Chicago Cubs President Jed Hoyer adds another layer of consideration to that calculus, as relayed by Jesse Rogers:

Jed Hoyer on trade deadline aggressiveness: “Your World Series odds are probably going to be correlated to your odds of getting a bye and getting a bye is such a big deal…A lot of that aggressiveness is based on that ability to get the bye.” 1/2

— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) June 5, 2026

Even though a wild card-ish team could desperately need him more than a 1st place team, it's the one in first that might land him. In other words, the Cubs need to get moving up the standings if they want to add in a big way! 3/3

— Jesse Rogers (@JesseRogersESPN) June 5, 2026

The World Series odds are such a driving force when it comes to doing harm to the future of your organization (which is, by definition, what these trades are: some level of long-term damage in exchange for near-term help). Sometimes, those odds are high enough to justify a major move; sometimes they are not. You try to play at the margins with what you include in a trade so as to limit the damage, of course, but fundamentally, you are putting some longer-term risk on the table. It has to be worth it.

And, to that end, Hoyer reminds us that it’s not just about the odds in a generic sense. It’s a real calculation, and it’s one that is informed MASSIVELY by that dang first round bye. If you have a top-two record in your league, then you automatically avoid a 50ish/50ish coin flip of an opening round. Your World Series odds, therefore, don’t immediately got chopped in half right out of the gate.

If you’re one of those teams – a team with a very good shot at being one of those teams – then you know (1) the impact a major piece like Tarik Skubal can have might be all the more prominent in the most important games a team can possibly play, and (2) losing long-term value for a short-term boost down the stretch and in the postseason is slightly more likely to be “worth” it in the end.

That is all to say, Jed Hoyer is not wrong. It makes sense for the teams with a shot at the bye to be the most aggressive at the Trade Deadline.

… but also, I don’t know that folks want to hear that right now. I think most fans understand what he’s saying, but also really want to see the Cubs make the postseason no matter what. And trades in July/August can help make that happen, regardless of the bye situation. So you would still want to see the Cubs make impactful moves if it meant a better shot at October baseball.

Still, I agree fundamentally that if you’re talking about a Tarik-Skubal-level move, I think the bye has to be at least in play. With a few games, perhaps. The Cubs are currently 7.0 games out of a bye spot.

CUBS LINEUP — Anthony Rizzo lost his shirt. The Cubs walked it off. Edward Cabrera is back (and starting this game). And PCA is hot. Let’s see if the Cubs can take last night’s comeback win and turn it into a little forward momentum against Robbie Ray and the Giants this afternoon at Wrigley Field.

Chicago Cubs Lineup:

1. Nico Hoerner, 2B
2. Pete Crow-Armstrong, CF
3. Alex Bregman, 3B
4. Seiya Suzuki, RF
5. Ian Happ, LF
6. Carson Kelly, DH
7. Michael Busch, 1B
8. Miguel Amaya, C
9. Dansby Swanson, SS

Righties are WAY WAY WAY out-hitting lefties against Robbie Ray this season …

vsLHH: .231/.293/.327 (.278 wOBA)
vsRHH: .251/.340/.514 (.368 wOBA)

… So I am not at all surprised to see both Cubs catchers in there today, with the veteran Kelly at designated hitter (plus, Ballesteros caught last night, so both guys got a day off anyway).

Also unsurprised to see Nico Hoerner back up top or Seiya Suzuki and Alex Bregman up a spot higher than usual, with Michael Busch sliding down. Perhaps you could make the case that it would have been a good day for Kevin Alcantara to start, but personally, I’m not seeing too much of an argument. He hasn’t been that impressive in admittedly very limited duty. It’s just that Ian Happ has been pretty brutal against lefties this season.

