The Bulls are trading guard Ayo Dosunmu to the Timberwolves, according to ESPN’s Shams Charania (Twitter link). Jon Krawczynski of The Athletic (Twitter link) first reported that the two teams were finalizing a deal involving Dosunmu.
Third-year forward Julian Phillips will be headed to Minnesota along with Dosunmu, with the Bulls acquiring 2024 first-round pick Rob Dillingham, third-year forward Leonard Miller, and four second-round picks in the deal, sources tell Charania (Twitter link).
The Timberwolves have been on the lookout for a way to upgrade their backcourt for much of the season. Veteran Mike Conley, the starting point guard for most of last season, saw his production fall off significantly, while youngsters like Dillingham and Terrence Shannon Jr. didn’t take the sort of steps forward the team hoped they would. That resulted in Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo taking on more ball-handling responsibilities.
Although Dosunmu isn’t a true point guard, he’ll give Minnesota another player capable of handling the ball, initiating the offense, and making outside shots. The Chicago native is in the midst of a career year, with averages of 15.0 points, 3.6 assists, and 3.0 rebounds in 26.4 minutes per game and an excellent shooting line of .514/.451/.857 through 45 outings (10 starts).
It’s a disappointing end to Dillingham’s tenure with the Wolves — the club gave up an unprotected 2031 first-round pick and a 2030 pick swap in order to draft him eighth overall in 2024, but he didn’t develop into a reliable rotation player, averaging just 4.0 PPG and 1.9 APG on .398/.346/.657 shooting in 84 regular season appearances (10.0 MPG).
While Dillingham may benefit from a change of scenery, Dosunmu could become a fixture in Minnesota’s backcourt if the team can find a way to lock him up beyond this season. The 26-year-old is on an expiring $7.5MM contract and is eligible until June 30 for an extension worth up to about $52.4MM over three years. If he and the Wolves don’t reach an agreement by then, he’ll reach unrestricted free agency, with Minnesota holding his Bird rights.
It’s worth noting that this move shouldn’t take the Wolves out of the running for Giannis Antetokounmpo, their top trade target, but there’s widespread skepticism that the Bucks star will be moved before the deadline.
As for the Bulls, besides taking a shot on Dillingham, they continue to add to their collection of future draft assets. They’ve now completed or agreed to six separate trades this week and have acquired nine second-rounders in those deals, increasing their total count to 14, tweets ESPN’s Bobby Marks.
Although Dosunmu and Coby White are headed to new NBA homes, Chicago still has a backcourt logjam. Josh Giddey and Tre Jones remain on the roster, with newcomers Jaden Ivey, Collin Sexton, Anfernee Simons, and now Dillingham joining the mix. Still, an unbalanced roster may not be an issue for the Bulls in the short term, given that they appear to be focused on building for the future rather than maximizing their playoff chances this season.
According to K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network (Twitter link), the Bulls expressed interest in rookie big man Joan Beringer during their conversations with the Wolves, but Minnesota is high on the 19-year-old Frenchman and was unwilling to include him in its offer for Dosunmu.
Chicago will cut into its projected 2026 cap room a little as a result of this deal. While Miller has a $2.4MM team option for 2026/27, Dillingham’s $6.9MM salary is fully guaranteed. The Bulls will have until October 31 to decide whether or not to exercise Dillingham’s $8.8MM team option for the ’27/28 season.
Nice pick up for the Wolves, replace the NAW bench role from last year.
Love this move!
Perfect fit for Wolves, exactly what they needed.
The bulls are so active. Might be the clear winners of this years deadline
Why? Benstar they dumped a bunch of expiring contracts? Who are they going to is that money on this summer? I dint get it. Ayo is a good player they probably could’ve signed to an extension. I doubt he expected a max.
Why? Because they dumped a bunch of expiring contracts? Who are they going to spend that money on this summer? I dint get it. Ayo is a good player they probably could’ve signed to an extension. I doubt he expected a max.
At least the Bulls are finally tearing it down to the studs…but curious as to what the return is. Won’t be surprised if it’s more 2nd rd picks lmao
I believe they got Dillingham and Leonard Miller. Not sure of any picks.
It is indeed more 2nds. 4 of them I geuss.
Taking a swing on Dillingham isn’t a horrible move…. Although I haven’t seen anything from him that suggests he’ll be turning a corner soon
This is heart breaking as a Bulls fan…
Love Ayo…
No need to trade him after the White trade…
Bulls made 6 trades…I don’t like the last two…
Very disappointing
And they have 8 guards still !!!!!!
I don’t like this for the Bulls, but LOVE it for the Timberwolves. Bulls grabbed too many other guards–I think they could have built a backcourt out of Giddey and Ayo, and instead focus on trying to get a young promising PF to play next to Buzelis. Ayo will be a great spark off the bench with Naz, and along with DiVincenzo he gives the Wolves a fiesty pair of 3 & D hustling guards.
