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2025 NBA Offseason Preview: Chicago Bulls

June 2nd, 2025 at 7:41pm CST by Luke Adams

The Bulls have had just one winning season since 2016, and even that season - 2021/22 - was really all about an outstanding first half. The team opened the year by winning 27 of its first 38 games with Lonzo Ball leading the charge as a two-way dynamo at the point, Zach LaVine, DeMar DeRozan, and Nikola Vucevic providing the scoring, and Alex Caruso wreaking havoc on the defensive end.

Management in Chicago spent two-and-a-half years dreaming on that version of the Bulls, which never looked quite the same without Ball on the court. The former No. 2 overall pick spent those same two-and-a-half years trying to work his way back from knee problems that ended his '21/22 season early and threatened to halt his playing career for good.

Ball ultimately made his return to the court in the fall of 2024, but the Bulls had thrown in the towel on the previous iteration of their roster a few months earlier, having traded away key veterans like DeRozan and Caruso while acquiring a new point guard of the future in Josh Giddey.

The Bulls continued to tear down the 2021-24 version of their roster prior to February's trade deadline by sending LaVine to Sacramento in a three-team blockbuster, signaling that they finally appeared ready to launch a full-fledged rebuild. The club reacquired complete control of its 2025 first-round pick in the LaVine deal and took back Tre Jones, Kevin Huerter, and Zach Collins, three veterans who had been having disappointing years with their previous teams and looked poised to lead a second-half tank job.

That's not how the final couple months of the season played out, though. The Bulls improbably went 15-5 to close out the year, earning a spot in the play-in tournament for a third straight spring. It was a cause for grumbling among many fans in Chicago, who had watched their team win 40 games in 2022/23 and 39 in '23/24 while ostensibly trying to contend. Those fans were excited about the possibility of leaning into the rebuild and securing a high draft pick in '24/25. Instead, the end result - a 39-43 record, a quick play-in exit, and a draft pick outside the top 10 - felt like more of the same.

But it wasn't quite the same. There were several promising developments during that unexpected hot streak late in the season.

Coby White looked like one of the NBA's best scorers, averaging 26.0 points per game on .505/.383/.902 shooting in March and April. Giddey showed why the Bulls were willing to give up Caruso for him, nearly averaging a triple-double (21.2 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 9.3 APG) while making 45.7% of his three-pointers after the All-Star break. Lottery pick Matas Buzelis earned a spot on the All-Rookie Second Team by putting up 13.3 PPG and 4.4 RPG on .491/.367/.806 shooting from February 1 onward.

Although the Bulls spent another year stuck in the middle, the fact that the front office has been willing to make major roster changes in the past year - and seems primed to continue making more - is a positive development for a team that was going nowhere fast at this time last spring. There's still a lot of work to be done, but the organization now appears focused on building a roster capable of contending in the future, rather than stubbornly sticking with one not equipped to contend in the present.

The Bulls' Offseason Plan

The No. 1 item on Chicago's offseason to-do list is figuring out what a new contract for Giddey looks like. The two sides reportedly engaged in rookie scale extension talks last fall, with the former Thunder guard said to be looking for a deal salary in the range of $30MM per year. Jalen Johnson and Jalen Suggs were seeking similar commitments at the same time and received five-year, $150MM extensions, but the Bulls weren't willing to put that offer on the table for Giddey, opting to postpone negotiations until this summer.

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Central Notes: Ivey, Bulls, Turner

June 1st, 2025 at 1:46pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

Pistons guard Jaden Ivey had a very promising 2024/25 season — for the 30 games he was on the floor, at least.

Keith Langlois of Pistons.com reviews Ivey’s third pro season and considers what’s next for him, noting that the third-year pro evolved as a jump shooter and a creator under new head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.

Across the aforementioned 30 healthy bouts, Ivey averaged 17.6 points, 4.1 boards and 4.0 dimes per game ahead of becoming extension-eligible this summer. Bickerstaff has been an ardent fan of Ivey’s play, according to Langlois, who writes that the 6’4″ guard can thrive both off-ball alongside All-NBA point guard Cade Cunningham and as a lead ball handler without Cunningham.