Giants Lineup:

1. Casey Schmitt, LF
2. Rafael Devers, 1B
3. Luis Aaraez, 2B
4. Willy Adames, SS
5. Jung Hoo Lee, RF
6. Bryce Eldridge, DH
7. Matt Chapman, 3B
8. Daniel Susac, C
9. Drew Gilbert, CF

Pitching Matchup:

Chicago Cubs: Edward Cabrera, RHP

Edward Cabrera is BACK! And you know what, I have high hopes. He started off the year strongly enough, but started having some meh outings there before hitting the IL. His time off was just for a blister, though, so maybe a little breather will do him some wonders and he can help turn this ship around.

Understandably, Cabrera did not need a rehab assignment. And since this wasn’t an arm or body issue, I don’t think he should really be on too much of a pitch count today. That said, I wouldn’t be opposed to taking him out a little earlier than usual if it means letting him end his day on a high note.

Note: The Giants have been a lot better versus right-handed pitchers like Cabrera (103 wRC+) than they have been against lefties (94 wRC+) this season.

One matchup to keep an eye on: Jung Ho Lee is 3-5 with two walks versus Cabrera. Tiniest of tiny samples, but reaching in 5 out of 8 plate appearances seems like a lot.

Giants: Robbie Ray, LHP

Robbie Ray is a two-time All-Star (including last season) and a former Cy Young Award winner. So generally/historically speaking, he’s a very good starting pitcher. However, this season has been a little more mixed, at least lately.

Through his first eight starts, Ray had earned a stellar 2.76 ERA, but was bennefitting from an abnormally high 92.8% strand rate (so he was getting lucky with his sequencing). And that’s why both his xERA (4.19) and FIP (4.50) were much, much higher.

It’s also why regression has hit him hard over his last four starts (combined): 17.0 IP, 17ER, 5 HR, with more walks (13) than strikeouts (12).

But even if this feels like a good time to face Ray, you never know when a former Ace is going to have his best stuff for one day. It happens. So be warned. Also, he’s still shutting down lefties (as I pointed out above), so most of the day will need to be carried by the righties. I hope Seiya Suzuki and Alex Bregman are ready to hit.

Broadcast Info:

• First Pitch: 1:20 pm CT
• How to Watch Today’s Cubs Game: MARQ
• How to Listen to Today’s Cubs Game: 104.3 The Score
• Matchup: Chicago Cubs (33-30) vs San Francisco Giants (25-38)

Cubs vs Giants – Key Injuries:

Chicago Cubs:

• Matt Shaw, UTL
• Matthew Boyd, SP
• Hunter Harvey, RP
• Riley Martin, RP
• Justin Steele, SP (60-Day IL)
• Tyler Austin, IF/OF (60-Day IL)
• Porter Hodge, RP (60-Day IL)
• Cade Horton, SP (60-Day IL)
• Shelby Miller, RP (60-Day IL)

San Francisco Giants:

• Heliot Ramos, OF
• Harrison Bader, OF
• Tyler Mahle, SP
• Matt Gage, RP
• Jason Foley, RP
• Randy Rodriguez, RP
• Rowan Wick, RP
• Reiver Sanmartin, RP
• Hayden Birdsong, SP
• Jared Oliva, OF
• Jose BUtto, RP
• Joel Peguero, RP

Cubs vs Giants – Wrigley Field Weather Report

Location: Chicago, IL
Temperature: 77 degrees
Wind: Blowing out to center, moderate with very strong gusts

2026 NL MVP Odds

The National League MVP race is turning into a runaway, with Shohei Ohtani already a -700 favorite. However, the underlying data reveals massive betting value brewing beneath the surface. Several elite contenders are quietly keeping pace with top-notch WARs and elite offensive production. Before laying a steep premium on the heavy favorite, a look at how the early-June NL MVP odds stack up against true statistical value shows where the smart money should target an NL shakeup.

The Overwhelming Favorite: Shohei Ohtani (-700)

Oddsmakers are laying an absolute mountain of a tax on the rest of the league here. He continues to be a vital part of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ high-powered offense, but it’s his presence on the mound that is separating him from the field. His absurd 0.74 ERA, along with a .787 WHIP and 6-2 record as a starter, are stats that no other offensive-only candidate can even begin to try and match at this point. Unless an unexpected injury or historic second-half slump intervenes, his path to securing yet another MVP trophy looks clear.

