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[Chicago Bulls]

NBA insider rips Chicago Bulls in latest power rankings

Now that free agency is nearly over, we have a good idea of what the Chicago Bulls will look like in 2025-26. Barring a shocking turn of events, Josh Giddey will re-sign eventually. That gives them largely the same team as last year, a roster that went 39-43 and lost as the nine seed in the play-in game. All it gets the Bulls is a lackluster place in the latest NBA Power Rankings and a scathing criticism from one NBA insider.

Chicago Bulls ripped by NBA Power Rankings​

Chicago Bulls guard Tre Jones (30) passes the ball to center Nikola Vucevic (9) during the second half against the Detroit Pistons at the United Center. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-Imagn Images

The Chicago Bulls, according to CBS Sports’ way-too-early power rankings, are the 22nd-best team in the NBA. They’re only ahead of teams like the Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Utah Jazz, Phoenix Suns, and others. It’s not pretty.

“Another offseason, another round of befuddling decisions by the Bulls. They traded Lonzo Ball for Isaac Okoro, who struggled to get wing minutes on the Cavs due to his lack of shooting proficiency,” Collin Ward-Henninger wrote. “It looks like Josh Giddey will be back eventually, which means he’ll once again share backcourt duties with Coby White — oh yeah, and Nikola Vucevic is still on the team! Mediocrity appears to be the ceiling for this Bulls roster, and the floor is as low as any non-tanking team in the league.”

It’s a brutal indictment of the Bulls right now. They didn’t do much to actually get better in 2025-26, but they also didn’t make moves to set themselves up better for the future. Expiring contracts haven’t been traded, and the one trade they did make resulted in a worse player and no draft picks.

Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan reacts during a timeout in the first quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-Imagn Images

When Giddey re-signs for at least $25 million a year, they will have another sizable contract on the books for a player who might not be able to lead them to a higher ceiling than the play-in game. It’s a tough time to be the Bulls, who are acting as if they don’t quite know what direction to go in. They have more decisions to make, but they seemed to ignore most of them this offseason.

Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/nba-i...s&utm_campaign=nba-insider-rips-chicago-bulls

 

[Chicago Bulls]

Bleacher Report names Chicago Bulls’ post-2000 Mount Rushmore

If the entire franchise history for the Chicago Bulls were used, they’d have an iconic, unmatched Mount Rushmore. Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and any other fourth would be hard to beat. But since Bleacher Report is setting the parameters at 2000 and onward, that makes this a much more interesting conversation to have.

Analyst picks best Chicago Bulls since turn of the century​

NBA: Indiana Pacers at Chicago Bulls

According to Bleacher Report’s Dan Favale, the Chicago Bulls still have a pretty solid Mount Rushmore since 2000. Of course, one of the best basketball players ever and some multi-time NBA champions aren’t on the list since they didn’t play, but it’s still a good list:

• PG Derrick Rose
• SF Jimmy Butler
• SF Luol Deng
• C Joakim Noah

That’s a pretty solid unit, even when considering the fact that Derrick Rose was genuinely derailed by injuries. “Derrick Rose’s prime and tenure with the Chicago Bulls veered off course after he tore his left ACL during the 2012 playoffs. The ‘What if…’ factor alone meets the criteria of this exercise,” Favale said.

Rose does still have an MVP and Rookie of the Year, and he’s within the top five of total points (fourth) and assists (second) among all Bulls players since 2000. Rose was maybe the easiest pick of this list, even though he has the injuries.

“Luol Deng and Joakim Noah are among the most prestigious remnants of two separate eras: the one with Prime Rose, and the one thereafter,” Favale said. “They embodied the Bulls’ more-than-enough-to-win ethos—Noah with his relentless motor and Defensive Player of the Year staying power, Deng with his bandwidth to ferry unfathomable workloads.”

NBA: Chicago Bulls at Sacramento Kings

That leaves Jimmy Butler, who had a very interesting run with the Bulls. He was a legitimately great player, and the Bulls curiously decided to move on. It might get forgotten since he’s been on quite a few teams since, but Butler was a great member of the Bulls.

“Jimmy Butler should be remembered as the best overall player among this foursome. His place in Bulls lore is undercut only by their decision to trade him,” Favale said. And for that fact, he deserves a spot as one of the franchise’s four best players since the year 2000.

Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/chica..._campaign=chicago-bulls-post-2000-mt-rushmore

 

[Chicago Bulls]

Analyst: The Chicago Bulls won’t have a good offense in 2025-26

The Chicago Bulls have some interesting offensive pieces on the roster in Coby White, Matas Buzelis, and Nikola Vucevic. When/if Josh Giddey is re-signed, he will also be part of that group. Unfortunately, that’s not enough, one insider believes, to really give the Bulls an actually good offense.

Expect mediocre offense from Chicago Bulls in 2025-26​

NBA: Chicago Bulls at Philadelphia 76ers Apr 13, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (0) reacts during the national anthem before the game against the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Coby White truly blossomed into a legit scorer last year, and he was a real offensive threat to other teams. He could get even better, as he is still very young. He’s the main reason the Chicago Bulls just might have a passable offense.

“There’s a lot of motivation for Coby White to ball out this season heading into free agency next summer. He averaged a career-high 20.1 points per game last season and should maintain a large role with Zach LaVine gone,” Bleacher Report analyst Greg Swartz said.

“Josh Giddey (restricted free agent) played well down the stretch and gives this team a pass-first guard/forward who likes getting everyone involved,” he added. “Tre Jones signed a new three-year deal to return as well.” Those players will also add some quality offense.

However, aside from that, it’s pretty dire. Isaac Okoro might be a better defender than Lonzo Ball, whom the Bulls traded for Okoro, but he does not shoot well and can’t do very much with the ball in his hands. That might only hamper the Bulls on that end of the floor.

NBA: Chicago Bulls at Philadelphia 76ers

“Nikola Vucevic will turn 35 before the start of the season and is a prime trade or buyout candidate if the Chicago Bulls struggle out of the gate,” Swartz added. “As good as White has become, there’s no offensive alpha for this team to go to when it needs a basket.”

He ultimately gave Chicago a C- grade for its offense after the offseason. However, if the Bulls do not find a way to retain Giddey, that grade might end up being generous. Giddey is a decent scorer and a very good facilitator. He even improved his three-point shooting in 2024-25, so there’s reason to think he can be a very capable offensive player, but if he’s not on the roster, that hurts the Bulls tremendously.

Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/chica...&utm_campaign=chicago-bulls-wont-good-offense

 

[Chicago Bulls]

NBA insider predicts outcome for Chicago Bulls, Josh Giddey stalemate

Right now, Chicago Bulls RFA Josh Giddey, even though he is restricted, is the best available free agent left in the 2025 class. Where will he end up with his contract dispute spilling over into September? One insider has a prediction that will please Bulls fans, but it might not be what Giddey truly wants.

NBA analyst predicts Chicago Bulls re-sign Josh Giddey after altering offer​

Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (3) gestures after making a three point basket against the Miami Heat during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

What’s going to happen with Josh Giddey? At this point, nothing seems certain. It’s September now, which means there have been two full offseason months without a contract with the Chicago Bulls. It’s beginning to get a little alarming.

But Bleacher Report’s Eric Pincus has a prediction, and it’s one that would probably be appealing to the Bulls and their fans. “The Bulls appear to believe they hold all the leverage with Josh Giddey, offering a contract thought to be in the $80 million range over four seasons. The team seems to think that’s too much for him to reject to take a one-year, $11.1 million qualifying offer.”

Giddey could always take a gamble and accept the qualifying offer (around $11 million for one season) and then enter free agency as an unrestricted free agent, but that’s a gamble that hardly ever pays off in the NBA. Giddey would be better served taking whatever deal he gets from Chicago than that.

“The stalemate may resolve soon, but it’s challenging to see Giddey landing anywhere else this coming season outside of Chicago,” Pincus said, adding his prediction. “If Giddey can get the Bulls to make the fourth year a player option, he should take the deal on the table. Chicago may not be willing, and that may still be the best choice he can make.”

NBA: Chicago Bulls at Miami Heat Mar 8, 2025; Miami, Florida, USA;Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (3) drives to the basket against Miami Heat guard Tyler Herro (14) during the second quarter at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-Imagn Images

That would be a much more palatable option for the Bulls, as they don’t want to increase the offer financially because then it would border on too expensive and not team-friendly enough for a player who was good but not great.

For Giddey, this is obviously preferable to the one-year QO, and it gives him the flexibility down the line when he’s still in his prime to go back into free agency and try to up his value. Otherwise, he can opt in and remain with the Bulls at what might end up being a better salary anyway.

Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/insid...ign=insider-outcome-chicago-bulls-josh-giddey