Langlois observes that Ivey’s role leading bench units could hinge on what happens with reserve guard Dennis Schröder in free agency.

There’s more out of the Central Division:

  • The Bulls are potentially interested in selecting BYU guard Egor Demin with the No. 12 pick in this month’s draft — if he’s still available at that point, as Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times reiterates in a story breaking down four potential lottery targets for the team. Cowley, who previously reported Chicago’s potential interest in Demin, also takes a closer look at Derik Queen, Collin Murray-Boyles, and Asa Newell.
  • The Pacers, now back in the NBA Finals for the first time in 25 years, face a major decision this summer when it comes to the future of free agent center Myles Turner, per Peter Botte of The New York Post. While Indiana is considered likely to retain the 6’11” big man, he could become a hot commodity this summer. A unique three-and-D center, the Texas alum has been a critical contributor to his team’s two straight Eastern Conference Finals runs, and will prove integral if it hopes to fend off Oklahoma City in the Finals. Indiana holds a $2.9MM option on his backup, Tony Bradley, while third-stringer Thomas Bryant will also hit unrestricted free agency.
  • In case you missed it, Pacers forward Pascal Siakam was honored as the club’s Eastern Conference Finals MVP for his performance against New York, in a narrow 5-4 vote.
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Bulls Draft Rumors: Demin, Queen, Powell, More

May 29th, 2025 at 6:55pm CST by Rory Maher

The Bulls are “zoning in” on BYU’s Egor Demin ahead of the 2025 NBA draft, according to Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. The Bulls control the 12th and 45th picks in next month’s draft. However, the Russian guard, who is ranked No. 12 on ESPN’s big board, may not be available at that spot — Cowley hears he could go in the top 10.

While the Bulls are interested in Demin, they’re lower on Maryland big man Derik Queen. A source tells Cowley that Queen — who tested poorly at the combine, per Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report — has been sliding down draft boards, and Chicago has concerns about how his lack of athleticism would fit in the team’s up-tempo playing style.

K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network (Twitter video link) hears the Bulls will likely end up taking the best player available at No. 12, but they would “prefer” to select a big man or wing. And if they do go with a guard, it will likely be someone with the size to play multiple positions — Demin seems to fit that bill, as he’s a 6’9″ point guard.

Johnson, who also noted that Queen might slide on draft night, says that North Carolina wing Drake Powell recently had a “very, very impressive” workout with the Bulls and could return a second time. Johnson isn’t sure if Powell will be selected in the lottery — he’s No. 32 on ESPN’s board — but he performed well in both athletic testing and interviews at the combine.

For what it’s worth, in his latest mock draft, Wasserman has Chicago selecting South Carolina forward Collin Murray-Boyles at No. 12 and Wake Forest guard Hunter Sallis at No. 45.

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Jrue Holiday, Lonzo Ball, Chris Paul Possibilities For Mavericks

May 26th, 2025 at 11:58am CST by Arthur Hill

The Mavericks will explore a potential trade with the Celtics for Jrue Holiday as they look for someone to take over ball-handling duties while Kyrie Irving is injured, Marc Stein reports in his latest Substack column (subscription required).

Stein admits that a deal for Holiday would be tricky given Dallas’ financial position and the fact that he has three years and $104MM left on his contract. Holiday is among the players Boston is reportedly considering moving to reduce next season’s payroll, so the Celtics won’t be looking to take back big contracts in return. A third or fourth team may have to get involved to make a trade feasible.

Irving suffered a torn ACL in his left knee on March 3. A report last month suggested that he might be able to return by January, but Dallas will need someone to serve as the lead guard until he fully recovers from surgery.