The Value: Kyle Schwarber (+1500)

If you’re hunting for a realistic obstacle to an Ohtani sweep, Philadelphia’s elite power threat represents the next logical option on the board. Sitting at +1500, Schwarber provides an intriguing pivot with the kind of home run potential that can single-handedly sway award voters if the Phillies stay atop the standings.

The Dynamic Longshots

• Corbin Carroll (+3000): The Arizona Diamondbacks’ electric star holds down the third spot on the board at +3000
• Juan Soto (+3500): Hovering close behind is Juan Soto, who has begun to heat up for the Mets.
• Matt Olson & Bryce Harper (+4500): Both of these veteran elite run-producers rest at identical +4500 odds and could see their numbers shorten with productive summers.

NL MVP Odds

Always Remember To Bet On The NL MVP Race Responsibly

With an exciting few months of regular-season baseball still to come, getting some action on futures markets can make everyday summer baseball games even more thrilling. However, because futures bets lock up your funds for months and baseball awards markets can turn on a single injury or hot streak, it’s essential to approach these wagers with discipline.

• Separate Your Long-Term Bankroll: MVP futures are a marathon. Only use money you can afford to lose completely, keeping it entirely separate from everyday essentials like rent, bills, and groceries.
• Don’t Chase Longshot Odds: If your early-season ticket is slipping away because a frontrunner like Ohtani is running away with the race, resist the urge to throw bigger, riskier bets at +4000 longshots just to try and make it back.
• Maintain Consistent Unit Sizes: Limit your futures exposure to a small, disciplined percentage of your overall bankroll. Tying up too much capital in an early-June awards market completely drains your flexibility for daily betting.
• Bet on Stats, Not Just Hype: Base your MVP wagers on underlying data, like WAR and OPS+ metrics, rather than jumping on a player simply because they had a viral highlight on social media.
• Take Breaks Over the Summer Grind: The 162-game MLB season is incredibly long. If watching the nightly box scores shifts from a fun hobby to a stressful obligation, step away from the sportsbook app and take a breather.
• Utilize Sportsbook Guardrails: Keep your wagering in check by activating responsible gaming features on your legal sportsbooks, such as strict deposit limits, spending caps, and session timers.

New users must be 21+. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Responsible Gaming Resources

FanDuel Predicts Promo Code

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Getting started with FanDuel Predicts takes a couple of steps, but it shouldn’t give you too much trouble. Here is how to sign up. You start by downloading the app from the Google Play Store or the Apple App Store.

1. Download the app.
2. Register with your info.
3. Verify your identity.
4. Get a $25 sign-up bonus!
5. Search prediction markets.
6. Make your first trade!

The FanDuel Predicts App

You can download the FanDuel Predicts app for iOS and Android devices. Just visit the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store. On Apple, the app sports a 4.8-star rating. For Android, the app rates 4.9 stars. When you download the app, you will have to verify your identity when you register. Also, you will have to allow geolocation so FanDuel can confirm you are located in a legal state. After that, you will be able to make trades on all sorts of prediction markets.

What is FanDuel Predicts?

FanDuel Predicts is a prediction market platform where you can place trades on real-world events. Contracts are listed in cents from $0.01 to $0.99. Each winning contract pays $1. The higher the price, the more people who are trading that contract and predicting that outcome will happen.

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• Commodities
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Where is FanDuel Predicts Legal?

FanDuel Predicts is legal in all 50 states and Washington DC. Because it’s a prediction market and offers trades, the platform is regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. This is different than sportsbooks, which are regulated by a different governing body in each legal state.

