The Chicago Bulls moved quickly on Kam Jones, and even quicker on the cap math.
Less than a week after acquiring the guard from the Indiana Pacers during the second round of the NBA Draft, Chicago waived him on Tuesday. The team announced the move itself, with the news arriving quietly on the first day of free agency.
The reason was straightforward: money.
Jones was set to have his salary become fully guaranteed, and the Bulls chose not to take that hit. League sources told @hoopshype that Jones had a deadline that would have locked in his $2.15 million salary. He was the 38th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers before being traded to Chicago on draft night.
“The Chicago Bulls plan to waive Kam Jones, league sources told @hoopshype. Jones had a deadline today that would’ve fully guaranteed his salary at $2.15 million. He was the 38th pick in the 2025 NBA Draft by the Indiana Pacers and was traded to Chicago on draft night.”
In truth, this was probably the most likely outcome from the moment the Bulls took him in the deal. Chicago essentially helped Indiana offload him as part of the draft-pick trade, sparing the Pacers from having to be the team to waive him.
The Bulls may have kicked around the idea of keeping Jones, but not for long. A former second-round pick, he still has some appeal and could get another shot elsewhere. It just doesn’t look like that chance will come in Chicago.
In Other News...
Bulls May Finally Have A Real Plan To Fix Their Shooting
The Bulls search for more reliable shooting appears to be moving from theory to action, with reports indicating the front office is preparing to chase veteran guard Norman Powell once free agency opens. For a team that has spent too much time trying to manufacture spacing around the edges, the idea of adding a proven scorer who can help open the floor fits the direction Chicago has been signaling as it reshapes the roster.
There is also interest on the trade front, where Chicago has reportedly been in touch with Cleveland about adding another perimeter threat. Nothing has been finalized, and the broader plan still depends on how those talks develop, but the fact that the Bulls are actively working both free agency and trade avenues suggests they understand the problem clearly. The unresolved part now is whether they can turn that intent into the kind of shooting upgrade that changes how the rest of the offense functions. [Read more 🡒]
Jalen Smith Just Got A Surprising Lifeline In Chicago
Jalen Smiths path in Chicago just got a little less crowded. The Bulls have already reshaped their frontcourt with additions like Nic Claxton and Caleb Wilson, and Smith has still been trying to carve out a consistent role after uneven footing since arriving. With the center market looking thin, every move around the league matters, and one recent decision elsewhere may have quietly helped his outlook.
The bigger takeaway for the Bulls is that Smiths chances of sticking as a backup center appear to have improved for 2026-27. He still has plenty to prove before that becomes reality, but a narrower pool of outside options gives Chicago more reason to see whether he can settle into the role it has had trouble defining. [Read more 🡒]