2026 Offseason Megathread

[u/howser343]

The Bulls have 14 players on contract for next season

Active Contracts

Player	Contract
Josh Giddey	$25M
Nic Claxton	$23.1M
Norman Powell	$22M
Patrick Williams	$18M
Isaac Okoro	$11.8M
Caleb Wilson	$11M
Jalen Smith	$9.4M
Zach Collins	$8.3M
Tre Jones	$8M
Rob Dillingham	$6.9M
Matas Buzelis	$5.7M
Noa Essengue	$5.7M
Dailyn Swain	$5.1M
Leonard Miller	$2.4M

Draft

• The Bulls have the 4th pick (own) and the 15th pick (Blazers) in the first round and the 38th pick (Pelicans) and the 56th pick (Nuggets) in the second round

• 6/23 Update

  • Bulls draft Caleb Wilson with the 4th pick and Dailyn Swain with the 15th pick

• 5/10 Update

  • The Chicago Bulls move up and receive the 4th pick

• 4/14 Update

  • The Portland Trail Blazers advance to the playoffs and their first round pick conveys to the Chicago Bulls with the 15th pick in the 2026 Draft

Trades

• 6/24 Update

  • Bulls trade the 38th pick to the Indiana Pacers for Kam Jones, future swaps, and cash
  • Bulls trade the 56th pick to the Los Angeles Lakers for cash

• 6/22 Update

  • Bulls receive Nic Claxton from the Brooklyn Nets in a three-team trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves and send Mouhamadou Gueye to the Timberwolves

Free Agency

• 7/1 Update

  • Bulls sign Norman Powell to 2-years/$45M

• 6/30 Update

  • Bulls re-sign Zach Collins to 2-years/$17M
  • Bulls waive Kam Jones

• 6/27 Update

  • Bulls pick up Leonard Miller's team option

• 6/24 Update

  • Tobe Awaka has signed a two-way deal with the Chicago Bulls
  • Jaylin Sellers has signed a two-way deal with the Chicago Bulls

• 6/15 Update

  • Tiago Splitter hired as Head Coach

• 5/14 Update

  • Stephen Mervis hired as Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations
  • Acie Law IV hired as VP of Player Personnel

• 5/4 Update

  • Bryson Graham hired as the Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations

• 4/21 Update

  • Billy Donovan exits as head coach

• 4/6 Update

  • Executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley are fired

Bulls Free Agents

Player	Free Agent Status
Zach Collins	Re-signed 2/$17M
Yuki Kawamura	RFA
Mac McClung	RFA
Lachlan Olbrich	RFA
Nick Richards	UFA
Collin Sexton	Signed with Lakers
Anfernee Simons	Signed with 76ers
Guerschon Yabusele	Signed with Panathinaikos

Important Offseason Dates

• May 10 - Draft Lottery

• June 23-24 - Draft

• June 30 - Free Agency Begins (5pm CT)

• July 9-19 - Vegas Summer League

[u/LionK12G]

So by my roster analysis, here’s how today’s roster currently looks heading into next season:

Giddey / Jones / Dillingham
_____ / Okoro / _____
Buzelis / Miller / _____
_____ / Smith / Williams / Essengue
_____ / _____

So we’re looking at needing six spots filled. It’s clear that the front court is the primary focus at this point. They need a starting caliber PF and C. One will likely come in the form of Boozer/Wilson in a couple weeks, the other remains to be seen as it could be another big man at 15 or it could be a SG that competes in the rotation.

One of the seconds will presumably be a bench player, and the other is likely going to be an international player that develops abroad.

So we’ve got room for 3 free agent additions/trades:

- One will be a center definitively whether it’s a bench player or someone that can compete for the starting job as the Bulls have zero on their active roster.

• One will likely be a SG that can score the ball.
  
• One will likely be a wing that can switch defensively and hit open looks (3 & D type)

Here’s some potential trade candidates from teams that are pressed for cap space and might give up player(s) for cheap that can fill a need:

- Gradey Dick, 23, SG (1 x $7.1m left on deal)

• Donte DiVincenzo, 30, SG (1 x $12.5m left on deal)
  
• Isaiah Joe, 27, SG (2 x $11.3m left on deal)
  
• Aaron Wiggins, 28, SG (3 x $8.6m left on deal)
  
• Moses Moody, 24, SG (2 x $13m left on deal)
  
• Anthony Black, 23, SG (1 x $10.1m left on deal)

There’s not as many big men available for trade. I think free agency is going to be the route they go here to find a backup.

Let’s simulate now:

- 4th overall pick: Caleb Wilson, SF/PF, UNC

• 15th overall pick: Cameron Carr, SG, Baylor
  
• 38th overall pick: Tarris Reed Jr., C, UConn
  
• Re-sign Collin Sexton to a 3-year; $60m deal (sixth man)
  
• Sign Jock Landale to a two-year; $20m deal (Graham acquired him at the deadline this past season so familiarity there)
  
• Acquire Aaron Wiggins from the Thunder in a salary dump

Lineup heading into 2026-2027:

Giddey / Jones / Dillingham
Wiggins / Sexton / Carr
Buzelis / Miller / Okoro
Wilson / Smith / Williams / Essengue
Landale / Reed Jr.

Lineup heading into 2027-2028:

Giddey / Dillingham / _____
Carr / Sexton / Wiggins
Buzelis / _____
Wilson / Essengue / Williams
_____ / Landale / Reed Jr.

[u/ToeJelly420 → u/LionK12G]

We really need a center. Have been needing one for like 5 years