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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

 

[Chicago Bulls]

2026 NBA mock draft has Chicago Bulls landing ‘confident shotmaker’

The Chicago Bulls are roughly the same team as they were last year, which essentially means they’ll have a pretty similar year, leaving them at the same spot in the draft after the lottery. So with the 12th pick again next year, which prospect might Chicago end up with? One insider has his prediction.

With the 12th pick in the 2026 NBA draft, the Chicago Bulls select​

Syndication: The Commercial Appeal

According to Jonathan Wasserman, a draft expert with Bleacher Report, it will be Arizona guard Brayden Burries. The Bulls are probably going to re-sign Josh Giddey, which is what helps them stay at the 12th pick in Wasserman’s mock, but the guard rotation isn’t as secure otherwise.

Coby White is a pending free agent with trade rumors swirling, and he’ll likely end up overpaid if he stays in Chicago. Ayo Dosunmu isn’t an elite player, and he is also a free agent soon. The backcourt isn’t secure beyond this year.

“One of the top scoring guards in the 2025 high school class, Brayden Burries should give Arizona an instant injection of creation and ball-screen offense,” Wasserman said in predicting that the Bulls would select the Arizona guard.

Wasserman continued, “At 6’4″, 205 pounds, he has a strong mix of size, strength, and touch for driving and tossing in floaters. He does most of his damage at the rim or behind the arc, where he’s a confident shotmaker but still needs to become more consistent.”

Syndication: The Commercial Appeal

The analyst believes Burries does enough with his passing to get scouts to imagine a good combination of scoring and playmaking at the NBA level. However, make no mistake about it, Burries’ bread and butter is scoring the basketball, which he does on and off the ball.

“Burries should be a high pick if he can avoid concerns over lacking playmaking upside or explosiveness,” Wasserman said. He would give the Bulls a valuable guard to build around, adding to the two young frontcourt players they’ve acquired over the last couple of seasons with Matas Buzelis and Noa Essengue. It’s hard to build from the 11th and 12th picks, but this is how Chicago can do it.

Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/2026-...tm_campaign=2026-nba-mock-draft-chicago-bulls

 

[Chicago Bulls]

Analyst picks the best Chicago Bulls player 3 years from now

In three years, the Chicago Bulls will sport a very different roster than the one they have now. Matas Buzelis, Josh Giddey (after he inevitably re-signs), and Noa Essengue will probably be there, but there’s no telling who of the current Bulls will last that long. Which of them will be the best? According to one insider, it’s pretty clearly Matas Buzelis.

NBA analyst says Chicago Bulls’ best player in 2028 will be Matas Buzelis​

NBA: Golden State Warriors at Chicago Bulls Feb 8, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) reacts after making a basket against the Golden State Warriors during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

Matas Buzelis is the future of the franchise, so it makes him an easy pick when projecting who the best Chicago Bulls player will be down the road. Bleacher Report’s Grant Hughes didn’t even have to think twice about it.

“Even if Matas Buzelis hadn’t broken out in the second half of last season, he probably still would have been the pick for the Chicago Bulls,” he said. Buzelis was struggling early in 2024-25 and failed to get a lot of minutes, but everyone watching knew there was enough athleticism and competitiveness to suggest he would eventually be something.

“After the All-Star break, Buzelis became a full-time starter. The promotion agreed with him,” Hughes said. “Averages of 13.0 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.9 assists tell some of the story, but it was Buzelis’ aggression and surprising facility as an on-ball attacker that opened eyes widest.”

Buzelis also upped his three-point shooting volume and still made an impressive 36.1% of his attempts. “Just scratching the surface of his game, the 6’10” forward has plenty of room to grow into a key role in Chicago. He’ll only be in his age-24 season three years from now,” Hughes concluded.

The other side of this coin is that Buzelis just doesn’t have a lot of competition. Noa Essengue is still incredibly raw and may or may not pan out. Josh Giddey will probably be re-signed, but it’s not likely that he continues to get better, thereby letting Buzelis pass him.

NBA: Chicago Bulls at Toronto Raptors Jan 31, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN: Chicago Bulls forward Matas Buzelis (14) controls the ball as Toronto Raptors center Jakob Poeltl (19) tries to defend during the third quarter at Scotiabank Arena. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

Coby White may not be around much longer. Trade rumors persist, and he’s a free agent next year anyway. Buzelis, since he does more than just score, might end up better regardless of White’s contract status. Most other Bulls are not up for this conversation or are way too old (Nikola Vucevic) to be considered.

Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/analy...campaign=analyst-chicago-bulls-player-3-years

 

[Chicago Bulls]

Chicago Bulls receive a disappointing grade to compete for the 2025-26 title: Analyst

The Chicago Bulls could have a chance to make the playoffs this upcoming season, with the Eastern Conference somewhat open due to injuries. The Bulls still have work to do before the 2025-26 season starts, and that begins by getting a deal done with guard Josh Giddey, who remains unsigned.