Stein cites Bulls guard Lonzo Ball as “a more reasonable trade target” for the Mavs. Ball signed a two-year, $20MM extension in February that includes a team option for the second season. It would be much easier for Dallas to fit Ball’s contract into its current salary structure, and he’s coming off a relatively healthy season after missing two and a half years with severe knee issues. At 27, Ball is seven years younger than Holiday and could turn into a better long-term investment.

League sources tell Stein that Chris Paul is another player to watch for the Mavericks. Even though he turned 40 earlier this month, Paul was able to appear in all 82 games with the Spurs and produced another productive season, averaging 8.8 points, 3.6 rebounds and 7.4 assists in 28 minutes per night with .427/.377/.924 shooting splits.

Stein states that the year Paul spent tutoring Victor Wembanyama and his other young teammates was considered successful, but there’s “anticipation” that he might be changing teams again this summer. San Antonio traded for De’Aaron Fox in February and is expected to add Dylan Harper with the second pick in next month’s draft. With Rookie of the Year Stephon Castle also in the backcourt mix, there may not be enough minutes for Paul.

Stein expects plenty of interest around the league in Paul if he decides to move on.

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Fischer’s Latest: Irving, Mavs, Harden, Clippers, Point Guards

May 24th, 2025 at 2:02pm CST by Luke Adams

Before suffering a torn ACL in early March, Kyrie Irving was widely expected to sign an extension or a new free agent contract with the Mavericks this offseason, according to Jake Fischer of The Stein Line (Substack link), who says that perception hasn’t changed since Irving’s injury. However, the veteran point guard’s ACL recovery, which figures to extend well into next season, may complicate those negotiations to some extent.

According to Fischer, there have been rumblings all season that the Mavericks would like to lock up Irving for the next three seasons for approximately $40MM per year. In other words, they’d be comfortable essentially making the same three-year, $120MM offer that Irving signed as a free agent in 2023.

Irving was coming off a tumultuous stint in Brooklyn and had only been a Maverick for a half-season when he agreed to that contract in 2023. He has since established himself as a cornerstone player for the franchise, helping to lead Dallas to an NBA Finals appearance a year ago.

As Fischer writes, if he had stayed healthy, Irving could have sought a higher annual salary based on his production and leadership over the past two seasons — especially given the leverage he would’ve had as the team’s primary backcourt play-maker following the February trade of Luka Doncic. Now that he’s recovering from a major knee injury at age 33, a massive payday that exceeds his previous deal may be less realistic for Irving.

Here’s more from Fischer, whose latest Substack article focuses on a few of this year’s top free agent point guards:

  • “The whole league knows” the Mavericks want to add ball-handling and play-making to their backcourt after trading Doncic and seeing Irving go down with an ACL tear, Fischer writes. Sources tell The Stein Line that Dallas’ goal will be to add a player who can fill in as a starter with Irving sidelined and then transition to a complementary role once Kyrie returns. While the Mavs’ cap flexibility will be very limited, there’s optimism that they might be able to convince a solid player to accept the veteran’s minimum with the promise of a starting role, like Phoenix did with Tyus Jones a year ago.
  • Multiple sources who have spoken to Fischer have suggested that Irving’s new deal with Dallas could “serve as a barometer” for what James Harden does with the Clippers this summer. Like Irving, Harden isn’t expected to leave his current team, and like Irving, he’d have the ability to exercise his player option (worth $36.3MM) and negotiate an extension or opt out to sign a new contract. Whichever direction he and the team go, there’s an expectation that the Clippers will be looking to line up Harden’s new contract with Kawhi Leonard‘s, which runs through 2026/27, Fischer notes. That would mean no more than two guaranteed years for the former MVP.
  • Fischer adds that multiple rival teams view the Clippers as a club to watch on the trade market this offseason once they get the Harden situation resolved.
  • Front offices around the league consider Fred VanVleet (Rockets) and Josh Giddey (Bulls) likely to return to their respective teams, according to Fischer. Dennis Schröder might end up being one of the top point guards available on the open market, though the Pistons are known to have interest in bringing him back, Fischer says.
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Eastern Notes: Banchero, Magic, Pistons, Bulls, J. Holiday

May 22nd, 2025 at 11:12pm CST by Rory Maher

Forward Paolo Banchero, who will be eligible for a rookie scale extension this summer, is optimistic the Magic can capitalize on the NBA’s parity, according to Jason Beede of The Orlando Sentinel. After Boston was eliminated in the second round, the league will crown its seventh champion in as many years, the first time that has ever occurred.

