The Bulls’ clearest opening in the 2027 offseason may come from a cap squeeze in Golden State.
The Warriors are heading through the 2026 NBA offseason with a cap sheet that sits just $348k below the second apron, and that pressure leaves two extension questions hanging over them. Stephen Curry is the obvious priority, but Brandin Podziemski’s future is now part of the conversation too.
If Golden State and Podziemski can’t reach a new deal by the final day before the 2026-27 NBA regular season begins on Oct. 19, 2026, he would head into 2027 restricted free agency. That’s where Chicago could have a real chance to get involved, especially if the Bulls are still looking for a younger backcourt piece to help shape their rebuild.
Podziemski has already shown the kind of skills that can make him attractive in that market. He’s a career 37.5% three-point shooter, and his volume from deep has climbed in each of his first three NBA seasons. He also brings energy that shows up on both ends, along with rebounding from the guard spot - he’s averaging 5.3 rebounds per game for his career and 1.0 steals per game.
That matters for a Bulls team that needs long-term guard help, not just short-term stability. By the start of the 2027 offseason, Bryson Graham will be one year into the rebuild and will need a much clearer picture of the roster he wants to build, not only for the next season but for the seasons beyond it.
Norman Powell may provide useful veteran minutes for part of the 2026-27 campaign, but the article makes clear that Chicago would be smart to move him before the 2027-28 season if it can get value back. A player like Podziemski fits the timeline much better, and if he reaches restricted free agency, the Bulls could have a chance to test that market.
In Other News...
Bulls Keep Reshaping Bryson Grahams Front Office Before Year 1
The Bulls are still building out Bryson Grahams basketball operations group before his first season in charge even begins. Chicago announced another round of staff updates, with the front office continuing to take shape under the new lead executive after already making major moves by adding Acie Law IV and Stephen Mervis to prominent roles.
Brian Hagan has been elevated to Senior Vice President of Player Personnel, and the Bulls also filled out more of the organizations support structure with Alex Kaufman, Dionne Calhoun, Jarrett Sutton, Justin Irwin and Noah Fox joining in different capacities. The latest changes show how much of the day-to-day infrastructure around Graham is still being assembled, with the G League side and the medical and scouting areas all getting attention as the Bulls put the finishing touches on the staff. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Starting Lineup Could Finally Reveal Chicagos Real Direction
The Bulls are still trying to sort out what the next version of the roster is supposed to look like, but the projected 2026-27 starting five offers a clearer hint than most of the recent chatter. Josh Giddey and Norman Powell give the group a steady backcourt presence, while Matas Buzelis is expected to keep growing into a bigger offensive role. The shape of that lineup suggests Chicago is no longer just patching holes from one season to the next, but trying to build something more coherent around young talent and a few established pieces.
Caleb Wilson is part of that picture too, giving the front office another high-upside piece to develop as the rebuild takes hold. Tiago Splitter is stepping in on the bench, and his arrival adds another layer to a transition that has been moving in this direction for a while. The unanswered question is how quickly all of those parts can fit together into a team that looks less like an experiment and more like a direction. [Read more 🡒]
Hawks Move On From Keon Johnson And Raise An Immediate Question
Keon Johnsons stay with the Hawks was short-lived, with Atlanta waiving the former first-round pick soon after bringing him in on an Exhibit 10 contract. It leaves him back on the market at a time when a few teams with room to keep looking for back-end roster help could at least take a hard look, and the conversation around him has quickly shifted to which clubs might be willing to give him another chance.
Among the teams mentioned as possible fits are the Nuggets, the Bulls and the Trail Blazers, though nothing has been confirmed by any of them. For Chicago, the interest is more about roster context than anything else, as the front office continues to sort through training camp options and evaluate whether another camp body makes sense in a group that is still taking shape. [Read more 🡒]