Signing Giddey is priority number one if the Bulls hope to break their play-in tournament streak of three consecutive seasons (2022-2025). Having Giddey on the team to pair with Matas Buzelis and Noa Essengue is crucial to developing good team chemistry moving forward and ending that streak.

However, a deal for Giddey is still not close to getting done, and with little done in the way of free agency, the Bulls could be looking at another year of play-in tournament purgatory or missing the playoffs entirely.

The Chicago Bulls could be in for another year of the play-in tournament​

Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (0) reacts with center Nikola Vucevic (9) during the first half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

The Bulls could prove everyone wrong and be one of the better teams during the 2025-26 season if they sign Giddey and don’t trade away players like Coby White and Nikola Vucevic. However, Vucevic and White enter the last years of their contracts and will likely be on the block if the Bulls fall out of contention (which is possible with injuries) or if it makes sense to do so to make them more competitive for the 2026-27 season.

NBA analyst Greg Swartz of Bleacher Report noted this when ranking every NBA team’s chances to compete for the title heading into next season. Swartz believes the Bulls will be a play-in team or miss the playoffs entirely based on their trading away one of Vucevic/White, or both.

Swartz also mentioned that when giving the Bulls a rating of “D,” Buzelis needs more polish to his game. With White and Vucevic’s contracts off their books, the Bulls will have a better financial position for the 2026-27 season.

Swartz’s justification for a “D” rating (via Bleacher Report):

“There’s reason for optimism in Chicago this season, although there’s a far greater chance the Bulls’ season falls apart instead of making a deep playoff run.

Josh Giddey has yet to sign a new contract. Coby White and Nikola Vučević are entering the final season of theirs. Matas Buzelis is going to be a really good starting forward in a few years but needs more polish. The shine on Patrick Williams has officially worn off.

This is a franchise that should be shooting for title contention in 2026-27 coming off a summer where they project to have maximum cap space.

The Bulls may not even be a play-in team this season, especially if White gets traded at some point during the year.”

2026-27 seems to be the Bulls’ year to compete​

Noa Essengue stands with NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the 12th pick by the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the 2025 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

Unless the Bulls catch fire and remain relatively healthy for next season, it will likely be a repeat of last year. Thankfully for them, the rebuild seems to be progressing well and could get better if Essengue shows growth this season.

The Bulls are wasting an opportunity to take advantage of the situation in the Eastern Conference, but that’s been their modus operandi since VP of Basketball Operations Artūras Karnišovas and general manager Marc Eversley took over. Maybe things will change, but that doesn’t seem likely.

Chicago Bulls vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas speaks during Chicago Bulls Media Day. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images

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[Chicago Bulls]

ESPN insider isn’t confident in Chicago Bulls ending Josh Giddey standoff

It’s early September now, and Chicago Bulls star Josh Giddey, who officially entered free agency on July 6, remains unsigned with no resolution in sight. Training camp begins September 29 for the Bulls. The clock has been ticking, but one insider isn’t sure there’s an end immediately in sight to this painstaking saga.

Josh Giddey, Chicago Bulls aren’t ending stalemate any time soon​

NBA: Chicago Bulls at Philadelphia 76ers
Feb 24, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (3) drives around Philadelphia 76ers guard Quentin Grimes (5) during the third quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images

According to one reporter, the Chicago Bulls actually upped their four-year, $80 million offer to Josh Giddey. That initial offer was ignored, and it appears that the 22-year-old guard is not at all happy with the new offer.

Brian Windhorst then said this might’ve been the worst summer ever to be a restricted free agent, which is causing problems for Giddey, Jonathan Kuminga, Quentin Grimes, and others. He also said, “Is Josh Giddey the long-term starter for the Bulls? Do they see him as their starter?”

That is certainly how Giddey was used last year. He started and was a primary ballhandler and scorer on offense. He had the third-highest usage rate among Bulls, second to Coby White and Nikola Vucevic (and Zach LaVine, but he was traded after a half season with Chicago).

Windhorst said, “Starting point guards are making $30 million a year, but the Bulls are not incentivized to give that deal to him.” The lack of competition on the market has helped the Bulls in this regard, but it’s why Giddey has held out so long.

Windhorst also said that Giddey can accept the roughly $12 million qualifying offer and enter free agency next year as an unrestricted player when maybe half the league will have the cap space necessary to sign someone like him.

Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (3) in the second half against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

“That’s his leverage against the Bulls,” he said. “Really, it’s just a matter of trying to stare each other down.” The reporter said it was an unfortunate situation for Giddey, who is trying to get as much leverage and value out of this as possible.

Windhorst also said “with all due respect” that he can’t tell what Chicago’s strategy is, whether or not they really don’t like extra years or the $5 million or so that is currently making up the difference. He can’t make heads or tails of what Chicago is aiming to do, and that doesn’t bode well for Giddey’s prospects, even if Chicago probably does still see Giddey as a part of their future.

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