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CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – APRIL 16: Coby White #0 of the Chicago Bulls reacts against the Miami Heat during the second half of an NBA play-in tournament game at the United Center on April 16, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Justin Casterline/Getty Images)

After making (and losing in) the play-in tournament in each of the last three seasons, the Chicago Bulls are expected to face similar results in the upcoming NBA season.

Josh Giddey was signed to a four-year, $100 million contract, although the Bulls lack a true A-list star to lead the way. While they do have trade chips, they are several pieces away from competing and seem content with developing their young talent.

With promising young guards Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu both primed for free agency next summer, the Bulls could flip one of them to round out a core with the remaining guard, Giddey, Noa Essengue, and Matas Buzelis, although they missed their window to get ‘maximum value.’

GettyJosh Giddey #3 of the Chicago Bulls reacts against the Detroit Pistons.

Chicago Bulls Can’t Pull Off a Blockbuster Trade

Coming off a career-high 20.4 points per game on efficient shooting, White’s trade value should be at an all-time high. The same could be said for Dosunmu. He missed half the season, but he was still productive and is a valuable facilitator.

With both of them on expiring contracts and expected to command a sizeable payday next summer, the Bulls may have missed their chance to capitalize on their value while it was hot.

“Proactive front offices get out in front of these situations,” explained Bulls’ insider KC Johnson on the Gimme The Hot Sauce Podcast on September 23rd. “They’ve held onto their assets too long at a point where they‘re not getting maximum value for them. You’re in a tough situation now, because again, both those guys are expiring. So a team that projects with cap space next summer might want to say, well, we’re not going to give you much when we can sign him on the open market next summer.”

As the Houston Rockets scramble to find a point guard to replace Fred VanVleet, the Bulls might be able to force them to overpay. However, one possible suitor doesn’t exactly suggest that the league is clamoring to make a deal with Chicago. As Johnson noted, the rest of the league, if they want White or Dosunmu, just has to be patient.

Chicago Bulls Haven’t Finished Their Rebuild

Look at young teams like the San Antonio Spurs and even the Washington Wizards. While they are yet to take the leap into contention, they at least have direction, identity, and a well-rounded young roster waiting to come into their own.

The Bulls, meanwhile, don’t have a lot of spacing and are one of the worst defensive teams in the league. Even with youngsters brimming with potential, the Bulls don’t have the centerpiece of their franchise moving forward.

At one point, either White or Dosunmu could have been flipped in a deal–perhaps with Zach LaVine–for a centerpiece player. Instead, the Bulls dragged their feet and will remain a middling team.

As the Bulls look ahead to their future, fans can expect more of the same, at least until the team has some lottery luck despite their continued refusal to embrace a full-on tank.

Jonah Kubicek Jonah Kubicek has been covering the NBA since 2021 and has served as a writer, editor, and social media manager. When he’s not catching a game, he can be found cooking, reading, or meticulously planning his garden. More about Jonah Kubicek

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