Bulls 2026 NBA as trade deadline after 6 deals

So hard to catch Chicago Bulls NBA trade deadline deals in so few words. But the Bulls caused more fans to scratch their heads than any other team in the league with the way they maneuvered before the deadline. Chicago certainly seemed ripe for a trade considering several of their established players were in the final year of their contracts. But some of the trades they have embraced are too confusing to the point that they have to be seen to be believed.

Over the past few seasons, the Bulls have been part of an honorary four-team tournament club consisting of the Miami Heat, Atlanta Hawks, and Orlando Magic. They don’t have much in the way of young prospects to lead the team’s next competitive iteration, and their veterans aren’t good enough to lead a deep playoff run.

However, as is the case with the Bulls, they just couldn’t seem to pull the trigger when they needed to and as a result, their roster is now a hodgepodge of players who don’t look like they have a long-term future there in the Windy City.

To that end, here’s an overview of how The Bulls did it before the trade deadline and the rating they deserve with their maneuvers.

The Bulls are trading their guards to bring in more guards, Hydra-style

The bulls were at a crossroads; they had plenty of players on expiring contracts that they could get some value from instead of letting them go in free agency for nothing. And it’s not like those players don’t have any impact on winning teams. But again, the problem was that the Bulls waited too long and were content to remain a mediocre team for too long, limiting their return on the trade market.

Chicago made a comedy move before the trade deadline that it wasn’t entirely clear what the ultimate goal was for their front office. For starters, they brought so many guards. And this is in no way exaggerated. They really traded for so many combo guards that it’s hard to imagine most of them staying on the roster for next season.

For starters, the Bulls finally traded Nikola Vucevic in a deal that was, frankly, a long time coming. It always hurt that the Bulls gave up Wendell Carter Jr., another NBA starter-caliber big man, and first-round pick Franz Wagner to bring in Vucevic, but there was no reason for Chicago to hang on to Vucevic too long.

It is for Vucevic The Bulls received Anferni Simmons and a 2026 second-round pick from the Boston Celtics. That would be a meh comeback as it was. But Chicago made themselves worse by dealing Vucevic with a 2027 second-round pick.

Chicago also held onto Kobe White for too long. All the Bulls could trade White for was a package from the Charlotte Hornets headed by Collin Sexton, another guard, along with Ousmane Dieng and three second-round picks. Due to a failed medical from White which showed some seriousness regarding the calf injury he currently has, The Bulls had to settle for one less pick in the second round as a result.

Instead of trading White when his value was higher during the offseason, the Bulls had to settle for that return for one of their best players.

And then Chicago made it worse for itself; because of their plight of the great man, they had to flip DiengA 22-year-old big man who could promise the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Nick Richards. Dieng has shined so far in his short time with the Bucks, while Richards is a known commodity — he’s a backup big man who can only be used as an emergency starter.

The Bulls guard’s gambling and dealing didn’t stop there. They traded Kevin Huerter, also out of contract, to the Detroit Pistons for a comeback led by Jaden Ivey. Although it’s hard to fault the Bulls for betting on another former lottery pick, especially considering that Ivey has shown promise in the pasthe’s another guard who joins the team’s roster of positions he should be playing.

Ivey also continues the Bulls’ trend of gambling on former lottery picks who have lost their luster; Chicago has brought in Ivey, Isaac Okor and Jalen Smith in recent years, but their original teams gave up on them for pretty obvious reasons.

Speaking of gambling on former lottery picks, Rob Dillingham was somehow the primary part The Bulls received Ayo Dosunma in exchangewhose pace, shooting and ball handling would be a huge boon to a competitive team.

Sure, Chicago got four second-round picks for Dosunmu, who himself was previously drafted in the second round, but Dillingham further complicates the sticky web that is the Bulls’ backcourt.

For those not counting at home, the Bulls now have the following players needing minutes at guard: Josh Giddy, Simmons, Sexton, Ivey, Dillingham and Tre Jones. The situation is viable at this point with Giddy and Jones on the mend, but when those players return, head coach Billy Donovan will have to help him.

The Dalen Terry for Guerschon Iabusele substitute at least it seems to be working in the Bulls’ favor, with Yabusele hell-bent on reviving his career in the Windy City.

Chicago got a total of eight picks in the second round, which is no laughing matter. That should at least help them grease the wheels for future trades.

But the fact that they failed to get at least one first-round pick for the likes of Vucevic, White and Dosunmu is a complete failure. Chicago will have to pay Ivey big money for his next contract. Simmons and Sexton are out of contract. The albatross of the Patrick Williams deal is still on their books.

The Bulls’ front office may have been cooking before the trade deadline, but unfortunately, the dish they came up with is headed straight for the trash can.

Bull trading term rating: D