CHI Bulls #27 of 30
Projected wins
27.5
FanDuel 27.5 (o+100 / u-130) · record 1-3
Net rating
-5.14
avg over remaining games · 50% DARKO DPM + 50% DARKO market · DARKO off -1.23 · def -3.12
Next game / full strength
-4.16 / -5.15
2026-10-28 vs NYK (Monster daily minutes) · out: Nic Claxton
DARKO vs market
-5.69 / -4.60
net on DPM alone / market alone · wins 26.4 / 28.7
Minutes covered
18,720
of 18,720 remaining · fill 0 @ replacement
Roster
17
0 rookies on model/prior
Schedule
+0.27
avg opp net · 2 games unscheduled
ETR minutes mix
91% ETR
4% MPG from ETR FPPG · 4% ETR depth fill
ETR box (rated players)
110 pts
42 reb · 25 ast · 12.3 3pm · 91% of minutes
Roster assumptions minutes: per game: role MPG = mean of ETR + Monster ROS + ros_return, availability from Monster ROS (injury timelines); slate 10-28 (24 teams) on Monster daily minutes, pulled 10-28 15:39 · ETR per-game stats · rating = 50% DARKO DPM + 50% DARKO market per 100 poss · contrib = 5 × rating × minute share · names link to DataBallr
| Player | ETR slot | Pos | Age | GP | MPG | Min | PTS | REB | AST | STL | BLK | 3PM | TO | FG% z | FT% z | FPPG | 9-cat rk | Share % | DPM | Mkt | Rating | O | D | O ctb | D ctb | Contrib |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caleb Wilson | PF1 | F | 20 | 67 | 32.6 | 2,175 | 17.5 | 7.4 | 3.0 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 2.5 | +0.22 | -0.74 | 34.9 | 94 | 11.6 | -1.15 | -1.93 | -1.54 | -0.13 | -1.02 | -0.08 | -0.59 | -0.90 |
| Matas Buzelis | SF1 | F | 22 | 69 | 31.5 | 2,159 | 18.0 | 5.9 | 2.3 | 0.7 | 1.6 | 2.7 | 2.1 | -0.28 | +0.20 | 33.4 | 39 | 11.5 | -0.94 | -2.86 | -1.90 | +0.06 | -1.00 | +0.03 | -0.58 | -1.10 |
| Josh Giddey | PG1 | G | 24 | 64 | 31.4 | 2,002 | 16.3 | 7.7 | 10.1 | 1.0 | 0.6 | 1.9 | 3.5 | -0.56 | -0.05 | 41.7 | 43 | 10.7 | -0.29 | +1.35 | +0.53 | +0.39 | -0.69 | +0.21 | -0.37 | +0.28 |
| Norman Powell | SG1 | G | 33 | 60 | 31.2 | 1,865 | 23.2 | 3.3 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 3.1 | 2.0 | -0.08 | +0.57 | 32.9 | 82 | 10.0 | +0.23 | +1.69 | +0.96 | +1.21 | -0.98 | +0.60 | -0.49 | +0.48 |
| Tre Jones | PG2 | G | 26 | 64 | 23.4 | 1,499 | 10.7 | 2.6 | 5.0 | 0.9 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 1.2 | +0.53 | +0.28 | 23.2 | 178 | 8.0 | -0.18 | -1.53 | -0.86 | +0.74 | -0.92 | +0.30 | -0.37 | -0.34 |
| Nic ClaxtonINJ 5g · back 11-11 | C1 | C | 27 | 54 | 27.0 | 1,460 | 11.8 | 7.4 | 2.4 | 0.8 | 1.5 | 0.1 | 1.3 | +1.26 | -1.35 | 29.7 | 137 | 7.8 | -1.81 | -0.39 | -1.10 | -1.43 | -0.38 | -0.56 | -0.15 | -0.43 |
| Isaac Okoro | SF2 | F | 25 | 65 | 22.1 | 1,427 | 7.9 | 2.4 | 1.6 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 0.8 | -0.11 | -0.08 | 15.8 | 294 | 7.6 | -1.79 | -0.35 | -1.07 | -0.69 | -1.10 | -0.26 | -0.42 | -0.41 |
