How the Chicago Bulls can return to contender status: roster, draft and possible trades

The Chicago Bulls’ front office has already nudged the franchise toward a younger, more modern core, and the path back to contention is now about sequencing: develop the right players, spend picks wisely, and time a consolidation trade when value peaks. For readers who handicap across multiple leagues, cross-sport data can help frame risk; sharp bettors often scan the NFL page on FIRST.com for pricing patterns that translate to basketball markets as well.

Roster architecture: What the Chicago Bulls already have

The Chicago Bulls reshaped their identity across the last two seasons. DeMar DeRozan departed in a 2024 sign-and-trade, Zach LaVine moved at the 2025 deadline in a three-team deal, and Josh Giddey arrived (and was just extended). That activity brought back rotation pieces (Kevin Huerter, Zach Collins, Tre Jones), returned control of a 2025 first, and clarified the pecking order around Coby White, 2024 lottery pick Matas Buzelis, and 2025 lottery pick Noa Essengue. Giddey’s four-year, $100M extension signals he’s a long-term hub; LaVine’s exit netted Huerter, Collins, Jones, and that reclaimed 2025 first which became Essengue. Buzelis remains a wing-size scorer with shooting touch.

Core snapshot (2025-26)

Giddey’s extension is fresh; Huerter’s 2025-26 number is a tidy expiring; Vučević is in the final season of his 3-year pact. Those contract shapes matter for trade construction and future cap flexibility. White has surged from prospect to reliable scorer, and Buzelis gives the offense a tall release valve on the wing.

What that means right now: with Giddey orchestrating and White spacing/attacking, Chicago can play five-out looks featuring Buzelis and Williams on the wings. The swing items are rim protection and defensive rebounding at a playoff standard, plus sustained shooting volume. Huerter’s expiring and Collins’ mid-tier money create trade flexibility; Essengue’s growth arc can raise the team’s athletic ceiling.

Draft capital & trade pathways

Chicago’s pick chest is healthier than it appears on the surface. The LaVine deal returned the 2025 first that became Essengue; the team also holds its own firsts going forward and still has access to Portland-related draft considerations (with protections). Under the Stepien Rule, a club must control at least one first in every other future draft; in practice, the Bulls can still put together packages with two movable firsts while preserving year-to-year compliance.

Actionable paths for the next 12–18 months

• Rim-protection upgrade via consolidation. Package Huerter’s expiring ($17.99M) with a mid-sized deal (Collins) plus a lightly protected future first to chase a switch-capable rim protector who runs, screens, and finishes. Salary matching is clean and preserves White/Buzelis/Williams minutes, while raising the defensive floor right away.
• Big wing acquisition around Vučević’s number. Use Vučević’s contract as matching salary with a pick sweetener or swap to acquire a 6-7/6-8 two-way wing who guards 2–4 and shoots volume threes. The idea is to rebalance usage toward wings and reduce reliance on drop coverage late in games.
• Draft-first route with surgical trades up/down. If the market doesn’t yield the right frontcourt target, keep Huerter through the deadline, re-shop in June, and use multiple picks to move on the board for a rim-runner or a movement shooter with size. RealGM’s ledger shows Chicago still controls its own firsts across the late-20s, which supports a trade-up play on draft night.
• Bet on internal growth while protecting flexibility. Re-sign White next summer at market, let Essengue grow behind Williams/Buzelis, and use Tre Jones as a stabilizer for second units. This keeps the window open for a larger star trade if one becomes available without stripping the pipeline.

Why this sequencing works: recent moves already trimmed redundancy. LaVine’s exit reset usage balance; Giddey’s improved 3-point clip (37.8%) widened lineup options; Huerter recovered his shooting in Chicago’s system. With two or so true firsts to play with, Chicago can target one needle-mover archetype (rim protector or big wing) rather than chasing a third high-usage guard.

What a contender version of the Chicago Bulls looks like

Picture a rotation where Giddey quarterbacks a top-7 assist rate, White punishes weak-side tags, and the frontcourt features a vertical threat who blocks shots and sprints the floor. Buzelis slots as a 6-10 shooter who can attack closeouts; Williams guards star forwards without fouling; Jones caps lineups with low-mistake minutes. If Essengue hits as a high-motor defender and the front office lands that rim protector or big wing, Chicago projects as a home-court-advantage team within two seasons—without emptying the asset cupboard.

Key benchmarks to watch (and bet against): sustained team 3PA rate in the top half, defensive rebounding percentage above 74%, and half-court offensive rating near league average or better when Giddey sits. Hit those marks while adding one frontcourt piece, and the climb from play-in noise to real playoff teeth stops feeling hypothetical.