The Chicago Bulls appear ready to dismantle their roster and focus on a full rebuild around their remaining young talent. After years without significant roster changes, the Bulls shook things up this summer by trading away DeMar DeRozan, their top offensive weapon, and Alex Caruso, their defensive anchor. Although they missed the optimal window to get maximum value for both players, their trades have now positioned the team for a youth movement.
The future now centers around guard Josh Giddey, rookie forward Matas Buzelis, Coby White, and Patrick Williams. Buzelis, the 11th overall pick in this year’s draft, had an impressive Summer League showing and is expected to play a significant role this season. Standing at 6-foot-8 with rare ball-handling skills for his size, Buzelis brings much-needed versatility to the Bulls, though his shooting remains a work in progress.
Despite persistent trade rumors, Zach LaVine remains on the roster, leaving questions about whether the Bulls will trade him before the season or if he still fits into their future plans. Nikola Vucevic has also failed to meet expectations in Chicago, leaving the Bulls with a depleted frontcourt. The only reinforcement heading into the season is the addition of Jalen Smith on a bargain contract.
The team has a total payroll of $174,994,656 for the 2024-25 season, ranking them 18th in the NBA.
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Returning: Zach LaVine, Lonzo Ball, Nikola Vucevic, Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Jevon Carter, Dalen Terry, Julian Phillips, Patrick Williams, Torrey Craig, Adama Sanogo, Onuralp Bitim
Additions: Josh Giddey (Oklahoma City), Jalen Smith (Indiana), Chris Duarte (Sacramento), Matas Buzelis (G League Ignite), Talen Horton-Tucker (Utah), EJ Liddell (Phoenix), Kenneth Lofton Jr (Utah)
Departures: DeMar DeRozan (Sacramento), Alex Caruso (Oklahoma City), Andre Drummond (Philadelphia), Javonte Green (New Orleans)
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The Bulls’ young core of Giddey, Buzelis, White, and Williams brings versatility and potential, forming a solid foundation for the team’s future. Coach Billy Donovan favors having multiple ball-handlers on the floor, especially those with size, so this team could resemble the 2019–20 Oklahoma City Thunder. While both Buzelis and Giddey need to improve their shooting, their overall potential is promising. If Zach LaVine and veterans like Vucevic and Ball have bounce-back seasons, the Bulls could perform better than expected.
The Bulls face a depleted frontcourt despite adding Smith, and their lack of proven inside presence leaves them vulnerable against dominant big men. Shooting inconsistency is another major concern, as the team may struggle to score consistently, especially from the perimeter. LaVine’s uncertainty remains an issue; his off-court dissatisfaction has impacted the team, and his future with the Bulls is unclear, potentially stalling their rebuild. Defensively, losing Alex Caruso creates a significant gap. Without their defensive anchor, guarding elite perimeter players will be a challenge.
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HoopsHype: 4th in the Central Division, 10th in the Eastern Conference
ESPN: 4th in the Central Division, 12th in the Eastern Conference
Sportsbooks: 27.5 projected wins
HoopsHype compiled the consensus win averages by gathering win projections from eight sportsbooks, including FanDuel, Fanatics, BetMGM, DraftKings, ESPN BET, BetRivers, Caesars, and bet365.
