As a team in the early stages of a roster rebuild, only a select few on the Chicago Bulls roster will be deemed untouchable.
Instead, the front office will remain fluid, and open to offers for the majority of the roster, assuming the return makes sense for what the franchise is trying to achieve.
Currently, Chicago has two players heading into the new season on expiring deals. Both Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White will need new contracts; otherwise, they could leave the franchise next summer, with Chicago getting nothing in return. Both guards will be unrestricted free agents.
A recent three-team trade proposal from Sports Illustrated’s Jackson Caudell and Rohan Raman would ensure the Chicago got fair value back for its two expiring stars. The full proposed trade looks like this:
Hawks Receive: Ayo Dosunmu
Bulls Receive: De’Aaron Fox, Kobe Bufkin, and a top-eight protected 2029 first-round pick (via ATL)
Spurs Receive: Kevin Huerter, Coby White, and a top ten-protected 2027 1st round pick
“They (Chicago) move White and get a good player who does not fit with the Spurs’ current timeline,” Caudell and Raman wrote. “It would be an upgrade in talent, and it does not come at a prohibitive cost, which seems like the kind of trade that the Bulls would make. Taking a flier on Bufkin is not a bad idea, as he has two-way upside if he can stay healthy.”
A return of De’Aaron Fox and Kobe Bufkin could make sense for the Bulls. Their new backcourt would likely comprise Fox and Josh Giddey. That would allow Billy Donovan’s team to play at a breakneck pace, while pressuring the rim and finding open shooters off the drive.
Bulls Have Previously Tried to Trade Dosunmu
According to Bulls insider K.C. Johnson, speaking via a July 30 episode of “The Fast Break” for Chicago Sports Network, the Bulls previously held trade discussions with a Western Conference roster over a potential deal for Dosunmu.
“The Bulls did have substantive talks, I’m told, with a Western Conference playoff team earlier this offseason, regarding Dosunmu, but the two teams could not find common ground on a trade package,” Johnson said.
As things currently stand, it would appear that Dosunmu will be part of Chicago’s roster to begin the new season.
Nevertheless, the Bulls will likely continue to search for willing trade partners until the February 2026 trade deadline. After all, it’s better to trade him and get some assets in return than for him to leave next summer with Chicago getting no assets back.
Bulls Get Long-Term Billy Donovan Commitment
On Sunday, July 27, ESPN’s Shams Charania reported that head coach Billy Donovan has signed a multi-year contract extension with the franchise.
“Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan has signed a multiyear contract extension with the franchise, sources tell ESPN,” Charania posted on X. “Donovan is viewed as a leader within the Bulls organization, and will enter his sixth season in Chicago in 2025-26 with 800 NBA games coached over his career.”
Charania continued.
“The Bulls and Billy Donovan started negotiations at the end of last season and continued conversations through this week amid offseason planning, a brief pursuit of Donovan by the New York Knicks, and the draft, free agency and summer league.”
Donovan joined the Bulls in 2020. He has embraced the franchise’s need to rebuild the current roster and create a culture and definitive style of play. With Donovan’s long-term future now secure, the Bulls can move forward knowing another key part of the rebuilding puzzle is in place.
Now, the Bulls must construct a team that can execute Donovan’s on-court vision to a high level. Currently, that is a work in progress.
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