Jalen Smith was originally added to the Chicago Bulls roster as a clear backup center to Nikola Vucevic. He presented some of the floor-spacing element that Vucevic did--Smith shot 42.4% from 3-point range over the 2023-2024 season--and also added a lot of value as a legitimate shot blocker. Smith has never been a high-minute player, but last season's 15 minutes per game represented the lowest amount of playing time he has received since his rookie year. Even so, Smith's 1.6 blocks per 36 minutes showcases as much as anything that he was still blocking shots at a solid rate (Smith's 4% block rate was second on the Bulls to Matas Buzelis at 4.3%). 

Things became less clear about Smith's role on the team following the Zach LaVine trade that saw the Bulls land Zach Collins. After settling in with the team, Collins performed admirably as Billy Donovan's preferred backup center down the stretch. Over 28 games with the Bulls (8 starts), Collins averaged 8.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game. He didn't bring the same shooting that Smith did, but he was second in the team in offensive rebounds and generally found ways to be a physical presence in the paint. 

Bulls’ Zach Collins Out For Four Weeks After Wrist Surgery The Chicago Bulls suffered a significant blow just days before tipoff, as reserve center <a href="https://roundtable.io/sports/nba/bulls/players/zach-collins-consistent-preseason-will-the-bulls-give-him-more">Zach Collins</a> underwent successful surgery to repair a non-displaced fracture in his left wrist, per Bulls PR. He'll be reevaluated in four weeks, sidelining one of the team's most consistent performers heading into the regular season.

It was announced on Saturday that Zach Collins will be out for at least four weeks with wrist surgery. This is a huge blow with the regular season fast approaching. The Bulls will have to rally, but the silver lining to the poorly timed Collins' injury is that it presents an opportunity for Smith to showcase he deserves a solid role in the rotation, even after Collins returns. 

Smith had a rough 2025-25 preseason, averaging 7 points and 4.6 rebounds, while shooting 13% from 3-point range on 3.0 attempts per game. He only played 14.6 minutes per game in the preseason, so perhaps getting closer to 20 minutes a night would allow Smith to get into a better shooting rhythm.

Either way, Smith's terrible 3-pt shooting in the preseason certainly doesn't ease concerns that his poor 3-pt shooting from last season--32.4% from 3-pt range on 3.5 attempts per game--will improve back to his days as an Indiana Pacer. It is possible that Smith just isn't as good of a floor spacer as it previously seemed, but as long as opposing defenses are respecting Smith as a shooter, he still provides a different element than Collins.

A possible positive of Smith's perimeter shooting tailing off is that it forces him to do more work around the rim. Per Basketball-Reference, Smith's average distance of FGAs was around 15.4 feet, four feet further out than it was the previous season. I don't think it is a coincidence that Smith's FG% was the lowest it has been since the 2021-22 season. Focusing on offensive rebounding, providing more scoring inside the arc, and banging with big bodies in the paint, will likely be what is expected of Smith sans Collins. 

Make no mistake that Donovan will still want Smith taking 3-pt FGs, but with a stretch that could possibly include matchups with Karl-Anthony Towns, Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Evan Mobley, and Victor Wembanyama, the Bulls will need Smith to step up in a more traditional around the basket role. Smith had some positives on the defensive end this preseason, averaging 1.4 blocks per game in just under 15 minutes a night. 

If Smith can continue to swat shots on defense, he would be extremely helpful in generating more chances for the Bulls transition attack. Donovan will clearly be watching his play closely in the absence of Collins. Smith is always going to be a generally helpful player, but now is his best chance to prove he is vital to the rotation in Chicago. 

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