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• FanDuel Predicts Sports Trading States
  • Alabama
  • Alaska
  • California
  • Delaware
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Minnesota
  • Nebraska
  • New Mexico
  • North Dakota
  • Oklahoma
  • Rhode Island
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Texas
  • Utah

FanDuel Predicts vs FanDuel Sportsbook

Now, you are probably wondering if FanDuel Predicts and FanDuel Sportsbook are the same thing. They are not. Predicts is a platform for making trades on prediction markets. You are buying and selling contracts that move based on user supply and demand. It’s peer-to-peer trading.

With a sportsbook, you are placing bets against the house. A sportsbook takes a small cut of each wager, called the vig. Sports betting is legalized on a state-by-state basis. Each operator sets the lines and odds as a starting point before the public places bets.

Are There Bonuses for Existing Users?

Unfortunately, the platform doesn’t currently have any bonuses for existing users. There is only the new user bonus. This is one area where FanDuel Sportsbook has the upper hand. It has all sorts of rewards, boosts, and more for existing users.

Deposits and Withdrawals

While FanDuel Sportsbook has a lot of different deposit methods, FanDuel Predicts currently doesn’t have as many options. You can either use a debit card or online banking to add money to your account. The same method you use for your deposit is used for your withdrawal.

Why Trade Prediction Markets?

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Customer Support

FanDuel has great customer service, and there are several ways to get in touch with the operator if you have a problem. Live chat is one of the best ways, but you can also shoot the operator an email or contract it through social media.

FanDuel Predicts History

After the sports betting industry saw prediction markets gaining buzz in 2025, several of the major players started looking into adding the option to their platforms. FanDuel announced a partnership with the CME Group in August 2025, and that paved the way for the operator to launch its own prediction platform. Check out some of the important dates in the history of the prediction platform.

FanDuel Predicts FAQs

Some more frequent questions about FanDuel Predicts.

What is the FanDuel Predicts promo code?

New users get a $25 bonus on sign-up when they register for FanDuel Predicts.

What is the FanDuel Predicts legal age?

You need to be at least 18 years old to use FanDuel Predicts.

What can I trade on FanDuel Predicts?

You can trade real-world events like sports, entertainment, politics, cryptocurrency, business, and more.

Where can I use FanDuel Predicts?

You can use FanDuel Predicts in all 50 states and Washington DC for certain prediction markets. For sports, you can use the app in 18 states.

Offered by FanDuel Prediction Markets LLC, a registered futures commission merchant. 18+ and present in select states. Bonus is non-withdrawable and expires 7 days after receipt. Trading derivatives involves significant risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Manage your activity with our Consumer Protection tools. Restrictions apply. See terms, including eligible states, at: http://fanduel.com/predicts/bonus-offer-terms.

Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.

Responsible Gaming Resources

First, from ESPN’s Courtney Cronin:

The Bears’ announcement Friday does not guarantee the team will leave Illinois. Per a league source, while Indiana is “in the lead” to lure the Bears across state lines to build a domed stadium, “Illinois can still get back in the race,” the source said.

But wait, there’s more:

Updated with Sen. Bill Cunningham’s response (and a few others): Cunningham says Warren told him this morning he is looking forward to further discussions. https://t.co/FpS9yfQbJf

— IsabelMillerMedia (@IsabelMMiller) June 5, 2026

Bears Stadium Update From the Illinois Side of Things

This is what I expected. The Bears’ statement, while firm, wasn’t a grand pronouncement. That the team announced its intentions — while sharing no particulars regarding site specificities, start date, or anything else that would count as substantive — is an impressive bit of public relations mastery. So it only makes sense that the loose wording allows the Illinois side of things to stay in the mix.

ICYMI: FRIDAY’S HAMMOND STADIUM NEWS

This offseason has been fun, for the most part. The vibes have been pleasant. They have a head coach people believe in, a quarterback with star power, an offense that projects to score a lot of points, and a defense that should be better than last year’s group if key players can stay healthy. And yet, every bit of Bears stadium saga news has served as a wet blanket on it all. It didn’t need to be this way. More to come on this story later.