| Jalen Smith | C1 | F | 26 | 57 | 22.4 | 1,281 | 11.6 | 7.1 | 1.6 | 0.4 | 0.9 | 1.7 | 1.1 | +0.10 | -0.15 | 25.6 | 143 | 6.8 | +0.97 | +0.65 | +0.81 | +0.36 | +0.61 | +0.12 | +0.21 | +0.28 |
| Leonard Miller | PF2 | F | 22 | 61 | 21.1 | 1,281 | 11.1 | 5.4 | 1.5 | 0.6 | 0.4 | 1.1 | 1.1 | +0.29 | -0.04 | 21.8 | 209 | 6.8 | -1.36 | -2.89 | -2.12 | -0.25 | -1.11 | -0.09 | -0.38 | -0.73 |
| Buddy Hield | SG2 | G | 33 | 60 | 18.6 | 1,118 | 10.0 | 2.7 | 1.9 | 0.8 | 0.3 | 2.1 | 1.1 | -0.47 | +0.12 | 18.1 | 243 | 6.0 | -1.06 | -0.24 | -0.65 | -0.64 | -0.42 | -0.19 | -0.13 | -0.19 |
| Dailyn Swainmpg from ETR FPPG | PG3 | G | 21 | 49 | 15.4 | 758 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 14.7 | – | 4.1 | -2.66 | -1.61 | -2.14 | -2.46 | -0.20 | -0.51 | -0.04 | -0.43 |
| Zach Collins | C2 | F | 28 | 42 | 17.7 | 749 | 9.5 | 5.5 | 2.0 | 0.5 | 0.6 | 0.7 | 1.2 | +0.41 | -0.05 | 21.3 | 234 | 4.0 | -0.76 | -1.64 | -1.20 | -1.68 | +0.92 | -0.34 | +0.18 | -0.24 |
| Noa EssengueETR depth fill | PG4 | F | 19 | 65 | 6.2 | 405 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2.2 | -1.15 | -0.64 | -0.90 | -1.91 | +0.75 | -0.21 | +0.08 | -0.10 |
| Patrick WilliamsQETR depth fill | SF3 | F | 25 | 43 | 6.9 | 299 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1.6 | -2.23 | -1.09 | -1.66 | -2.06 | -0.17 | -0.16 | -0.01 | -0.13 |
| Jordan Hawkins | G | 24 | 21 | 5.8 | 120 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0.6 | -3.23 | -2.98 | -3.11 | -1.55 | -1.68 | -0.05 | -0.05 | -0.10 | |
| Jaylin SellersETR depth fill | SG3 | G | 23 | 16 | 5.4 | 86 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0.5 | -2.73 | -1.77 | -2.25 | -2.03 | -0.70 | -0.05 | -0.02 | -0.05 |
| Tobe AwakaETR depth fill | C3 | F | 22 | 8 | 4.4 | 35 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0.2 | -2.29 | -1.75 | -2.02 | -2.51 | +0.22 | -0.03 | +0.00 | -0.02 |
| Team | 18,720 | 109.9 | 41.9 | 25.4 | 6.4 | 5.8 | 12.3 | 13.4 | 100 | -4.35 | -3.89 | -1.24 | -3.11 | -4.13 |
PTS–TO are ETR per-game projections (recovered from ETR's 9-cat z-scores; blank = outside ETR's 9-cat top 300; method on the Inputs page). Team row = Σ(per-game × games)/82. Rating = 50% DARKO DPM + 50% DARKO market rating (DARKO's player rating implied by closing betting spreads, per 100 poss); DPM alone where DARKO has no market rating. Team row under DPM / Mkt = Σ contrib on that rating alone. O/D ctb split DARKO's DPM (the market rating has no O/D split), so they add up to the DPM side, not the blended contrib. Fill of 0 minutes at replacement DPM (-2.2) contributes -0.00. GP / MPG / Min are expected over the remaining games: each game's 240 minutes go to whoever is available (see Injuries & availability), so a player's rating only counts in the games he is projected to play. League-relative centering shifts every team by the same constant.
