2025 Free Agency News/Rumors

[kulaz3000]

No I’m fine with no major moves. People just want a move for the sake of it.

??

We literally do nothing under this GM regime

Blew up first team (Lauri, etc.)
Traded for Vooch, DeMar, and Ball.
Maxed Zach
Signed Caruso
Traded Caruso for Giddey
Traded DeMar
Traded Zach
Etc.

AK’s got a lot of problems, but a lack of doing stuff isn’t really it. The timing of a lot of those transactions has obviously been bad, but IMO the criticism of AK isn’t really “he never does anything” and has been a lot closer to “he hasn’t been patient/methodical enough.”

Sports fans always have FOMO when it comes to free agency and trades. When your team isn't involved, the usual reaction is, why couldn't we be involved?! But in terms of moves, the Bulls have made plenty of transactions over the seasons, but as you said, besides the initially ones, they've been incredibly reactionary with their subsequent moves, nor have had the foresight or quite frankly, the balls to make decisive moves for the betterment of their future, instead for immediate wins.

[jnrjr79]

??

We literally do nothing under this GM regime

Blew up first team (Lauri, etc.)
Traded for Vooch, DeMar, and Ball.
Maxed Zach
Signed Caruso
Traded Caruso for Giddey
Traded DeMar
Traded Zach
Etc.

AK’s got a lot of problems, but a lack of doing stuff isn’t really it. The timing of a lot of those transactions has obviously been bad, but IMO the criticism of AK isn’t really “he never does anything” and has been a lot closer to “he hasn’t been patient/methodical enough.”

Sports fans always have FOMO when it comes to free agency and trades. When your team isn't involved, the usual reaction is, why couldn't we be involved?! But in terms of moves, the Bulls have made plenty of transactions over the seasons, but as you said, besides the initially ones, they've been incredibly reactionary with their subsequent moves, nor have had the foresight or quite frankly, the balls to make decisive moves for the betterment of their future, instead for immediate wins.

Yeah, he’s turned over the core of the roster (or much of it) twice in 5 seasons or so. The problem was rebuild 1.0 was obviously ill-conceived (and it’s troubling the Bulls apparently don’t agree with that and seem to pin everything on Lonzo’s injury) and rebuild 2.0 happened too late. A potential second problem with 2.0 is this desire to “remain competitive,” which pisses me off b/c it assumes the team is already competitive when it is not, and so th bulls are seeking to shortcut things by not committing to a traditional rebuild. That might work! The Pacers, to some extent, put themselves together that way. But given how rebuild 1.0 was largely trade-for-current-player based, I’m pretty concerned AK won’t be able to pull something similar off in his second go-around.

[DropStep]

??

We literally do nothing under this GM regime

Blew up first team (Lauri, etc.)
Traded for Vooch, DeMar, and Ball.
Maxed Zach
Signed Caruso
Traded Caruso for Giddey
Traded DeMar
Traded Zach
Etc.

AK’s got a lot of problems, but a lack of doing stuff isn’t really it. The timing of a lot of those transactions has obviously been bad, but IMO the criticism of AK isn’t really “he never does anything” and has been a lot closer to “he hasn’t been patient/methodical enough.”

Sports fans always have FOMO when it comes to free agency and trades. When your team isn't involved, the usual reaction is, why couldn't we be involved?! But in terms of moves, the Bulls have made plenty of transactions over the seasons, but as you said, besides the initially ones, they've been incredibly reactionary with their subsequent moves, nor have had the foresight or quite frankly, the balls to make decisive moves for the betterment of their future, instead for immediate wins.

But also this in between, along with the kind of interminable Vuc and Zach and Pat stasis, helped add to the feeling of Groundhog Day: https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/39486456/bulls-stand-pat-nba-trade-deadline-3rd-straight-year

[NecessaryEvil]

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[NecessaryEvil]

No I’m fine with no major moves. People just want a move for the sake of it.

??

We literally do nothing under this GM regime

Blew up first team (Lauri, etc.)
Traded for Vooch, DeMar, and Ball.
Maxed Zach
Signed Caruso
Traded Caruso for Giddey
Traded DeMar
Traded Zach
Etc.