THE PODCAST: Apple | Spotify | YouTube

So it’s neither a surprise, nor something I’ll argue against, that MLB Pipeline’s latest mock from Jim Callis sends the Cubs another college pitcher in the first round:

“23. Cubs: Hunter Dietz, LHP, Arkansas (No. 15) The Cubs’ big league team and farm system both could use an infusion of arms, which could lead to college options such as Peterson, Dietz, Kuhns or Townsend.”

Hunter Dietz, a 6’6″ beast of a dude, is ranked 15th on MLB Pipeline’s top 200, so it would be a theoretical value in their book to have Dietz fall to the Cubs at 23. And, although college stats aren’t always going to tell you the whole story, Dietz’s have been quite strong this year: 3.57 ERA over 85.2 IP, 131(!) K, 31 BB. That’s in the always tough SEC, too.

More on Dietz from MLB Pipeline:

“Dietz was part of a loaded rotation at Calvary Christian HS (Clearwater, Fla.) in 2023, pitching alongside Landen Maroudis (who signed for $1.5 million as a Blue Jays fourth-rounder) and Liam Peterson (now at Florida and perhaps the best pitching prospect in this year’s college class). Dietz could join Peterson as a first-rounder in July despite totaling just 1 2/3 innings in his first two seasons at Arkansas. He had a stress fracture in his elbow that required surgery in the fall of 2023 and pitched twice the following spring before a setback sidelined him for 13 months.

His performance during fall practice was so spectacular that some evaluators believed Dietz was the best college left-hander in the 2026 Draft and he has cemented that status with a strong and healthy spring. He works at 94-96 mph and reaches 98 with his fastball, displaying impressive backspin and carry at times and natural cut at others. His mid-80s slider and upper-80s cutter play as plus offerings, and his low-80s curveball will as well if it gains more consistency. He barely uses a mid-80s changeup with depth.”

As you can see in there, the crazy thing about Dietz is that he essentially didn’t pitch his first two years at Arkansas. So there’s a lot of risk baked into taking him now on the strength of just one season, but (1) we know the Cubs don’t mind that kind of risk (having recently taken, for example, Cade Horton and Jaxon Wiggins early in the draft under similar circumstances); and (2) the season this year has been SO strong that maybe you worry less about the lack of experience or past injuries. If he’s good, he’s good.

It’s possible that, outside of a mock like this, it’s not reasonable to dream on Dietz falling to the Cubs at 23, but it might be a best-case scenario situation in a world where the Cubs actually like him/project him well/don’t prefer some positional guy who falls there.

Oh, by the way, Dietz definitely looks the part:

Here’s some of what we’re hearing from the combine.

Blackhawks GM Talks Big Swing, No. 4 Pick

Blackhawks general manager Kyle Davidson spoke with the media in Buffalo, and said he’s “more motivated” to make a big move this offseason. From Scott Powers’ piece from Davidson’s media availability in Buffalo, here’s part of Davidson’s reasoning for being more ready, willing and able to make a bold splash this summer than he has been in previous years (while refuting the idea that the Hawks haven’t danced with some more significant moves in recent years):

“I think it’s just the maturation of our team,” Davidson said. “We have a better idea of where guys are starting to fall, what things are looking like moving forward, where we need to fill some holes, which was sort of where we wanted to understand where some of these players were after this year. And so, it’s just a better understanding of what we’re actually trying to fill.

“Now, last couple of years, it’s not like there’s been some windfall of players that we’ve just sat out on,” he said. “But there’s just, as we get further into this thing and these players are in the NHL and we understand their capabilities, their areas of growth and their strengths, what do we need to augment that and what do you need to support that? And so that’s something we have more information on at this point, which allows us to be much more specific and targeted in what we might want or don’t want.”

