With just days to go before the NBA trade deadline, the action is finally starting to pick up-and surprisingly, it was the Chicago Bulls who helped jumpstart the market.
Chicago stepped into the spotlight over the weekend by joining a three-team trade alongside the Sacramento Kings and Cleveland Cavaliers. The deal became official on Sunday and saw De’Andre Hunter land in Sacramento, while Keon Ellis, Dennis Schröder, and Bulls two-way forward Emanuel Miller were shipped to Cleveland. In return, the Bulls picked up veteran big man Dario Šarić and two future second-round picks.
To make room for Šarić on the roster, Chicago waived veteran guard Jevon Carter, eating the $2.8 million remaining on his $6.8 million salary. The Bulls also used a trade exception from last year’s Zach LaVine deal to facilitate the move. In exchange, they netted a 2027 second-round pick from Cleveland (via Denver) and a 2029 second-rounder from Sacramento-the latter being the least favorable of a pick swap involving Detroit, Milwaukee, and New York.
Šarić, who’s in the final year of his contract, becomes the latest addition to a Bulls roster now featuring eight expiring deals. That flexibility has been a quiet theme for VP of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas going back to the offseason. It’s not something we’ve often seen from Chicago in recent years-prioritizing cap maneuverability and asset collection-but this move signals a shift in approach.
League sources have indicated that the Bulls are positioning themselves as a facilitator for other teams looking to shed salary or avoid tax penalties. That’s exactly what they did for Cleveland here, and it may not be the last time we see Chicago play that middleman role before the deadline.
But the bigger picture is even more telling: the Bulls appear to be leaning into a youth-driven rebuild-or at least something close to it.
They’re not tearing it all the way down. Ownership is still steering the ship, and head coach Billy Donovan isn’t wired for a full-on tank. But Chicago’s actions suggest a clear pivot toward building around a young core, headlined by Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, and Noa Essengue-all 23 or younger.
Essengue, one of the youngest players in the league, has drawn consistent praise from the Bulls’ front office. Even though his season ended early due to shoulder surgery, the long-term vision remains intact: a versatile defender who thrives in transition and complements both Giddey and Buzelis.
The idea is for Essengue to slot in as a modern power forward, while Buzelis eventually shifts to the wing. And in limited stretches this season, when the Bulls had enough healthy bodies to run double-big lineups, Buzelis showed promising flashes in that role.
The Bulls aren’t just developing their youth-they’re also open to acquiring more young talent that fits the timeline. One area where the roster clearly needs help is at center.
Nikola Vučević, now 35, doesn’t quite match the athleticism or defensive ceiling the Bulls are aiming for. He’s on an expiring deal, but his trade value remains uncertain.
That’s why Chicago has been linked to second-year Pelicans center Yves Missi. While there’s no indication a deal is imminent, Missi’s profile checks a lot of boxes: a rim-running, two-way big who could finally give Giddey the kind of lob threat he’s never had.
Missi’s minutes have dipped this season, but he’s still averaging 5.7 points and 5.8 rebounds, and Synergy grades him as a “very good” defender across over 400 possessions. That’s the kind of upside that fits what Chicago is building.
Meanwhile, Ayo Dosunmu has quietly become one of the Bulls’ most valuable assets. The fifth-year guard and Chicago native is having a breakout season, averaging 14.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 3.5 assists while shooting a scorching 44.1% from deep-good for top-10 in the league. He capped off that run with a 29-point performance in Saturday’s upset win over Miami.
Dosunmu’s development into a reliable shooter and downhill threat has caught the attention of other teams, but there’s mutual interest between him and the Bulls on a possible extension. At 26, he’s young enough to grow with the core, and his on-court fit with Giddey and off-court relationship with Buzelis only strengthen his case to stay. He’s not untouchable, but it would likely take a strong offer to pry him away.
He’s also on an extremely team-friendly deal-just over $7.5 million this season-and could command something in the range of the projected $15.1 million mid-level exception next year. Even if the Bulls extend him, that number is still tradable if plans change down the road.
Then there’s Coby White. The seventh-year guard has had a solid season, but his trade market has been tough to pin down.
According to one league source, Chicago has struggled to find a first-round pick in early talks involving White. His value is complicated by an expiring contract, potential price tag on a new deal, and nagging calf issues.
For fans in Chicago, the word “compete” has become a bit of a sore spot-Karnišovas has leaned on it heavily in the past, often as justification for chasing Play-In spots rather than embracing a full rebuild. But this season feels different. The Bulls might still flirt with the Play-In-Donovan’s teams don’t roll over-but if they get there, it’ll be with a younger, faster, more modern group leading the way.
Sunday’s trade felt like a step toward a more coherent direction. After years of short-term moves that didn’t pan out, Karnišovas and the Bulls seem to be recalibrating. The deadline is still ahead, and there’s more work to do, but for once, Chicago is playing the long game-and that’s a storyline worth watching.