There hasn’t been a lot of discussion about it, but Ayo Dosunmu is quietly approaching what could be his final year with the Chicago Bulls. While the front office has not made any grand declarations, the direction of the roster says plenty. The Bulls appear to be building around Josh Giddey and Coby White in the backcourt, and that leaves Dosunmu in a precarious position as he enters the final year of his deal.

We know that Dosunmu hasn’t been some kind of big disappointment. Really, he’s steadily improved since entering the league and has become one of the more dependable two-way guards on the roster.

Dosunmu may have had a little bit of a tough season this past year. But when he’s at his best, he’s defending with purpose, competing every night, and playing a selfless brand of basketball that coaches love.

At the same time, we know that the NBA is rarely about just effort and attitude. Positional priorities and contractual timing carry weight, and Dosunmu finds himself on the wrong end of those factors right now.

Ayo Dosunmu may not be a guarantee to be in Chicago long-term

Giddey was acquired with the intention of being a long-term piece, and the Bulls have committed significant minutes to him as a lead playmaker. White, meanwhile, is coming off the best season of his career and has clearly earned the organization’s trust. Both are younger than Dosunmu, both have larger investments behind them, and both offer higher ceilings as offensive initiators. In a year where Chicago is trying to further establish their core pieces moving forward, the writing is increasingly on the wall.

It would not be surprising to see Dosunmu still play regular minutes this season, especially early on. He’s too solid not to contribute. But the long-term question looms, and the Bulls have not made it obvious that they view him as part of their long-term future.

If an extension were coming, it likely would have happened by now. And if the team ends up out of the playoff hunt by the trade deadline, Dosunmu may even be a name floated in trade discussions.

Fans in Chicago will no doubt continue to root for him. He’s a hometown kid and a hard-nosed defender. But the Bulls have made it clear that their future backcourt is already taking shape without him. Unless something changes dramatically over the course of this season, it seems increasingly likely that Dosunmu’s days in Chicago are numbered, even if the separation ends up being more quiet than dramatic.