Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show
Jamal Collier talks Bulls' search for a new identity under Tiago Splitter
18 Jun 2026
Transcript generated automatically by AI and may contain errors.
Chapter 1: What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
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Why do you think things did not maybe work out in Portland? Obviously, you made the playoffs and had success. But just kind of what is your view there? There's been a lot of reports about sort of the financial situation they had there.
Chapter 2: What were the highlights from Tiago Splitter's introductory press conference?
Was that a factor in this as well?
Yeah, I mean, that's a good question, but I really want to leave that behind. You know, I'm going to think about the Bulls. That's my goal right now, and I want to keep that behind. I respect all opinions. I think there's too many things being said already, and I think that's enough. I'm past that, and I want to think about the Chicago Bulls.
Oh, Tiago Splitter had the talking points ready for that question, which you got to ask.
Chapter 3: What challenges did Tiago Splitter face during his time in Portland?
Taking the highest of roads with our Jamal Collier.
Yes, he did. As we welcome you back into Rahimi Harris and Grody on 104.3. The score, the man that asked that question right there is... Jamal Collier, and he joins us now on 104.3 The Score. Of course, Jamal Collier, NBA reporter for ESPN. Did you expect to get a better answer from Tiago Splitter on the Portland thing? Because we're all very interested in it.
Yeah, of course. You know, you got to take your shot. You got to shoot or shoot, right? So you never expect to get, you never expect what OG and I didn't expect to miss.
You didn't miss. It was just well defended, you know?
No, you've asked the question the right way. I would ask the question. I was waiting for the question. And sometimes you just don't get the answer. But Jamal, more importantly, what do you think about the hiring of Tiago Splitter as the Bulls head coach?
Thanks for having me, first off, guys. Yeah, thank you. just that situation that he was handed with Chauncey at the beginning of the season. I mean, that's a team that really could be dead in the water from jump there. And for him to rally those troops, you know, they were playing really well by the end of the season, think that they won 30 of their last 45 games.
Their defense made a whole bunch of improvements. You saw improvements in their – the talent there. So just a lot to be excited about. from the job that he did in that one year sample in Portland. Uh, but it is just so hard to tell. I mean, I think I'll just kind of calm everybody down as, as far as we're getting ahead of ourselves. It is a, it's still a pretty unproven coach with a roster.
We're not sure what he's going to look like and not sure what his expectations are going to be, uh, over the next handful of years. So, uh, I think the process was pretty good and reason to be encouraged right now, but I kind of am waiting to see until he gets some more games under his belt with a different With this roster, whatever it's going to look like.
But it gave a lot, I think, to be excited about after that first press conference as well.
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Chapter 4: How does Jamal Collier view the Bulls' current roster situation?
If that happens, this assumed thought of Caleb Williams... See, there we go.
Caleb Wilson. You get 10.
You get 10 times. Caleb Wilson in Chicago might not happen the way we think because the people I talk to in Memphis say they don't want to bring in a guard if John Morant's still there. Now, he may be gone by draft night. Who knows? But if it falls right where Caleb Wilson goes to, say, Memphis, could you see a possibility of Darren Peterson being in Chicago?
I think the Bulls have the best position, maybe outside of number two. No, one and two. Obviously, all these are great positions to be in. But the Bulls have maybe the easiest position in the draft. They're going to take whatever of those four guys, I would assume, falls to them. And they're going to be happy because, again, when I talk about sort of the –
You know, you shouldn't be drafting for need at any point in the draft, especially that's high of a draft pick. So I would still maybe have some skepticism of, you know, Memphis is sort of talking about a guard or who, you know, what exactly their pairing is. You take the best player available and the Bulls with there being such a clear delineation of the top four. I just think you're.
just have to be thrilled to be in this spot to have jumped up and have a position to grab one of these guys that has this sort of franchise-changing ceiling on each of them. So I think for Bulls fans, for the most part, you can kind of sit back and let all that stuff play out and know that the guy that you're going to get at number four is somebody you're going to be excited about.
And to my last point, I don't think that this roster really – It doesn't have the rigidity. It should be pretty flexible that you should just take the best player available and start building around that person regardless of position.
Yeah, I don't think Bryson Graham, especially in his first year, should overcomplicate things for himself because there's not a lot to overcomplicate. Maybe with that second first-round pick, it could be interesting to see if they move up to get Keaton Wagler. But what have you thought so far about Bryson Graham and the hiring of him?
Yeah, similar to my answer with Tiago, where I think there's a lot to be excited about. There's a lot of the background is there, you know, the initial press conferences and things that you've seen from him so far, I think are all positive. It's just, you know, I think it's worth remembering that this is essentially the exact same spot the Bulls are in six years ago.
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Chapter 5: What are the expectations for Tiago Splitter as the new Bulls head coach?
That's according to your colleague. Wait, where was he? Mark Spears. Washington. Washington. The Wizards. That's the right thing. And so... The Hawks moved him to Washington. They thought maybe Trey Young and Anthony Davis and some young guys could get together and have a party in the East. And I know Washington's one of the places he could resign. Are you surprised, though, that he's opting out?
Is he in that much of demand, Trey Young?
Well, look, I don't think you make that kind of move in the NBA unless you have some sort of assurance or some sort of... some confidence on the back end that that's going to work out for you. And, you know, the official whatever negotiating period starts on whatever day, but we got to know how this works at this point.
I believe my colleague Brian Windhorst reported this also this morning that he expects Trae Young to sign back with the Wizards on a three-year or at least a multi-year deal. I'd have to look at the exact for that. But, yeah, I would just say like that for Trae Young. generally you make a move like that because you know, you're going to be taken care of on the back end.
Uh, and look, we won't give you any, any, uh, crap for not knowing that train play for the wizards, considering he played zero games for them after the train. Thank you.
Thank you.
And, uh, you know, considering, considering, uh, how that injury worked out, the wizards got a pretty good prize for that. Number one pick.
Sure did. Yeah. I just, I never thought he would leave the Atlanta Hawks. And then he's wisped off to Washington. Did, That's the way these things work. That is. Jamal, thank you. We really like having you on, man. Appreciate the insight. Great job at the presser yesterday, and hopefully we'll talk to you soon, man. See you, Jamal. Thanks, man.
Appreciate you guys.
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