Davidson also said he’s “not afraid” to trade the No. 4 overall pick for a big piece, but noted that it doesn’t seem likely that a team that’s moving out a significant player — Jason Robertson, Dylan Larkin, Matthew Knies, etc. — would be in a position to wait a year or two for a player to be NHL-ready. Dallas is in their win-now window, while Detroit is trying to get into the playoffs and the Leafs, owners of the No. 1 pick, are trying to retool around Auston Matthews and William Nylander.

And, as I’ve written before, it is entirely possible for the Blackhawks to overpay for a big piece this summer. Davidson knows that, and he’s proceeding with his quest to land a significant piece with some caution.

“I do believe that given the youth throughout our lineup, we do have to be careful about not moving too many pieces for maybe one,” Davidson said. “I think it’s delicate right now, just with the youth in our lineup, to not go too far and blow holes in the roster for one thing that may or may not be an improvement.”

Kyle Davidson is more motivated than he’s ever been to add a significant player to the Blackhawks this offseason. He explained this morning why and the process that could go into such a move.

This story is free for all to read https://t.co/xWXxxfT5M9

— Scott Powers (@ByScottPowers) June 5, 2026

Top Prospects Talk

Scott Wheeler shared the list of players who will speak with the media on Friday:

Wheeler also reported the San Jose Sharks, owners of the No. 2 pick, have had dinner with top defensemen Chase Reid, Carson Carels and Keaton Verhoeff this week.

Thomas Drance, whose focus is on the Canucks for The Athletic, wrote about a few of the top players he spoke with at the combine and it’s a good read for Blackhawks fans. A few notes from the piece that are worth passing along. First, even Drance wrote this about Ivar Stenberg, whom he labeled “a very special player.”

The maturity and completeness of Stenberg’s game, in combination with his high-end skill, have him widely ranked as the consensus second-best prospect in the 2026 draft. The San Jose Sharks, however, could lean toward the back end given the unbalanced nature of their current talent distribution. And the Canucks have been closely tied to Caleb Malhotra for months with the third pick.

If the teams at the top of the draft overthink this and Stenberg falls out of the top three, the Chicago Blackhawks could have a massive steal on their hands. There’s really no doubt that Stenberg’s profile is legitimately elite.

And Drance wrote this about one of the most fascinating top-ten projected prospects in this year’s class, Viggo Björck:

While he’s also likely to measure in just a hair under 5-foot-10 when the official measurements are taken this weekend, there can also be absolutely no question that he doesn’t qualify as “small” in any meaningful sense when you see him in person. Björck looks very much like a professional hockey player, with a big frame and broad shoulders. It’s no surprise that he was winning draws and board battles against NHL players just last week over in Switzerland.

It’s hilarious how much better ONE SINGLE comeback victory can change my mood. But I woke up feeling much better about this team after they showed some serious fight in the ninth inning last night. It didn’t hurt that Anthony Rizzo was there, shirtless, or that Dansby Swanson *and* Seiya Suzuki came through in that inning, or that Pete Crow-Armstrong homered for the second straight game AND walked it off. Just a lot of good vibes, and that comes on the heels of Edward Cabrera returning to the rotation (with Boyd not far behind).

To that end, Cabrera is starting this afternoon at Wrigley, and I am just really eager to see how he looks after some rest. His IL stint stinks, but it was just a blister. So his arm should feel fresh and he should be ready to go. Here’s hoping, because we need him.

And then tomorrow, we get the Ben Brown experience again. Brown has been absolutely incredible this year, including his last start, which was the best of his season: 7.0 IP, 3H, 1ER, 1BB, 6K. If he really is this guy going forward – and, let’s be clear, there ARE reasons to believe this is different – than the Cubs may have legitimately struck gold. Huge, huge development for the rest of this season and beyond. Here’s hoping.

On Sunday, the Cubs are starting Jameson Taillon, who actually just turned in a MUCH-needed great outing his last time out. He still gave up a homer, but only one, and went 6.1 IP with only 2ER on six hits, one walk, and six strikeouts. I don’t love how much hard contact there was, but there was also a lot of swing and miss and a lot of first-pitch strikes. Hopefully, that’s a step in the right direction.

