The Chicago Bulls’ offseason is already underway while the best NBA teams battle through the first round of the playoffs. That’s a bitter pill to swallow, but there were a few bright spots during the season. One of them was Zach Collins, the 27-year-old center the Bulls acquired from the San Antonio Spurs when they traded Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings in a three-team deal that also netted the Bulls Kevin Huerter and Tre Jones.
Collins was pressed into a starter’s role for eight games following injuries to Jalen Smith and the Bulls’ incumbent starter, Nikola Vucevic. In a recent interview with NBA Insider Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson of Scoop B Radio, Collins talked about playing with Vooch, comparing him to Jusuf Nurkic, and how he believes his veteran teammate could be a little more selfish on the floor.
“I played with [Jusuf] Nurkić in Portland and he was also a very skilled big man but more of a brute. But Vooch is more of a footwork-footwork-footwork-touch and plays below the rim, but he’s very crafty and super smart. He could be more selfish than he is but he plays the right way and he’s definitely unique.”
Quite honestly, I’m not sure how many Bulls fans would want to see Vucevic play more selfishly–especially on the defensive end where he often elects to give minimal effort and only seems to care about defensive rebounding. But that’s another story altogether.
Collins is on the books for just under $18 million for next season. He is set to be an unrestricted free agent to begin the 2026-27 NBA season. That makes Collins a potentially valuable expiring contract for a trade. I can see a scenario where Collins could be a valuable backup option on a strong team.
Patrick Williams x Zach Collins
( : @CHSN_Bulls)pic.twitter.com/MfUUIfvUS7
Patrick Williams x Zach Collins 💥
(🎥 : @CHSN_Bulls)pic.twitter.com/MfUUIfvUS7
— Ball Time (@BallTimee) April 13, 2025
The Bulls fell short in the NBA Play-In Tournament losing to the Miami Heat.
With the team now squarely in the draft lottery conversation, fans are already looking ahead. The Bulls have a slim 1.7% chance of winning the No. 1 pick, but securing any top-four selection could provide a much-needed infusion of talent. Whether it’s a star in the making or a player who can anchor a larger trade package, the outcome of the lottery could directly impact Collins’ future in Chicago.
We’ll see which direction the team’s front office heads. I know Bulls fans, there probably isn’t a ton of faith in that concept.
Chicago’s offseason promises to be one of the most scrutinized in recent years. While the front office has been notoriously slow to pivot from the current core, the combination of player contracts, aging stars, and a middling record may finally force real changes. Collins could be part of those plans, either as trade bait or as a cost-effective depth piece for a restructured roster.
