Changing the Culture (w/ Big Dave)

Swish Theory's Kris Amundson and Larro Golden return to Bulls Gold to unpack the Bulls offseason. We start with more Caleb Wilson discussion. Then we dive into Dailyn Swain and what makes him such a unique pick for the Bulls. We shift into discussion of Bryson Graham's offseason acquisitions in Nic Claxton and Norman Powell and wonder if both were good uses of the team's cap space. We talk about moves on the margin with the Bulls two-way players in Jaylin Sellers and Tobe Awaka. That leads into discussion about how the Bulls approached the second round in the draft. We close with some thoughts on what's left for the team in the offseason and what we're looking forward to seeing in Summer League. 

CHGO's Will Gottlieb returns to Bulls Gold for all the fallout from the 2026 NBA Draft. We react to the Caleb Wilson pick, and why he's a special talent and the ideal piece for Bryson Graham to begin this rebuild around. Then we discuss Dailyn Swain, a more surprising pick, and why we're optimistic about the strategy behind his selection. Then, NBA teams made it rain with cash considerations in the second round, and the Bulls joined in on it. We wrap with discussion about the acquisition of Nic Claxton and what could be on the horizon for the team as the start of free agency looms on Tuesday. 

We start this episode honoring Bulls legend Stacey King following his tragic passing. We talk about how he turned his personality into a unique broadcasting style, how he interacted with and gave back to the fans, and the moments he made legendary for Bulls basketball. Then, we transition into the Bulls new head coach in Tiago Splitter and if there's anything we can take away from his brief time in Portland to expect in Chicago. We shift into draft discussion and discuss all the possibilities of what could be an exciting night for the Bulls future. We wrap with our thoughts on the Knicks NBA championship win and what it means for general excitement in the league. 

Bulls Gold returns to bask in the excitement of draft season with Big Dave from CHGO Bulls. We do a temperature check on Caleb Wilson, the likely #4 pick, and how he could change the culture and mentality of the Bulls. Then we open up the floor for who's catching our attention with the the 15th pick, and whether the Bulls should consider moving up to grab the right player. The Bulls are still interviewing head coach candidates, and we compare our wish list for coach, and whether there's a candidate who could come out of nowhere to get the job. We also react to Bryson Graham's first month on the job, the disappointment in Patrick Williams, and more. 

After wins against the Pistons, Magic, and the Hawks, the Bulls are 3-0 for the first time in years. We react to the team's hot start, and how they've been winning by committee. We also discuss the improved defense to start the season and how they've been able to compete on that end. Can they continue to surprise? And what would a successful season look like for this team if they are legitimate? What happens when Coby White returns to the lineup? We look forward to how Billy Donovan will play with the team's depth and if the front office will have some tough decisions to make. 

CHGO's Matt Peck joins us. We kick off the episode with reaction to Matas Buzelis play in Vegas Summer League, and whether Buzelis can become a bigger part of the Bulls offseason this season. Then we discuss Noa Essengue's Summer League and why he will probably not play much this upcoming season. We shift into the latest on Josh Giddey's contract negotiations. Are we confident the Bulls can re-sign Giddey at a favorable number? Or can the Bulls afford to not have Giddey as a piece in the long-term? We wrap the episode trying to figure out how Patrick Williams can turn things around going forward and the Bulls place in the Eastern Conference. 

CHGO's Big Dave returns to Bulls Gold as we record "live" during NBA Free Agency. We start with our reactions to the Bulls drafting Noa Essengue 12th overall and discuss his upside and whether the Bulls are in position to maximize his talent. Then we move into Josh Giddey's contract negotiations and wonder if the Bulls front office is finally figuring out the right way to negotiate contracts. We go into the Lonzo Ball for Isaac Okoro trade, and Dave gives us some optimism for the newest Bull. We also wonder why the Bulls continue to disregard draft capital in trade discussions. We then discuss if Jonathan Kuminga is a good fit for the team. Then we wrap the show with our best pitch to the Bulls to not trade Ayo Dosunmu. 

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.