News Bulls Team Notes

[Chicago Bulls]

NBA insider can’t see 2025-26 Chicago Bulls reversing mediocre trend

The Chicago Bulls have not been good or bad in the NBA for the last several years. They’ve been firmly in the middle, which is not exactly a good place to be if you ever want to win anything. Unfortunately, based on how the offseason has gone so far, it doesn’t look like that’s going to change any time soon, especially not in 2025-26.

Chicago Bulls expected to hover around .500 once again​

NBA: Chicago Bulls at Charlotte Hornets

The Chicago Bulls were four games under .500 last season. Over the last four seasons, despite moving parts and different players, they are exactly .500. Sadly, ESPN insider Zach Krum can’t see that trend ending this year or any time in the future.

“The Bulls have been the embodiment of NBA mediocrity for years and they have the record to prove it. Over the past four seasons since they added DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball and Alex Caruso to start a new era for the franchise, the Bulls are 164-164,” he said.

That core is gone, though, so the Bulls did move off of them. However, they seem to have moved laterally rather than forward or backward, which is how teams get better in the NBA. Either they get better, or they get worse so they can get better through the draft.

“They still show no signs of embarking on a true rebuild — they sought players in trades for Ball and Caruso instead of draft picks — meaning they’re poised to end up right back near .500 in 2025-26,” Krum concluded.

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 have won 164 games and lost 164 games in the last four seasons, and that number will define them in 2025-26. They might win 41 games and be .500, but they won’t be too high or too low on that estimate, no matter what happens. That includes if they re-sign Josh Giddey, which they haven’t yet.

The Bulls don’t seem to have any plan or urgency, either. The trades they made were more lateral moves, and while drafting Matas Buzelis and Noa Essengue in back-to-back drafts does represent a shift towards the future, it’s hard to really impact that with picks outside the top 10.

Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/nba-i...m_campaign=nba-insider-chicago-bulls-mediocre

 

[Chicago Bulls]

Chicago Bulls executive speaks about 22-year-old PGs’ importance to the organization

Josh Giddey is one of the Chicago Bulls’ core players to build around, and he proved that in his first season after getting traded over from the NBA champions, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Giddey saw a career high in rebounds (8.1), assists (7.2), and three-point percentage (37.8%) last season, while also recording seven triple-doubles, which is second to Michael Jordan, who had 15 in the 1988-89 season.

Giddey is a restricted free agent and demands a contract that would pay him $30 million a year, which the Bulls aren’t comfortable paying. The Bulls can match any team willing to sign Giddey, but no team has shown the willingness to pay Giddey’s or any other restricted free agent’s price, as most of them are still on the market.

The Bulls love Giddey and would like him back if they can settle on the right price. There’s no timeline for when both sides will reach an agreement, but one Bulls executive spoke to Spotrac’s Keith Smith on how the Bulls feel about Giddey and why they want him back.

Chicago Bulls executive speaks on the continuing saga of Josh Giddey​

NBA: Miami Heat at Chicago Bulls Apr 9, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey (3) defends Miami Heat guard Davion Mitchell (45) during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

Whether or not the Bulls re-sign Giddey remains to be seen, but one Bulls executive, who spoke to Keith Smith of Spotrac, said they (the Bulls) “want to get a deal done” and he’s “an important player” for them.

Bulls executive via Spotrac:

“We want to get a deal done with Josh. He’s as important of a player as we have. We see him as a foundational player for us. I hope we can find a deal that makes sense for us and him and that we’ll be together for a long time,” a Bulls front office executive said.”

Bulls insider for CHSN, K.C. Johnson, also spoke on the Giddey situation, saying his one concern would be his mindset coming into camp and next season, as this whole process has weighed on him. Johnson also states that the Bulls hold all the power in the Giddey contract dispute, and he says he’ll most certainly he back next season on a deal or a qualifying offer.

“What I would be concerned about is again, the Bulls hold all the power, Giddey is almost certainly going to be back, whether on a qualifying offer or a long-term deal. What I would be concerned about is what kind of mindset Giddey will come into camp with, with the negotiations dragging on, and then him maybe not getting what he wanted, you want him coming into camp with a good feeling.”

“You want him coming into camp with a good feeling.”

The talks surrounding Josh Giddey and the Bulls continue as @KCJHoop and @camronsmith discuss in the latest episode of By The Horns. pic.twitter.com/cpU75KBkTt

— Bulls on CHSN (@CHSN_Bulls) July 23, 2025

Giddey should get paid​

Mar 27, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (0) celebrates his three point basket against the Los Angeles Lakers with guard Josh Giddey (3) during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

Whether he gets the $30 million he’s asking for or the qualifying offer that Johnson mentioned, Giddey will be paid and be back with the Bulls to see if they can make a run in the East next season. Giddey is one piece of the puzzle and is a crucial part of their rebuild.

Hopefully, the restricted free agent market starts to get going so Giddey, Buzelis, and Essengue can all start working in the gym on the chemistry. Those three jelling together as one oiled machine will hopefully help the Bulls get out of play-in tournament purgatory, and make them more competitive for next season and beyond.

NBA: Los Angeles Lakers at Chicago Bulls Mar 27, 2025; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (0) celebrates his three point basket against the Los Angeles Lakers with guard Josh Giddey (3) and teammates during the second half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/chica...aign=chicago-bulls-executive-speaks-on-giddey

 

[Chicago Bulls]

‘Hell’: Josh Giddey blamed for Chicago Bulls offseason disaster

The Chicago Bulls have yet to finalize a deal with restricted free agent Josh Giddey. The guard wants approximately $30 million per year to play for Chicago, and the team wants to give him no more than $20 million per year.

The impasse is putting the Bulls in what Law Murray of The Athletic calls “free agency hell” this summer. Murray dropped Chicago to 22nd from 19th in his power rankings as Giddey’s situation with the front office makes it harder for the Bulls to steer their rebuild in a clear direction.

The Chicago Bulls are not in an ideal situation​

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

“We return to restricted free agency hell, where Giddey is keeping the Bulls from doing anything except repeat their 2024 trade where they send a former Laker defender to a No. 1 seed in exchange for a lottery pick,” Murray wrote. “Last year, it was Giddey from Oklahoma City in exchange for now two-time NBA champion Alex Caruso.

“This year, the Bulls sent Ball to the Cavaliers for Okoro. At least Okoro comes equipped with a multi-year contract this time. Horton-Tucker’s contract expired before the Bulls could trade him to Oklahoma City, while Carter opted in to keep his money. Jones is back. And the Bulls drafted Essengue to be Matas Buzelis’ twin; Essengue essentially replaces Horton-Tucker on a roster that otherwise hasn’t changed.”

Josh Giddey does not have much leverage​

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

The Bulls have no reason to rush to re-sign Giddey, as the team is not going to be competitive in the upcoming season. Giddey doesn’t have another team in the league that has the cap space to make a bid on the former Oklahoma City Thunder first-round pick.

The only leverage Giddey has is to pick up his one-year qualifying offer for the upcoming season and go into unrestricted free agency next year. But he’d be playing for the Bulls at a discounted price of $11.1 million.

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

For More Chicago Sports:

Follow me on Twitter at @JordanSig, and follow us @ChiCitySports23. You can also reach out to Jordan Sigler via email at [email protected]. To read more of our articles and keep up to date on the latest in ALL of Chicago sports, click here! Chicago Bears, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Blackhawks

Source: https://www.chicitysports.com/hell-...paign=hell-josh-giddey-chicago-bulls-nba-news