With less than a week left before the 2026 NBA trade deadline, the Chicago Bulls find themselves at a crossroads-and maybe more than one. Sitting on the edge of a fourth straight play-in berth, holding a roster full of expiring contracts, and without a top-10 draft pick or playoff series win since 2021, the Bulls are the league’s biggest wild card heading into the final stretch of trade season.
There’s no shortage of chatter around potential moves. Nikola Vucevic, Coby White, and Ayo Dosunmu have all seen their names surface in trade rumors, with conflicting reports about whether the Bulls are looking to buy, sell, or straddle the line. But regardless of which direction the front office ultimately chooses, one thing is clear: Chicago has to address its glaring need for rim protection.
Why Rim Protection Is the Bulls’ Top Priority
If the Bulls make just one move before the deadline, it needs to be for a young, athletic big who can protect the paint. Full stop.
This isn’t just about plugging a hole-it’s about setting a foundation. A rim protector helps the Bulls in two key ways: it boosts their chances of making a real run this season, and it fits a long-term vision that’s sorely needed in Chicago.
The current rotation has been stretched thin, especially with Vucevic logging heavy minutes and the frontcourt dealing with injuries to Zach Collins (38 games missed) and Jalen Smith (seven games missed). Every time one of them sits, Vucevic is forced to shoulder more of the load-and that’s when the cracks start to show.
Vucevic, for all his offensive skill and rebounding, simply isn’t built to anchor a defense on his own. And it shows.
The Bulls currently rank 25th in the league in points allowed in the paint. That’s not a stat you can ignore, especially if you’re trying to stay competitive in a conference stacked with elite slashers and bigs.
The defense collapses when there’s no one at the rim to deter drives, and it's been a recurring issue all season long.
The Yves Missi Option
Enter Yves Missi. At 21 years old, he fits the profile Chicago should be targeting: young, springy, and defensively capable.
He’s fallen out of the rotation in New Orleans since Derik Queen emerged as a key piece, and the Pelicans are reportedly open to moving him in exchange for future assets. That opens the door for the Bulls to make a move without giving up anything major-think Dalen Terry and a future second-rounder or a lightly protected pick.
Missi brings exactly what the Bulls need: vertical spacing on offense, shot-blocking instincts on defense, and the kind of energy that can change the tone of a second unit. He’s not a finished product, but he doesn’t need to be. What he offers right now is enough to stabilize the rotation and give the Bulls a much-needed defensive backbone.
What’s Next for Artūras Karnišovas?
This isn’t just a pivotal deadline for the Bulls-it might be a defining moment for Artūras Karnišovas. The front office has taken heat over the past year for staying the course while the team treaded water. Now, with league-wide eyes on Chicago and more pressure than ever, the question becomes: does Karnišovas stick to the cautious approach, or is this the moment he pivots?
Whether the Bulls decide to go all-in on a postseason push or start reshaping the roster for the future, rim protection has to be at the top of the list. It’s not a luxury-it’s a necessity. And it’s the kind of move that signals direction, whether that’s a commitment to the current core or the beginning of a new chapter.
One way or another, the Bulls can’t afford to stand pat. Not this time. Not with the clock ticking and the paint wide open.