The Chicago Bulls went through a relatively quiet offseason compared to the dramatic roster upheaval of recent years, yet the decisions they made — and the ones they didn’t — reveal a franchise in transition mode. After shipping out DeMar DeRozan and Alex Caruso in 2024 and dealing Zach LaVine at the February trade deadline, Chicago entered the summer with flexibility but ultimately chose continuity over chaos.
The biggest move of the offseason wasn’t a trade or a splashy signing — it was the decision to bring back Josh Giddey on a four-year, $100 million extension. After months of negotiation, the Bulls and Giddey’s camp finally compromised on $25 million per year. The deal looks team-friendly when you consider that Giddey will be entering his prime years from ages 23 to 26. The 6-foot-8 point guard had proven his worth down the stretch last season, averaging 21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 9.3 assists after LaVine’s departure while shooting a scorching 45.7 percent from three-point range.
Chicago also locked up backup point guard Tre Jones to a three-year, $24 million deal that includes a third-year team option. Jones arrived in the LaVine blockbuster and quickly earned head coach Billy Donovan’s trust with his high basketball IQ and winning plays.
Perhaps the most intriguing roster addition came via a straight-up swap of Lonzo Ball for Isaac Okoro from Cleveland. Ball’s lingering injury concerns made him expendable, while Okoro brought exactly what the Bulls desperately needed: perimeter defense. The 24-year-old wing has shot at least 36.3 percent from three in each of the past three seasons while handling tough defensive assignments, addressing Chicago’s bottom-tier metrics in deflections (27th), loose balls recovered (29th), charges drawn (27th), and contested shots (28th).
What Chicago didn’t do might be just as telling. Despite having Nikola Vucevic, Kevin Huerter, Zach Collins, Ayo Dosunmu, Coby White, and Jevon Carter all on expiring contracts, the front office hung onto every single one of them. Many expected Vucevic to be moved by now, but the veteran center remains in the fold — for now. The team also drafted Noa Essengue with the 12th pick, adding to a young core that includes 2024 lottery pick Matas Buzelis.
When it came to preseason action, the Bulls finished 3-2 and got a glimpse of their future — and some lingering concerns from their past. Buzelis was the breakout star of the exhibition slate, averaging 17.6 points while showcasing his explosive athleticism with highlight-reel dunks and improved decision-making. In the preseason finale against Minnesota, the 21-year-old dropped 19 points with four thunderous slams, including a windmill in transition that had the United Center buzzing. He also flashed defensive potential with five blocks against Denver. The sophomore forward appears ready for a significant leap in his second season.
Josh Giddey showed flashes of why the Bulls bet big on him, particularly in the Denver game where he scored 25 points with nine rebounds and six assists. His chemistry with Buzelis in transition looks promising, as the two connected on several alley-oops and fast-break finishes. Ayo Dosunmu also looked exceptional coming off shoulder surgery, averaging 16.3 points on 59.4 percent shooting across four preseason games despite playing just 22 minutes per contest. He was particularly dominant in the paint, converting 20 of 24 attempts, proving the shoulder injury hasn’t limited his explosive drives to the basket.
Isaac Okoro settled into his role as the likely fifth starter, appearing in four preseason games before sitting out the finale with knee soreness. He averaged modest scoring numbers but his defensive presence was immediately felt. Donovan expressed comfort using Okoro on opponents’ best perimeter players, though he also hinted at a more fluid rotation approach rather than locked-in lineups.
The preseason wasn’t all positive, though. Familiar problems from last season resurfaced with alarming frequency. Chicago repeated its pattern of slow starts, trailing Milwaukee by six after the first half and Denver by 12 at halftime before furious late rallies came up short. The Bulls committed 32 fouls against Denver, sending the Nuggets to the free-throw line 41 times while Chicago attempted just 28 — a troubling continuation of their issues with foul trouble.
The biggest concern heading into the regular season is the health of Coby White, who missed the entire preseason with a calf strain suffered during an August workout. The medical staff held him out entirely, though Donovan expressed optimism that White would be ready for opening night against Detroit on October 22. His absence is significant given that White led the Bulls in scoring last season at 20.4 points per game and is entering a contract year as he approaches unrestricted free agency in 2026.
According to Hoops Wire, Billy Donovan hinted at an unconventional approach to rotations this season. We’ve got to get out of the old-school NBA mindset of, ‘Here’s my rotation, here’s my guys that go in the game and here’s how many minutes they play,’ Donovan said. He emphasized that matchups will matter and flexibility will be key over 82 games.
The Bulls also experimented with different lineup combinations during the preseason, including a two-big frontcourt featuring Buzelis at small forward alongside Jalen Smith and Nikola Vucevic. That unit shot 52 percent from the field and dominated the paint, with Smith scoring 15 points and adding three blocks. Donovan’s willingness to move Buzelis around to different positions is an encouraging sign for the forward’s development.
Here’s the thing, folks: With the regular season starting next week, the Bulls find themselves in a familiar middle ground. They’re not tanking, but they’re not contending either. With a young core of Giddey, White, Buzelis, and Dosunmu all 25 or younger, Chicago appears to be building toward something — but what that something is remains unclear. They squeaked into the Play-In Tournament last season with a 39-43 record and will need significant improvement to avoid another first-round exit.
With that… The offseason was quiet by design, with the front office choosing to evaluate what they have rather than blow it all up again. Giddey’s extension provides stability at point guard, Okoro addresses a glaring defensive need, and the young talent is developing. But with over $90 million in expiring contracts and no clear path to contention, the real decisions may come at February’s trade deadline.
If you cannot play with them, then root for them!