Injuries & availability Monster return dates · games played so far · chance to play each game = half Monster, half ETR preseason · role MPG = ETR + Monster
| Player | Inj | Risk | Out until | Games out | Played | Mon % | ETR % | Avail % | Next % | Exp GP | Season G | ETR G | Mon G | ETR MPG | Mon MPG | Role MPG | Exp min | Monster note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nic Claxton | INJ 5g | high | 2026-11-11 | 5 | 0 | 84 | 65 | 74 | 0 | 54.1 | 54.1 | 53 | 61 | 28.0 | 27.0 | 27.0 | 1,460 | Injured - hamstring (Injury) - Est. Return 11/11 |
| Caleb Wilson | med | 0 | 4 | 88 | 82 | 85 | 100 | 66.6 | 70.6 | 68 | 69 | 31.1 | 34.0 | 32.6 | 2,175 | |||
| Matas Buzelis | med | 0 | 4 | 88 | 87 | 88 | 100 | 68.6 | 72.6 | 72 | 69 | 31.9 | 31.0 | 31.5 | 2,159 | |||
| Josh Giddey | high | 0 | 4 | 83 | 80 | 81 | 100 | 63.7 | 67.7 | 66 | 65 | 31.9 | 31.0 | 31.4 | 2,002 | |||
| Norman Powell | high | 0 | 4 | 83 | 69 | 76 | 100 | 59.7 | 63.7 | 58 | 65 | 32.3 | 30.0 | 31.2 | 1,865 | |||
| Tre Jones | med | 0 | 4 | 88 | 76 | 82 | 100 | 64.2 | 68.2 | 63 | 69 | 22.8 | 24.0 | 23.4 | 1,499 | |||
| Jalen Smith | high | 0 | 4 | 83 | 63 | 73 | 100 | 57.3 | 61.3 | 53 | 65 | 23.6 | 21.0 | 22.3 | 1,281 | |||
| Isaac Okoro | med | 0 | 4 | 88 | 77 | 83 | 100 | 64.7 | 68.7 | 64 | 69 | 24.2 | 20.0 | 22.1 | 1,427 | |||
| Leonard Miller | high | 0 | 4 | 83 | 72 | 78 | 100 | 60.7 | 64.7 | 60 | 65 | 23.2 | 19.0 | 21.1 | 1,281 | |||
| Buddy Hield | med | 0 | 4 | 88 | 65 | 77 | 100 | 60.2 | 64.2 | 55 | 69 | 20.2 | 17.0 | 18.6 | 1,118 | |||
| Zach Collins | high | 0 | 3 | 51 | 56 | 54 | 100 | 42.5 | 45.5 | 47 | 40 | 20.6 | 15.0 | 17.8 | 749 | |||
| Dailyn Swain | med | 0 | 1 | 56 | 72 | 64 | 0 | 49.4 | 50.4 | 57 | 44 | 18.5 | 13.0 | 15.8 | 758 | |||
| Patrick Williams | Q | med | 0 | 0 | 56 | – | 56 | 0 | 43.4 | 43.4 | – | 44 | 12.0 | 14.0 | 13.0 | 299 | Questionable - right adductor / groin soreness tightness (Injury) - status for next game not specified yet | |
| Noa Essengue | high | 0 | 3 | 83 | – | 83 | 100 | 65.2 | 68.2 | – | 65 | 12.0 | 11.0 | 11.5 | 405 | |||
| Jordan Hawkins | med | 0 | 1 | 27 | – | 27 | 0 | 20.7 | 21.7 | – | 21 | – | 11.0 | 11.0 | 120 | |||
| Jaylin Sellers | med | 0 | 2 | 20 | – | 20 | 0 | 15.8 | 17.8 | – | 16 | 11.6 | 9.0 | 10.3 | 86 |
Before his est. return a player gets none of this team's games (Q: half), so his rating comes out of exactly those games and his minutes go to whoever is available (bench first, starters stretch up to +20%). Once healthy he plays Avail % of games: half Monster's rest-of-season rate, half ETR's preseason games (less the games he has already played, which are settled; for a player coming back from an injury, ETR's per-game rate). Monster ROS dump 2026-10-27 11:46 ET (1.2 days old), 522 rostered, 58 with an est. return.