Dillingham sucks…
He was such a huge disappointment. Glad he’s gone.
What a terrible trade that was by Minnesota. Thought that at the time and so far it has shown to be correct.
Do the Bulls know what the Bulls are doing? Surely you could’ve gotten much more than bust of a point guard who is the shortest player on the court at all times and can’t make 3s.
From the outside looking in…It seems the plan in Chicago is to keep payroll costs low, have a serviceable roster and rely on being in the 3rd largest city in America to keep revenues flowing. All these trades imo achieve that goal.
Yuki is 5 inches shorter than Dilingham so they already have the shortest player. Also Dilingham is a whopping two inches shorter than Ayo not a huge difference.
Alright, he isn’t a midget but has he learned how to shoot yet in the NBA?
Don’t think they were going to do much better than a lottery pick from last year for Ayo’s expiring contract. No one was giving up a future first for him
Also, Phillips isn’t just a throw-in–if he can develop (especially on D) behind Jaden, then he can become a solid contributor in rotation.
Agreed. Phillips is a good player.
Nice move for Minn.
Bulls sure are making interesting trades.
Giannis isn’t being moved.
Or he’s going to Miami
That always seemed most likely, but hey there is still time.
The Bulls roster is pure content right now. A bunch of athletic, scoring guards and awkward big men.
In the past two days they’ve acquired:
Anfernee Simons
Jaden Ivey
Collin Sexton
Ousmane Dieng
Guerschon Yabusele
Rob Dillingham
Leonard Miller
And NINE second round picks
💀💀💀💀
Understand that basically the remainder of the season is being forfeited for the Bulls. Wonder who the Bulls will play at center tonight at Toronto. I’m glad that the Bulls made all the trades. The Bulls had hit their ceiling. The Bulls were just a ‘play-in game team’ who couldn’t go much further in the playoffs.
Then why not ADD talent rather than trading it for second round draft picks? Am I correct that second round picks rarely become difference-makers in the NBA? Of all the comments from professional sportswriters to interested amateurs, I’ve heard nothing really positive about any of the Bulls’ acquisitions. The idea that you can build a competitive roster from unproductive guards and as yet undrafted second round picks is a novel one, to be sure. Are we to think that unwanted guards and undrafted picks will inspire other teams to trade talent to the Bulls? What a mess. Oh, wait. I forgot. Some of the players they’ve acquired will apparently shed their inadequacies and become stars in the more nurturing environment in Chicago. What a joke. What a mess.
Absolutely disgusted at my bulls. They can’t develop anyone. The guys that develop (ayo, Coby) don’t get extended and get traded at end of contract for 2nd rounders. Meanwhile we extend pat williams. We just dumped a potential 6th man of the year from Chicago. Now we use dillingham; Simons who have no potential as two way to players, only offense. We can’t trade for a first round pick for our life. Clean house. Our only picks that pan out we dump to second rounders. Should have been extended ayo, traded Coby. Guard rotation of Giddey, Ivey, ayo. Time for Jerry to go; AK to go
Like both Simons and Sexton. Simons has much more natural talent and game than Coby White. Wish that the Bulls could extend both of the contracts of Simons and Sexton if for reasonable money.
I don’t hate them but I’d rather have them walk. Undersized guards that score and don’t play D are great on a contender. But we need two way players. Otherwise we will be stuck where we were with Zach Lavine. Decent offense with no money or assets to acquire players that win games (two way players, 3 and D)
in his defense, Simons had been much improved on D in Boston. Low bar to clear, but still, just saying
I was a huge fan of Rob last season. Had high hopes. I got to see him play in Utah last season and he had a GREAT game. He’s so quick. Sad to see him go, but his growth stopped. I hope for the best for him and that the change of scenery helps. Good trade for Wolves.
Same. I really hope he develops. Maybe the change will be good for him. He needs more playing time for sure. He wasn’t going to get that with the Wolves.
Are these 2k trades? Bulls accepting almost anything offered to them.
Bulls made sure to balance the scales with these last few trades. They started out doing well.
This is a good move but the price stings if you remember what the Wolves traded to get Rob Dillingham from the Spurs.
I feel like the Bull are run like the Pirates, any decent player they have or develop, they trade away for peanuts. You would think Reinsdorf would care about one team.
Damn website is down so I’ll reply to this after. Server is busy it says. Ugh.
The Bulls have now traded Lavine, DeRozan, Caruso, Vuc, Coby, and Ayo and have brought back not one first round pick. Absolute joke of an organization. The roster is still guard heavy w a bunch of expiring contracts and like a dozen second round picks that ain’t worth crap.
With those contracts, the only one who could’ve arguably brought back a 1st was Caruso
Spurs got two unprotected first round picks for Rob Dill, who wasn’t even mentioned in the headline of these news, just a year and a half after his draft.
The Timberwolves now basically paid two first and four seconds for Ayo!