On the other side, the Giants are coming into town in a very down year. They’ll start Robbie Ray today, who had a killer start to the season, albeit with bad peripherals. But as I mentioned in the Pre-Gamin’ post, his numbers lately have been a lot less encouraging. With the wind blowing out and an extra righty in the lineup today, I like the Cubs chances to make some noise.

Tomorrow against Brown, the Giants are starting Landen Roupp, who does have a handful of really nice starts this year, but has been giving up a LOT of runs lately.

First 6 starts: 35.1 IP, 10 ER (2.55 ERA, 2.50 xERA)
Last 6 starts: 28.2 IP, 20 ER (6.28 ERA, 4.28 xERA)

But even in that weaker second set of starts, Roupp has a 2.93 FIP in large part because he’s striking out so many batters without allowing too many barrels (fewer than one per game on average). He’s also split neutral. Won’t be an easy one, but at least he’s up aganist Ben Brown.

And finally, on Sunday, the Cubs will face Trevor McDonald, who has been really great in five out of six starts this year and really awful in the other one: 3.2 IP, 3H, 7ER, 1BB, 4K. Generally speaking, however, lefties are killing him this year, and the Cubs have a lot of lefties to deploy. Maybe Moises Ballesteros even gets another start behind the plate. We’ll see.

In terms of the big picture, this is the start of the easiest stretch the Cubs will get this season. We’ve been talking about it for a while, but the next 12 games are against only the Giants and Rockies, two basement dwellers. After that, they’ve got the Blue Jays (under .500) and the Mets (last place), before squaring up against the Brewers again.

So maybe they can make some ground and build some momentum leading into that series in Milwaukee. I think that’ll be a big one.

Cubs vs Giants – Pitching Probables:

Cubs vs Giants – Key Injuries:

Far from San Antonio, our hapless Chicago Bulls are looking to rewrite their own NBA story later this summer, via the draft on June 23-24.

Here are our latest Bulls Bullets, featuring notes on former, current, and possibly future Chicago greats!

Bulls Bullets — June 5, 2026

• This summer, second-year Bulls forward Matas Buzelis announced in Vilnius, Lithuania that he will suit up for the Lithuanian National Team for the first time.

• Prior to immigrating to Chicago, both of Buzelis’ parents played pro basketball in Lithuania — although Buzelis was born in Chicago, so had he wanted to, the 21-year-old would have been able to get into the running for Team USA in international competitions.

• The Bulls may be hard-pressed to lock down Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori as their new head coach. The Stein Line’s Jake Fischer and Marc Stein report that Nori numbers among the finalists for the Portland Trail Blazers’ head coaching job — along with current interim coach Tiago Splitter and Boston Celtics assistant Tyler Lashbrook — and the dozen-ish targets for the Dallas Mavericks.

• Along with Duke power forward Cameron Boozer, North Carolina big man Caleb Wilson appears to be a very possible Bulls target at the No. 4 spot in the 2026 NBA Draft. Wilson served as a special correspondent for the NBA during the ongoing Finals. On hand for a late 105-95 Game 1 Knicks win Wednesday, the 6-foot-9, 211-pound rim-runner came away impressed by All-NBA New York point guard Jalen Brunson.

• Wilson also spoke with ENJOY’s Kenny Beecham ahead of the series. He predicted that the Spurs would get it done in six games. There’s still plenty of time for that. Beecham, an avowed Bulls fan, got a fascinating response when he asked for Wilson to make a player comp. Generally seen as a power forward or small-ball center at the pro level, Wilson’s handle and shotmaking imbue his game with a unique versatility. He compared himself to seven-time All-Star Los Angeles Clippers wing Kawhi Leonard, a big, two-way small forward who’s more perimeter-based.