“You don’t know how excited I am just seeing all of these new teams in the conference finals,” Banchero said. “Definitely going to have a new champion this year and so, it just excites you because that could be us.

“Obviously it’s not going to be easy and it takes a lot of things to go right, but seeing all of these teams get there, all these young players lead their teams … It definitely gets me excited.”

Here’s more from the East:

  • Orlando isn’t the only Eastern Conference team optimistic about its future. The Pistons also believe they can become a contender sooner rather than later after a remarkable turnaround in 2024/25, per Keith Langlois of Pistons.com. Detroit won a league-worst 14 games in ’23/24, but made the playoffs outright as the No. 6 seed after winning 44 games this season. The Pistons also had a highly competitive first-round series with New York, which is now in the conference final.
  • Keith Smith of Spotrac previews the Bulls‘ offseason. While Josh Giddey‘s restricted free agency is perhaps the most pressing issue that needs to be addressed, Chicago also has several players eligible for veteran extensions. Smith views Ayo Dosunmu as the most likely to ink a new deal of the extension-eligible players.
  • Celtics guard Jrue Holiday has come up multiple times in recent trade rumors, though one report stated Boston might have a difficult time moving him due to the $104MM he’s owed over the next three years. With that in mind, Brian Robb of MassLive explores seven hypothetical Holiday trades. According to Robb, the Mavericks could be a good fit if they like Holiday. His fake proposal has Holiday and unspecified draft capital heading to Dallas for Daniel Gafford, Caleb Martin, Jaden Hardy and Olivier-Maxence Prosper.
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NBA Announces 2024/25 All-Rookie Teams

May 20th, 2025 at 1:04pm CST by Luke Adams

The NBA has officially revealed its All-Rookie teams for the 2024/25 season (Twitter links). The First Team is made up the top two picks in the 2024 draft, a pair of Grizzlies, and this season’s Rookie of the Year, while the Second Team is heavy on centers.

A panel of 100 media members selected the All-Rookie teams, with players earning two points for a First Team vote and one point for a Second Team nod. The 10 players who made the cut, along with their corresponding point totals (Twitter link), are as follows:

First Team

Second Team

There are no real surprises on the First Team. Castle was the recipient of this season’s Rookie of the Year and was also the only player to be unanimously selected to the First Team, but fellow Rookie of the Year finalists Risacher and Wells weren’t far behind him. Edey and Sarr played significant roles for their respective teams and also finished in the top five in Rookie of the Year voting.

Among the members of the Second Team, Ware and Buzelis finished sixth and seventh in Rookie of the Year voting, while Missi, Clingan, and Carrington became starters for their respective teams in their first NBA seasons.

Carrington just narrowly edged out Jazz guard Isaiah Collier, who received one First Team vote and 50 Second Team votes for a total of 52 points. Carrington technically showed up on fewer overall ballots, but gained the slight edge because he was selected to the First Team by three voters (he was named to the Second Team by 47).

A total of 23 players showed up on at least one voter’s ballot, with Jazz forward/center Kyle Filipowski, Pistons forward Ron Holland, Lakers forward Dalton Knecht, and Suns wing Ryan Dunn rounding out the top 15 vote-getters — they, along with Collier, would’ve made up a hypothetical All-Rookie Third Team if the league recognized 15 players like it does for All-NBA.

All-Rookie is one of the few awards that doesn’t require players to meet the 65-game minimum and certain minutes-played thresholds. Risacher, Edey, Ware, Buzelis, and Clingan each would have been ineligible for consideration if that rule applied to All-Rookie voting.

