The Chicago Bulls remain a directionless organization.
The franchise’s major 2025 trade deadline move was to finally ship out Zach LaVine after more than a calendar year of trying. The deal ended up being more about getting rid of LaVine than securing significant assets in return, but at least it was a step in the right tanking direction.
Then, the Bulls re-signed guard Lonzo Ball to a two-year, $20 million extension, which was, admittedly, a rare smart piece of business for Chicago’s front office.
But things stopped there. Nikola Vucevic is still around for no particularly obvious reason. Coby White could have fetched a more asset-rich return than LaVine, but he’s still with the Bulls with no sign of taking that next “jump.” Other young players of varying values, like Ayo Dosunmu and Patrick Williams, weren’t moved.
Things could change this offseason, though, once teams get a better feel for where their rosters are, veteran contracts turn into expiring deals and there’s more time and less pressure to find trade agreements.
Here is a trio of Bulls that could find themselves out the door at some point before next season begins.
3 Bulls players who definitely won’t be back in Chicago for 2025-26
3. Tre Jones
Jones was acquired from the San Antonio Spurs as part of the LaVine trade that also brought back Jones’ teammate Zach Collins and Kevin Huerter from the Sacramento Kings.
Collins and Huerter are both role players under contract at around $18 million next season. Huerter holds some value as an expiring deal and proven three-point marksman, but 2024-25 has been by far his worst season in the NBA. The Bulls would be better off waiting and hoping he rebuilds some worth with a better start in 2025-26.
Jones, though, is perhaps the most likely player on Chicago’s roster to find himself elsewhere next season. The 25-year-old is still relatively young and has proven himself to be a reliable backup floor general, but he’ll be a free agent at the conclusion of this year. The Bulls already have a glut of backcourt players and Jones is the most expendable and easiest to move on from.
2. Nikola Vucevic
Chicago passed on the opportunity to trade Vucevic when the veteran big man’s value was at its peak, but he should still have suitors this summer.
He’ll be another year older and his shooting efficiency is creeping down as this season goes along, but he’s still a double-double waiting to happen and a stretch five ideally suited to slot in as a role player on a title contender.
He’ll also enter next season on an attractive $21.5 million expiring deal. Chicago should have some decent opportunities to offload the franchise’s oldest player.
1. Lonzo Ball
Yes, re-signing Ball—considering his borderline miraculous return from injury and what he’s meant to the Bulls’ young roster this season—was a wise move. But his contract is also perfectly built to be traded.
Ball’s extension is for two years and $20 million, but crucially, the second year is a team option, which means his value doubles as a cheap expiring contract.
Chicago received offers for the 27-year-old at the trade deadline. Are there arguments for holding onto Ball through the next two campaigns? Sure. But even though he’s proven his value to the Bulls this year, his injury history is still scary and he would be more useful to a competitive team than a rebuilding one.
Considering the circumstances, it’s best for Chicago to move on this summer and see how younger players like White, Dosunmu and potentially Josh Giddey develop with more playing time.
