The Bulls have entered the final stretch before the 2026-27 season with the calendar and coaching structure set. The NBA's key dates list Sept. 29 as the opening of training camp for teams playing their preseason in North America, with preseason games beginning Oct. 3.

Chicago also finalized Tiago Splitter's staff this week. Wes Unseld Jr. returns, while Blake Ahearn, Jamelle McMillan, Rex Kalamian, Jonah Herscu and Taj Gibson join as assistant coaches. Martin Rancik moved into a senior player-development role, and Jordan Brink was named assistant coach and director of player development.

The roster entering that evaluation period has a different balance from last season. The NBA's offseason tracker lists Nic Claxton and Norman Powell as Bulls additions, while the current group includes Matas Buzelis, Noa Essengue and 2026 first-round picks Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain. Chicago finished 31-51 last season, according to the league's Central Division review.

There is no Bulls game on Saturday's schedule. The meaningful next checkpoint is camp, where Splitter's staff will begin sorting the frontcourt, the young rotation and the roles created by the offseason moves. That work leads into the regular-season opener at Toronto on Oct. 21.