ETR notes Gallagher Top 150 + ETR depth chart
| Caleb Wilson | Gallagher #75 | Training wheels coming off right away for scoring with plenty of blocks to go with it |
| Matas Buzelis | Gallagher #42 | Went for 19 PPG post break on top of being one of best blocking wings in NBA; Bulls could trade some guys away to thin them out |
| Josh Giddey | Gallagher #40 | Mild concern that Billy Donovan maximized him and he'll have to share usage a little more |
| Norman Powell | Gallagher #89 | The Bulls badly need 3-point shooting and his minutes could climb to 32+ following the Spo cut; could be traded |
| Nic Claxton | Gallagher #146 | Last two years were a disaster; was it his back or was it the BK system? I'll find out at this price |
| Nic Claxton | Depth chart | Expected to miss start of season for hamstring issue |
| Leonard Miller | Gallagher #144 | Just too good in the preseason to ignore; several paths to minutes |
ETR depth chart ETR order · minutes the model uses
PG
Josh Giddey
31.4 mpg × 64 g = 2,002
Tre Jones
23.4 mpg × 64 g = 1,499
Dailyn Swain
15.4 mpg × 49 g = 758
Noa Essengue
6.2 mpg × 65 g = 405
SG
Norman Powell
31.2 mpg × 60 g = 1,865
Buddy Hield
18.6 mpg × 60 g = 1,118
Jaylin Sellers 2W
5.4 mpg × 16 g = 86
SF
Matas Buzelis
31.5 mpg × 69 g = 2,159
Isaac Okoro
22.1 mpg × 65 g = 1,427
Patrick Williams
6.9 mpg × 43 g = 299
PF
Caleb Wilson
32.6 mpg × 67 g = 2,175
Leonard Miller
21.1 mpg × 61 g = 1,281
C
Jalen Smith
22.4 mpg × 57 g = 1,281
Zach Collins
17.7 mpg × 42 g = 749
Tobe Awaka 2W
4.4 mpg × 8 g = 35
Nic Claxton IR
27.0 mpg × 54 g = 1,460
Not on ETR's depth chart: Jordan Hawkins
Schedule 4 played · each remaining game uses both teams' nets for that date (who is out) · win prob from net-rating gap + 2.3 HCA, sd 12.5
| Date | Opp (net that game) | Our net | Win % | Result | Our players out |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-10-21 | @ TOR +2.5 | 21% | L 92-135 | ||
| 2026-10-23 | @ MIL -6.4 | 47% | W 132-125 | ||
| 2026-10-24 | vs WAS -5.1 | 57% | L 120-124 | ||
| 2026-10-26 | @ BOS +6.3 | 14% | L 99-134 | ||
| 2026-10-28 | vs NYK +6.8 | -4.2 | 24% | Monster tonight Nic Claxton | |
| 2026-10-30 | @ BOS +5.9 | -5.2 | 14% | Nic Claxton | |
| 2026-11-02 | @ PHI +2.5 | -5.2 | 21% | Nic Claxton | |
| 2026-11-04 | @ NYK +5.0 | -5.2 | 16% | Nic Claxton | |
| 2026-11-08 | vs PHI +2.5 | -5.2 | 33% | Nic Claxton | |
| 2026-11-11 | vs SAS +5.9 | -5.2 | 24% | ||
| 2026-11-13 | vs ATL +0.8 | -5.2 | 38% | ||
| 2026-11-14 | @ MIN +2.8 | -5.2 | 20% | ||
| 2026-11-16 | @ CLE +2.3 | -5.2 | 22% | ||
| 2026-11-18 | @ BKN -5.7 | -5.2 | 44% | ||
| 2026-11-20 | vs WAS -5.1 | -5.2 | 57% | ||
| 2026-11-22 | vs DEN +3.4 | -5.2 | 31% | ||
| 2026-11-23 | vs CLE +2.3 | -5.2 | 34% | ||
| 2026-11-25 | @ CHA -0.2 | -5.2 | 28% | ||
| 2026-11-28 | vs IND -0.0 | -5.2 | 41% | ||
| 2026-12-01 | vs NYK +5.0 | -5.2 | 26% | ||
| 2026-12-03 | vs CLE +2.3 | -5.2 | 34% | ||
| 2026-12-13 | vs HOU +5.3 | -5.2 | 26% | ||
| 2026-12-14 | vs MIA +0.5 | -5.2 | 40% | ||
| 2026-12-16 | vs UTA -4.4 | -5.2 | 55% | ||
| 2026-12-18 | @ SAS +5.9 | -5.2 | 14% | ||
| 2026-12-19 | @ DAL -4.3 | -5.2 | 40% | ||
| 2026-12-21 | @ MIA +0.5 | -5.2 | 26% | ||
