The Chicago Bulls have been stuck in basketball purgatory for four consecutive seasons. Since winning 46 games and losing in the first round of the playoffs in 2021-22, the Bulls have been bad enough to be nowhere near the title picture, but too good to get a top-five draft pick.

While Chicago failed to produce the trade deadline activity that some were hoping for, they achieved a great deal through the simple math of addition by subtraction.

The Bulls approached the trade deadline with a clear intention in mind: Unload Zach LaVine and his massive contract. LaVine is currently in the third season of a five-year, $215,159,700 contract, making $44,531,940 during the 2024-25 campaign.

With $47,499,660 owed to him in 2025-26 and a $48,967,380 player option for the 2026-27 campaign, the desire to part ways with LaVine was understandable.

On the court, he’s one of the most productive and dynamic talents that the NBA has to offer. With injury concerns and as many as three full seasons left on his deal, however, Chicago couldn’t help but feel as though it was going to be stuck in purgatory for several years longer.

Instead, the Bulls accepted the necessary evil of getting less back for LaVine than some would’ve wanted and acquired the ability to start over.

Bulls can finally start over after trading Zach LaVine

Entering the trade deadline, Chicago was due to owe upwards of $86 million to its three highest-paid players in 2025-26. It was a daunting reality for a team that’s holding on by a thread to the final spot in the 2024-25 Play-In Tournament.

After moving LaVine, the Bulls’ three biggest salaries for the 2025-26 season now combine for a far more manageable figure of $57,561,977.

Owing upwards of $17 million to each of Zach Collins, Kevin Huerter, and Patrick Williams is admittedly difficult to stomach. Collins, Huerter, and Nikola Vucevic, will become free agents in 2026, however, meaning Chicago could have valuable assets on its hands.

Expiring salaries are always hot commodities around the trade deadline, meaning Chicago could find a way to acquire significant draft compensation at this time next year.

Furthermore, the Bulls added Tre Jones’ expiring contract and re-signed Lonzo Ball for less than half of what he currently makes. Chicago also owes Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White just over $20 million combined in 2025-26 before free agency becomes a factor the following summer.

In turn, the only guaranteed contracts that Chicago is on pace to have on the books during the 2026 period of free agency combine for less than $38 million.

Even if some feel the Bulls could’ve done more at the trade deadline, what they’ve accomplished is financial flexibility and a crucial opportunity for Dosunmu and White to realize their potential. With LaVine out of the equation, Dosunmu and White should have every opportunity to prove they’re worth re-signing or extending.

If all else fails, the Bulls should have as much cap space as any team in the NBA in both 2025 and 2026 to complete the reload or rebuild they’ve needed.