Early free agent ‘signals’ come from Chicago
The Chicago Bulls they have had a hard time winning this season and are currently in 12th place in the easier Eastern Conference with a record of 24-31. The Bulls showed signs of life this time before the trade deadlineparting ways with Nikola Vucevic, Ayo Dosunmu and Kobe White to build around younger players, also acquiring significant draft capital.
And if rumors are to be believed, this will also be followed by significant activity over the summer, with insider Jake Fisher claiming significant spending power in addition to a select few NBA teams.
“The Clippers, Lakers, Nets and Bulls, however, all plan to be in a position to spend big. Sources say Chicago has already sent some signals that they will look at wings — including restricted free agents — while the Bulls also clearly need a starting-caliber big man.” he saidaccording to Stein’s line.
Fisher argued that the Washington Wizards’ moves for Anthony Davis and Trae Young, as well as the Utah Jazz’s move for Jaren Jackson Jr., mean the two teams no longer have the financial resources to make big moves this summer.
Regardless, the moves before the previous deadline saw the Bulls primarily accumulate second-round picks. The situation worsened when medical findings on White’s calf injury reportedly led to the removal of the previously included 2029 second-round pick, further reducing Chicago’s return.
At the same time, the plan seems simple. The Bulls want to build an eye like Josh Giddy and Matas Bouzelis, even if they aren’t yet viewed as stars capable of returning them to playoff relevance.
The overall strategy almost encourages the current trajectory, with the Bulls’ recent skid significantly improving their lottery chances. After years of hovering around the .500 mark and searching for playoff relevance, there’s no doubt that a reset was inevitable.
Whether that will lead to success in the coming seasons remains to be seen.
2026-02-22 20:38:00