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Central Notes: Giddey, Bulls, Hardaway, Pistons

May 18th, 2025 at 3:30pm CST by Alex Kirschenbaum

The Bulls have some major decisions to make about their talented — and perhaps too crowded — backcourt moving forward, writes Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times (subscriber link).

Starting guard Josh Giddey enjoyed an impressive debut season in Chicago. As he heads to restricted free agency this offseason, however, Cowley wonders just how much will be too much for the Bulls when it comes to Giddey’s annual salary.

Following a rocky start, Giddey rounded into form down the season’s home stretch. After the league’s All-Star break — and after the Bulls traded away former All-Star guard Zach LaVine — Giddey logged averages of 21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 9.3 assists per night, and connected on an impressive 45.7% of his three-point attempts.

“Coming into a new situation, I never want to come in here and step on any toes,” Giddey said. “I was trying too hard to fit in and please everybody, and [after the] All-Star break and [trade] deadline, I started to play freely and be me.”

Cowley is convinced that Giddey will remain in Chicago long-term, but notes that recently extended reserve guard Lonzo Ball and veterans Ayo Dosunmu, Kevin Huerter and Coby White could all be on the trade market next season. Among those four, only Ball is under contract beyond 2025/26.

There’s more out of the Central Division:

  • Bulls front office decision makers had an opportunity at this week’s draft combine in Chicago to get an up-close look at some candidates for their No. 12 pick in June’s draft, writes Julia Poe of The Chicago Tribune. As Poe writes, the Bulls interviewed prospects like Texas guard Tre Johnson, Georgetown center Thomas Sorber, Georgia forward Asa Newell, Connecticut forward Liam McNeeley, South Carolina forward Collin Murray-Boyles, and Michigan State guard Jase Richardson. Poe adds that Duke center Khaman Maluach and Maryland center Derik Queen could also be on Chicago’s radar.
  • Upon being traded to Detroit from Dallas during the 2024 offseason, Pistons swingman Tim Hardaway Jr. emerged as exactly the kind of reliable, role-playing veteran the team needed en route to its first playoff appearance in six years, writes Keith Langlois of Pistons.com. Hardaway is one of three heavily used Pistons vets who will hit free agency this summer, along with Sixth Man of the Year finalist Malik Beasley and guard Dennis Schröder. Langlois notes that there is a possibility that all three could be back on new deals, if the price is right.
  • In case you missed it, nine-time Bucks All-Star forward Giannis Antetokounmpo is set to meet up with Milwaukee decision makers to discuss his future with the team next week.
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2025 NBA Draft Picks By Team

May 16th, 2025 at 1:19pm CST by Luke Adams

The Nets and Jazz were among the teams who left Monday’s draft lottery disappointed, as Brooklyn slipped two spots to No. 8 while Utah, the NBA’s worst team during the 2024/25 season, ended up at No. 6.

Still, while they won’t be picking as high in the lottery as they might like, the Nets and Jazz will enter this year’s draft armed with plenty of ammunition. Brooklyn controls a league-high five 2025 draft picks, including four first-rounders and an early second-rounder. Utah, meanwhile, is one of just two teams (along with the Magic) controlling four picks in this year’s draft, including a pair of first-rounders.

Four other clubs – the Spurs, Hornets, Wizards, and Thunder – own three picks apiece, so those seven teams combine to control 25 of the 59 selections in the 2025 draft.

In addition to those teams with three or more picks, 12 more clubs own a pair of 2025 draft selections, while another 10 control one apiece. That latter group includes the Mavericks, whose No. 1 overall pick is their only selection in this year’s draft.

That leaves just a single NBA team without a draft pick this year: the Nuggets. Denver traded its 2025 first-rounder to Orlando back in 2021 as part of a package for Aaron Gordon in a deal that has worked out exceedingly well for the 2023 champions and sent out its 2025 second-rounder last offseason in a Reggie Jackson salary-dump. The Nuggets could still trade into this draft, but for now they’re the only team on track to sit it out.

