Bulls Roll Out Chaotic New Starting Five for Wednesday's Clash with Raptors

The Chicago Bulls are rolling out a starting five that sounds like a randomly generated 2K MyLeague roster after you simulate five years into the future.

According to Underdog NBA, head coach Tiago Splitter is officially starting Josh Giddey, Norman Powell, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson, and Jalen Smith on Wednesday night against the Toronto Raptors.

"Underdog NBA reported the starting lineup of Giddey, Powell, Buzelis, Wilson, and Smith."

This is the reality of the 2026 Chicago Bulls. Expectations for this squad are hovering somewhere between the earth's crust and the Mariana Trench, but at least they are finally leaning into the youth movement. Giddey is back in the mix after dealing with ankle and hamstring issues, taking the keys to an offense that desperately needs a pulse.

For the fantasy managers and prop bettors trying to make sense of this rotation, Norman Powell is the obvious volume play. He has been an absolute bucket all preseason, averaging 21.7 points, 3.5 boards, and 2.5 assists. Somebody has to shoot the basketball for this team, and Powell has never met a contested jumper he did not like.

Then you have the kids. Buzelis and Wilson are getting thrown right into the fire. The front office is banking on Buzelis and Giddey as the foundational core, which means they are going to get every opportunity to play through their mistakes. If you are tuning into this game, you are not watching for a masterclass in defensive rotations. You are watching to see if the young guys can actually hoop.

The Bulls tip off against the Raptors on Wednesday night before heading to Milwaukee to face the Bucks on Friday. It might be messy, and it will definitely be chaotic, but for the first time in a long time, Chicago basketball is at least interesting.