The Chicago Bulls, along with perhaps the Sacramento Kings, are the teams most likely to be active in the trade market before the NBA deadline. The teams have already made one trade, linking up with the Cleveland Cavaliers in a deal that sent De’Andre Hunter to the Kings for Dennis Schroder and Keon Ellis late last night. Both teams have several other trade candidates who have garnered interest.
Bulls Definitely Want To Make Deals, Whether Adding Or Subtracting, What Do They Need, & 2 Players Garnering Most Attention
Chicago is the main team to watch here. The Bulls are once again in puragotart as they hover around the .500 mark at 24-26. The Bulls, who have not made the playoffs in three seasons, sit ninth in the Eastern Conference. They are 5-5 in their last 10 and are two games clear of Charlotte.
“The feeling around the Bulls is that [president of Basketball operations Arturas] Karnisovas is not done dealing this season and that those picks might come in handy,” Joe Crowley of The Chicago Sun-Times said. “The Sun-Times reported in December that Karnisovas was one of the more active executives out there in terms of trade talks, a far cry from his first several years in the job. A source Sunday confirmed he hasn’t slowed down, either.”
Chicago ranks at the bottom of the league in both offensive and defensive ratings, despite being 10th in scoring at 117.2 points. The Bulls are shooting well, but they don’t get to the free-throw line often and aren’t great on the offensive boards. Conversely, the Bulls have numerous defensive issues.
“We have to keep building out with younger people,” coach Billy Donovan told Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune. “I don’t think there’s any question about that from a roster standpoint. … If you’re talking about the guys that are here that are going to be under contract, they’re going to need more. So however those conversations take place, whether it’s in July or whether it’s in July or whether it’s at the trade deadline, I think the front office is looking to try to build it out as best they can.”
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Who Could Be Moved?
More significantly, the Bulls have eight players on expiring contracts. The Bulls are $8.1 million below the luxury tax line and $16.2 million beneath being hardcapped at the first apron. Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White are two of the eight players who have drawn interest.
With Chicago well below the tax line, they may get in on more deals like the one on Sunday. Just by being below the tax threshold, the Bulls were able to net Dario Saric and two second-round picks. The Bulls own all of their first-round draft picks from 2026-2032, and potentially Portland’s top-14 protected (2026-28), along with seven second-round selections. They can trade up to five first-round selections.
“Multiple league sources indicated to The Athletic that the Bulls have signaled to teams that they’re available as a hub to facilitate money for apron and tax-paying teams, which they helped Cleveland do in this deal,” Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic reported. “All signs point to the Bulls leaning toward developing their young core. Chicago doesn’t seem likely to lean as far back as a tank/rebuild.”
Tre Jones and Jalen Smith Drawing Most Interest
Of all the Bulls players, Tre Jones and Jalen Smith are drawing the most interest, per Poe. Both players are under team control through next year and have played extremely well this season. The Bulls don’t intend to move either player.
” Nikola Vučević, [Zach] Collins, [Kevin] Huerter, White, Dosunmu, and [Saric] — are sitting on expiring contracts,” Poe said. “Any of these players could be utilized as a mechanism to help another team looking to free up cap space. [Julian]Phillips will be on a team option next season, which makes him similarly available. This mechanism is only valuable to the Bulls if they receive a reasonable return — multiple sources have made it clear the Bulls don’t intend to offload a player such as White just for the sake of moving him.”
“Although their contracts are longer term, both Jones and Smith have driven interest in recent weeks,” Poe continued. “While Jones could be a potential asset still in play, the Bulls’ interest in maintaining a larger presence due to the recent success of two-big lineups could dissuade any deals from prying the center away from the Bulls. That means the Bulls are mostly looking to deal their guards, which could begin the process of rebalancing the roster.”
Ayo Dosunmu
Dosunmu is having a career season, averaging 15 points while shooting 51.5% from the field and 1.9 threes at 44.9% clip. Dosunmu is garnering significant trade interest, with the New York Knicks showing strong interest. The Bulls reportedly want to keep the 26-year-old, though Josh Giddey, Matas Buzalis, and Noa Essengue are said to be the Bulls’ core players from now on.
Tre Jones
Jones is drawing interest because there is a lack of true lead guards. Jones is having one of the best seasons of his career, averaging 12.0 points per game and shooting a career-best 55% from the field. Phoenix and Minnesota are among the teams that have shown real interest.
Coby White
Bulls are getting interest for White, but no one has offered them a first-round selection that they reportedly want. The reason teams are reportedly hesitant to offer the valued pick is White’s expiring deal, how much he will command on the open market, his defense, and nagging calf issues.
Nikola Vucevic
Vucevic is the consummate pro, but has not received much trade interest, though Boston has had talks with Chicago about the big man. Vucevic is $35 and has a huge cap number, and hasn’t been as productive as usual.
What Do The Bulls Need?
Chicago has been linked to New Orleans center Yves Missi and forward Zion Williamson. Indiana guard Benedict Mathurin and Houston’s Tari Eason have also drawn the Bulls’ interest. However, Vucevic believes the Bulls should focus on adding size and athleticism.
“I think that there are certain things that this team needs to take the next step, but we’ll see what happens,” Vucevic told Crowley last night following the Bulls’ huge loss to Miami. “If nothing happens, then it’s on us to try and figure it out and get there.”
“Mainly we need some size and athleticism,” Vucevic added. “We’re pretty undersized at most positions. I think that’s it, that would be the main thing. Because the way the league is right now, and a lot of teams have these big wings, I think that’s something that can definitely help us if we add some of that. Just the way the game has changed, the way the game has evolved, most teams their two, three, and four are 6-8, 6-9, and we don’t really have that.”