• The must-read Canadian indie hoops magazine BSKT has a petition for fans to advocate that the Bulls retire the No. 91 jersey of Hall of Fame three-time Chicago champion Dennis Rodman. The Bulls retired Derrick Rose’s No. 1 jersey this past season, and key stars like Rodman, Horace Grant, Joakim Noah and Toni Kukoc could all make sense as the next Chicago players to see their threads hung in the rafters forever. Rodman and Kukoc are the two Hall of Famers among this bunch, although Kukoc was an international honoree, so the barrier for entry into Springfield was different.

• Just nine games into their season, the new-look Chicago Sky sans Rickea Jackson could be in trouble. Chicago has dropped its last five consecutive contests, with the latest loss being a brutal 90-72 defeat against the Washington Mystics on Tuesday. Washington All-Star Kiki Iriafen notched her fourth double-double of the year, a 15-point, 11-rebound masterpiece. Sky center Kamilla Cardoso notched a 12-point, 13-board, six-block, five-assist night in the loss. Washington outscored Chicago 43-32 in the second half to pull away, after a fairly even 47-40 first half. Now 3-6 on the year, Chicago will try to pull out of this nosedive against the 2-9 Connecticut Sun at home Friday.

• Just how much will it cost the Los Angeles Lakers to retain unrestricted free agent guard Austin Reaves this summer? The 28-year-old was playing like an All-Star this past season until an injury knocked him out of the running, and now he wants to be compensated like one. The Los Angeles Times’ Broderick Turner suggested recently on Spectrum SportsNet that Reaves wants a full maximum contract and may be reticent to offer L.A. a sweetheart discount. A maximum five-season contract for Reaves would pay him $239.3 million with the Lakers. A four-year maximum elsewhere would net him $177.4 million.

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The latest chapter in the Bears stadium novel is being written, and it sounds like Northwest Indiana is going to provide the backdrop. In a Twitter/X post on Friday morning, 104.3 The Score radio host David Haugh shares a nugget as he reports the Bears are expected to turn their focus to Hammond, Ind., as the team looks to build a new stadium project:

The #Bears are expected to announce today their board of directors have voted and they will be focused on Hammond moving forward as the future site of their stadium, two legislative sources said. @thescorechicago @mullyhaugh

— David Haugh (@DavidHaugh) June 5, 2026

Meanwhile, a source tells ESPN’s Adam Schefter (via Twitter/X): “There is more work to do but barring anything very strange, it’s a done deal.” No one does “very strange” better than this franchise. So I can’t wait to see what the next plot twist here will be.

More from the team in a statement from Chairman George McCaskey and President/CEO Kevin Warren:

Yesterday, the Chicago Bears Board of Directors met and voted to advance our stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana, with the exact site to be selected. We believe a world-class stadium project in Hammond will transform the region, connecting Northwest Indiana to the South Side of Chicago through the Loop and across neighborhoods and suburbs stretching north of the city. It will bring Chicagoland together and deliver new opportunities to its residents and businesses.

I don’t know if anyone in Illinois has any last Hail Mary passes left to throw. But if they did, I’d say that the tone in the messaging from the Bears is that it might be too little, too late.

Are the Chicago Bears moving to Hammond?

I’ve written it so much that it has become stale, but it is still necessary to write: Nothing is official until it is officially official. And I won’t believe the Bears are building anywhere until shovels go in the ground. Heck, I’m not sure I’ll believe anything unless I see a stadium go up, open its doors, and play a game. And, as my colleague Matt Rooney pointed out in our group thread, this doesn’t say the team is putting shovels in the ground. So there is some gray area still to navigate here.

Nevertheless, this feels like an important step for the Bears as they try to wade through the mess they’ve made in this stadium-building ordeal. Since 2023, this franchise has announced its committment to building in Arlington Heights, along Chicago’s lakefront, and now, in Northwest Indiana. At this point, let me know when you’ve started construction. Otherwise, you’re not doing anything you haven’t already done. I look forward to seeing and hearing what fans (and the Pope!) have to say about this update.

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