The Chicago Bulls are still sorting out who they want to be, and that search has them looking hard at young talent as they begin the Tiago Splitter era. That makes Bennedict Mathurin an easy name to circle. He fits the age curve, he can score, and he gives a team some lineup flexibility.
But the idea that Chicago has the “smoothest path” to a sign-and-trade for Mathurin may be missing the bigger picture.
Brett Siegel recently suggested the Bulls are in the best position among Mathurin’s suitors to get a deal done, and on paper that’s understandable. Mathurin brings the kind of offensive pop that gets attention fast, especially from a team still trying to build its next core. He turned 24 in June, and there’s no question he’s a talented scorer with the kind of upside that can make a front office look twice.
Still, The Athletic’s Joel Lorenzi laid out why Chicago may be wiser to pass.
“Mathurin, who turned 24 in June, remains a talented young scorer who could be worth a flyer,” Lorenzi wrote. “But Chicago values two things at this stage: roster flexibility and acquiring future assets. Mathurin made roughly $9.2 million this past season, and his next contract is widely expected to exceed that figure in annual value.”
That’s the tension here. Mathurin can fill it up, and when he gets rolling, he can do it in a hurry. He’s not known for much beyond three-level scoring, and defense isn’t his calling card, but there’s real value in a player who can look like a 25-plus points per game scorer when he gets the runway.
The problem for Chicago is that the Bulls may be better served keeping a roster spot open rather than locking themselves into another scorer. That open slot could be used later in the season to take on a bad contract and pick compensation. Right now, they don’t exactly need another bucket-getter.
They already have Norman Powell as a likely trade chip, someone who probably won’t see out his contract in Chicago. And with Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson in the picture, the Bulls should have enough scoring upside to work with. Mathurin’s shooting would help, sure, but it could also cut into touches that are better spent developing those young players.
There’s another layer to this too: Mathurin could become a useful piece for a contending team, which means he might be more valuable as a trade chip down the road if he plays well. But that only matters if the contract makes sense.
If it doesn’t, the Bulls could be staring at another expensive scorer who’s hard to move later. Chicago knows that kind of problem all too well.
Barring a surprise, this isn’t a team that’s about to sprint back into playoff contention in one season, and that’s okay. The Bulls can keep tabs on talented young players without feeling pressure to chase every one of them.
Mathurin is worth monitoring. He’s just not the kind of player who should force them off their plan.
At the right price, he’d make sense. But if he’s not willing to come in on a team-friendly deal, Chicago may be better off letting this one pass.
In Other News...
Bulls Fans Will Circle One Blazers Game For Tiago Splitter
The Trail Blazers upcoming schedule should be out soon, and it already comes with a few clean hooks for NBA fans, from Ja Morants first return to Memphis after being traded to Portlands playoff loss to San Antonio last season. But for Bulls followers, one date will stand out for a different reason: the first chance to see Tiago Splitter back on the sideline after he left the Blazers interim role and landed in Chicago.
Splitters move gives the Bulls an added layer of intrigue whenever Portland comes around, especially because his brief run in charge in Portland left enough of an impression to make his next stop worth tracking closely. When the schedule drops, the matchup that matters most in this corner of the league wont just be about where the Blazers are going next, but when Chicago gets its first look at the coach who changed directions rather than staying put. [Read more 🡒]
Bulls Are Finally Committing To A Reset Fans Can Believe In
The Bulls spent this offseason acting like a team that has finally accepted where it stands, and the moves reflect it. Hiring Bryson Graham and adding players such as Norman Powell and Zach Collins on contracts built around flexibility and development points to a front office making decisions with the long view in mind, not chasing a quick fix. It is the sort of reset Chicago fans have been waiting to see, one that at least gives the roster a clearer direction.
David Aldridges latest NBA offseason rankings put the Bulls at No. 13, ahead of several other rebuilding clubs, which is a small but meaningful nod to the path they have chosen. The real test, of course, is whether this more deliberate approach can turn into something sustainable, especially with a new coach and a roster still taking shape. For now, the organization looks more committed to the process than it has in years, and the next steps will say even more than the first ones already have. [Read more 🡒]