| 2026-12-23 | @ MIA +0.5 | -5.2 | 26% | ||
| 2026-12-26 | vs DET +3.8 | -5.2 | 30% | ||
| 2026-12-29 | @ ATL +0.8 | -5.2 | 25% | ||
| 2026-12-30 | vs BOS +6.3 | -5.2 | 23% | ||
| 2027-01-02 | vs LAL +2.3 | -5.2 | 34% | ||
| 2027-01-04 | @ IND -0.0 | -5.2 | 28% | ||
| 2027-01-05 | vs MIL -6.5 | -5.2 | 61% | ||
| 2027-01-07 | @ SAC -8.4 | -5.2 | 53% | ||
| 2027-01-09 | @ GSW -0.2 | -5.2 | 28% | ||
| 2027-01-10 | @ PHX -0.8 | -5.2 | 30% | ||
| 2027-01-12 | @ UTA -4.4 | -5.2 | 40% | ||
| 2027-01-14 | vs MIN +2.8 | -5.2 | 32% | ||
| 2027-01-17 | vs TOR +2.8 | -5.2 | 32% | ||
| 2027-01-19 | @ TOR +2.8 | -5.2 | 20% | ||
| 2027-01-20 | @ BKN -5.7 | -5.2 | 44% | ||
| 2027-01-23 | vs PHI +2.5 | -5.2 | 34% | ||
| 2027-01-25 | vs DAL -4.3 | -5.2 | 55% | ||
| 2027-01-26 | @ IND -0.0 | -5.2 | 28% | ||
| 2027-01-28 | @ ORL +1.0 | -5.2 | 25% | ||
| 2027-01-31 | @ OKC +4.7 | -5.2 | 17% | ||
| 2027-02-02 | @ DET +3.8 | -5.2 | 18% | ||
| 2027-02-04 | vs OKC +4.7 | -5.2 | 27% | ||
| 2027-02-06 | vs NOP -4.6 | -5.2 | 56% | ||
| 2027-02-08 | @ WAS -5.1 | -5.2 | 42% | ||
| 2027-02-09 | vs GSW +0.1 | -5.2 | 41% | ||
| 2027-02-11 | @ DEN +3.4 | -5.2 | 19% | ||
| 2027-02-14 | @ POR +2.4 | -5.2 | 21% | ||
| 2027-02-16 | @ LAL +2.3 | -5.2 | 22% | ||
| 2027-02-17 | @ LAC -3.2 | -5.2 | 37% | ||
| 2027-02-25 | vs ATL +0.8 | -5.2 | 38% | ||
| 2027-02-27 | vs BKN -5.7 | -5.2 | 59% | ||
| 2027-03-01 | @ DET +3.8 | -5.2 | 18% | ||
| 2027-03-03 | @ ATL +0.8 | -5.2 | 25% | ||
| 2027-03-06 | vs CHA -0.2 | -5.2 | 42% | ||
| 2027-03-07 | vs POR +2.8 | -5.2 | 32% | ||
| 2027-03-09 | vs BOS +6.3 | -5.2 | 23% | ||
| 2027-03-11 | vs PHX -0.5 | -5.2 | 43% | ||
| 2027-03-13 | vs MEM -3.4 | -5.2 | 52% | ||
| 2027-03-15 | vs ORL +1.0 | -5.2 | 38% | ||
| 2027-03-17 | @ PHI +2.5 | -5.2 | 21% | ||
| 2027-03-20 | @ CLE +2.3 | -5.2 | 22% | ||
| 2027-03-22 | vs SAC -8.4 | -5.2 | 67% | ||
| 2027-03-24 | vs ORL +1.0 | -5.2 | 38% | ||
| 2027-03-25 | @ MEM -3.4 | -5.2 | 37% | ||
| 2027-03-27 | vs LAC -3.0 | -5.2 | 50% | ||
| 2027-03-29 | vs IND +0.0 | -5.2 | 41% | ||
| 2027-03-31 | @ WAS -5.1 | -5.2 | 42% | ||
| 2027-04-02 | vs DET +3.8 | -5.2 | 30% | ||
| 2027-04-04 | @ HOU +5.3 | -5.2 | 15% | ||
| 2027-04-06 | @ MIL -6.5 | -5.2 | 47% | ||
| 2027-04-07 | vs CHA -0.2 | -5.2 | 42% | ||
| 2027-04-09 | vs MIL -6.5 | -5.2 | 61% | ||
| 2027-04-11 | @ NOP -4.6 | -5.2 | 41% |
ETR preseason breakdown usage · minutes · who plays together · player by player · pace & shots, from Gallagher's game-by-game change log (Sept 28 – Oct 16)
Bottom line: New coach Tiago Splitter stops Donovan's two-PG lineups, feeds Caleb Wilson and Norman Powell, and gives the frontcourt minutes behind injury-prone centers to Leonard Miller. A rebuild; ETR expects a lot of losses.
Usage & ball-handling
- Norman Powell: Splitter calls him the "first point of attack." He finished first in the preseason in FTA per 100 and should get a big piece of the usage.
- Caleb Wilson: 29.3% first-half usage in his debut (16 shots: five mid-range, four threes). Chicago force-fed him in the third quarter vs MEM (47.8% usage in 9.3 minutes). His handling went up, and Splitter wants a bigger on-ball role.