To present a clearer picture of which teams are most – and least – stocked with picks for the 2025 NBA draft, we’ve rounded up all 59 selections by team in the space below. Let’s dive in…

Teams with more than two picks:

  • Brooklyn Nets (5): 8, 19, 26, 27, 36
  • Utah Jazz (4): 5, 21, 43, 53
  • Orlando Magic (4): 16, 25, 46, 57
  • San Antonio Spurs (3): 2, 14, 38
  • Charlotte Hornets (3): 4, 33, 34
  • Washington Wizards (3): 6, 18, 40
  • Oklahoma City Thunder (3): 15, 24, 44

Teams with two picks:

  • Philadelphia 76ers: 3, 35
  • Toronto Raptors: 9, 39
  • Houston Rockets: 10, 59
  • Chicago Bulls: 12, 45
  • Atlanta Hawks: 13, 22
  • Minnesota Timberwolves: 17, 31
  • Indiana Pacers: 23, 54
  • Boston Celtics: 28, 32
  • Phoenix Suns: 29, 52
  • Los Angeles Clippers: 30, 51
  • Memphis Grizzlies: 48, 56
  • Cleveland Cavaliers: 49, 58

Teams with one pick:

  • Dallas Mavericks: 1
  • New Orleans Pelicans: 7
  • Portland Trail Blazers: 11
  • Miami Heat: 20
  • Detroit Pistons: 37
  • Golden State Warriors: 41
  • Sacramento Kings: 42
  • Milwaukee Bucks: 47
  • New York Knicks: 50
  • Los Angeles Lakers: 55

Teams with no picks:

  • Denver Nuggets
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Scotto’s Latest: Gafford, Huerter, Jazz, Boozer, Giddey, More

May 14th, 2025 at 3:28pm CST by Luke Adams

Looking ahead to the 2025 offseason trade market, Michael Scotto of HoopsHype identifies Daniel Gafford as a possible trade candidate to watch if the Mavericks and the veteran big man are unable to come to terms on a contract extension.

While Gafford has been a key rotation player over the last season-and-a-half in Dallas, he doesn’t project to be a starter as long as Anthony Davis and Dereck Lively are healthy, and his expiring $14.4MM contract could be a useful salary-matching piece as the Mavericks shop for backcourt help this summer.

Scotto also notes that Bulls wing Kevin Huerter drew some interest from the Jazz after being acquired by Chicago at this year’s trade deadline. The Kings were known to have explored the possibility of a John Collins trade before making their De’Aaron Fox deal, so Huerter likely came up in those talks with Utah. However, Scotto’s wording suggests the Jazz still had interest in Huerter after Sacramento agreed to send him to the Bulls.

It’s unclear if the Jazz will circle back to Huerter this summer or if their interest was solely about acquiring another asset that would’ve been attached to the veteran’s unwanted contract.

Here are several more highlights from Scotto’s latest rumor round-up:

  • Carlos Boozer, who earned two All-Star berths with the Jazz during his playing career, has been around the team at the draft combine in Chicago this week and is expected to be hired by Utah as a scout, league sources tell HoopsHype.
  • According to Scotto, there’s still a belief around the NBA that Bulls restricted free agent Josh Giddey will be seeking a five-year, $150MM contract this summer, similar to the one Jalen Suggs signed with Orlando last fall. That was Giddey’s reported asking price last October as well.
  • While David Griffin wanted to hang onto Kelly Olynyk and re-sign Bruce Brown, it’s unclear how new Pelicans head of basketball operations Joe Dumars feels about that veteran duo, Scotto writes. There’s a similar situation at work in Atlanta, where there was an expectation prior to Landry Fields‘ dismissal that the Hawks would try to re-sign Larry Nance Jr. and Caris LeVert while letting go of Clint Capela. It’s not yet known if that will still be the plan for the new-look front office, Scotto notes.
  • Sixers assistant Coby Karl isn’t expected to return to Nick Nurse‘s coaching staff next season, Scotto reports.
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