a reliable vertical target? And can their connection help Chicago create easier offense when the half-court spacing gets tight?

Haize and Pat also dive into Matas Buzelis’ eventual contract extension and what his next deal could look like if his development continues. With Matas entering a critical season for his long-term trajectory, the guys discuss what kind of production, efficiency, defensive growth, and overall impact could determine how much Chicago may ultimately have to invest in him.

Plus, Bulls preseason basketball is now a little over two weeks away, which means fans are finally getting close to seeing this new-look roster on the floor. What should Bulls fans be watching first? How will Tiago Splitter handle the rotation? Who wins the final bench spots? How do Giddey, Claxton, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson, Norman Powell, and the rest of the roster fit together in actual game action?

Topics Include:
How important the Josh Giddey and Nic Claxton duo will be
Giddey–Claxton pick-and-roll chemistry
Can Claxton help unlock Chicago’s half-court offense?
Predicting Matas Buzelis’ future Bulls extension
What Matas needs to prove before his next contract
How high Buzelis’ value could climb
Bulls preseason just over two weeks away
Biggest preseason questions for Tiago Splitter
Rotation battles to watch
Bulls 2026-27 season expectations

The Bulls have plenty of young talent, but chemistry will determine how quickly it all comes together. If Giddey and Claxton become a real two-man weapon and Matas takes another major step, Chicago’s long-term picture starts looking a lot more interesting.

🎙️ Tune in to Locked On Bulls as Haize and Pat break down the importance of Josh Giddey and Nic Claxton, predict Matas Buzelis’ next contract, and look ahead to Bulls preseason basketball.

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