- Matas Buzelis: 26.3% first-half usage with about half his shots at the rim, in both halfcourt and transition. He has also played some SG.
- Josh Giddey: 7.0% first-half usage in the opener, by design to get others involved (and PHX picked him up full court).
- Leonard Miller: over 25% usage and 75% TS. Aaron Gordon was the only other rotation player above both marks, and Miller finished third in FD points per 100.
Minutes & rotation
- Starters: Giddey, Powell, Buzelis, Wilson, Jalen Smith (Tobe Awaka started once).
- Centers are fragile: Nic Claxton (hamstring, re-evaluated Oct 19, ETR cut 7 games) and Zach Collins are both out. Jalen Smith started with talk of a bigger minutes load (14 first-half minutes in the opener).
- Leonard Miller was PF2 or C2 every game. He scored 26 in 22 minutes vs DEN, had 18/7/1 in 18:30, and led the bench in the finale (14.5 minutes as the backup five).
- Tre Jones is a pure backup PG; Splitter calls him "the backup point guard."
- Buddy Hield is SG2 behind Powell and the heavy favorite to be in the opening-night rotation.
- Isaac Okoro backs up Buzelis. Noa Essengue fell behind Awaka at C2 and barely plays. Dailyn Swain drops out once Tre Jones is healthy.
Who plays together
- The big change from Billy Donovan: Tre Jones and Giddey never overlap. They played 661 minutes together last year.
- Hield takes the non-Powell minutes with no overlap.
- Jalen Smith and Miller covered all 24 first-half center minutes when healthy. Miller also played next to Wilson at the four.
Pace & shot selection
- Slow early ("slow thinking," "stuck in the mud" per Splitter). He wants more actions, and ETR has a mild worry that they will miss Donovan's structure.
- Defense: second-most opponent FTAs per minute, highest opponent offensive rebound rate, and getting killed at the rim. A great matchup for opposing bigs.
- Wilson's rebounding is a concern because he defends away from the basket while learning to guard the perimeter.
Player by player
| Player | Model GP | Model MPG | Model min | Preseason read |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Norman Powell | 60 | 31.2 | 1,865 | First option and point of attack. FTA-rate leader. |
| Caleb Wilson | 67 | 32.6 | 2,175 | Rookie with a big offensive role and more handling. Light on rebounds. |
| Matas Buzelis | 69 | 31.5 | 2,159 | About 26% usage, rim-heavy. Ankle roll Oct 9 (not docked). |
| Josh Giddey | 64 | 31.4 | 2,002 | Starting PG, low usage early by design. Tre Jones never shares the floor with him. |
| Jalen Smith | 57 | 22.4 | 1,281 | Starting C with room to play more while Claxton is out. |
| Leonard Miller | 61 | 21.1 | 1,281 | Bench breakout: PF2/C2 every night, efficient high usage. The minutes are there while the centers are hurt. |
| Tre Jones | 64 | 23.4 | 1,499 | Straight backup PG. Lost the two-PG minutes he had under Donovan. |
| Buddy Hield | 60 | 18.6 | 1,118 | SG2, straight backup to Powell. |
| Isaac Okoro | 65 | 22.1 | 1,427 | Backup to Buzelis. |
| Nic Claxton | 54 | 27.0 | 1,460 | Hamstring. Questionable at best for the opener. |
Preseason starting lineups
| Game | Opp | Starters | Out (ETR's noteworthy inactives) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 7 | PHX | Josh Giddey, Norman Powell, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson, Jalen Smith | Nic Claxton, Tre Jones, Jaylin Sellers, Zach Collins |
| Oct 9 | MEM | Josh Giddey, Norman Powell, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson, Tobe Awaka | Zach Collins, Nic Claxton, Jalen Smith, Tre Jones, Jaylin Sellers |
| Oct 11 | DEN | Josh Giddey, Isaac Okoro, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson, Jalen Smith | Norman Powell, Nic Claxton, Zach Collins |
| Oct 14 | MIL | Josh Giddey, Norman Powell, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson, Jalen Smith | Nic Claxton, Zach Collins, Tobe Awaka |
Summarized from ETR's 2026-27 Change Log and Preseason News (pulled Oct 18). Preseason minutes are mostly first-half numbers since starters rarely play second halves. Model GP/MPG/min are the ETR season projections this model uses, so the read shows where preseason usage agrees or disagrees with the minutes driving the win total. Projection moves ETR made during the preseason are noted under Minutes.