AK’s got a lot of problems, but a lack of doing stuff isn’t really it. The timing of a lot of those transactions has obviously been bad, but IMO the criticism of AK isn’t really “he never does anything” and has been a lot closer to “he hasn’t been patient/methodical enough.”

We moved DeMar wayy too late.

We moved Zach wayyy too late.

I don’t consider any of those moves doing something. He inherited a basketball team, I mean he gotta work

Hell he’s the damn VP of operations with a salary cap and budget, he HAS to do something

And with alllll that being said, he hasn’t done sh*t lol

[NecessaryEvil]

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[NecessaryEvil]

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[Dez]

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DO IT!

Trade them, more specifically Coby.

[WesPeace]

If we trade White and go after Beal, I would lose my mind lol.. if we trade White to go higher in draft and get VJ, Tre or Coward I'm game!

[Dez]

If we trade White and go after Beal, I would lose my mind lol.. if we trade White to go higher in draft and get VJ, Tre or Coward I'm game!

Trading for Beal would be to gain assets not for Beal himself.

It won't happen regardless.

[kodo]

So AK wants to move up. Except how are they going to outbid Brooklyn who has #8, #19, #26, #27.
He was preaching win now all season, now that that the Bulls missed the playoffs he's done a 180 and wants to build through the draft. Too late, we don't have the assets. The unprotected Sac pick swap from Derozan would have helped, except he gave it to San Antonio because why would we need draft picks.

[Red8911]

So AK wants to move up. Except how are they going to outbid Brooklyn who has #8, #19, #26, #27.
He was preaching win now all season, now that that the Bulls missed the playoffs he's done a 180 and wants to build through the draft. Too late, we don't have the assets. The unprotected Sac pick swap from Derozan would have helped, except he gave it to San Antonio because why would we need draft picks.

Trying to move up a couple spots to draft Bailey doesn’t mean he “wants to build through the draft”.

[boundbymusic]

??

We literally do nothing under this GM regime

Blew up first team (Lauri, etc.)
Traded for Vooch, DeMar, and Ball.
Maxed Zach
Signed Caruso
Traded Caruso for Giddey
Traded DeMar
Traded Zach
Etc.

AK’s got a lot of problems, but a lack of doing stuff isn’t really it. The timing of a lot of those transactions has obviously been bad, but IMO the criticism of AK isn’t really “he never does anything” and has been a lot closer to “he hasn’t been patient/methodical enough.”

Sports fans always have FOMO when it comes to free agency and trades. When your team isn't involved, the usual reaction is, why couldn't we be involved?! But in terms of moves, the Bulls have made plenty of transactions over the seasons, but as you said, besides the initially ones, they've been incredibly reactionary with their subsequent moves, nor have had the foresight or quite frankly, the balls to make decisive moves for the betterment of their future, instead for immediate wins.

My issue is more that I don't trust AKME to have what it takes to build a contender, which means I want YOLO trades and constant action bc that's all the entertainment I'm getting.

[DuckIII]

So AK wants to move up. Except how are they going to outbid Brooklyn who has #8, #19, #26, #27.
He was preaching win now all season, now that that the Bulls missed the playoffs he's done a 180 and wants to build through the draft. Too late, we don't have the assets. The unprotected Sac pick swap from Derozan would have helped, except he gave it to San Antonio because why would we need draft picks.

Trying to move up a couple spots to draft Bailey doesn’t mean he “wants to build through the draft”.

No, but it means he now has to burn extra assets to draft a guy he could have gotten organically just by not being a dumbass. This is why meaningless wins for non-contending old teams is bad. Its not complicated.

We aren't constructed that way anymore so what is done is done. But this is the whole damn point about being smart and recognizing what matters and what does not if your goal is to contend for titles.

[sco]

Interesting rumors at least. I'd be thrilled if:

1) We trade Vuc...even if we're giving up 2nd rounders
2) We don't give up any 1sts to move up. Don't want to give up that POR pick now. And if we do move up, that it's not for Queen, Demin, CMB or Maluach.
3) If we trade Ball, we are able to retain Jones

[ChettheJet]

Read on Twitter

That's a collection of loads of horse dung.

Teams interested in Lonzo should have been working at the deadline to unload $21M worth of salary, now they suddenly want him on the cheap for $10M. Sure teams a re calling about Coby they don't want to give up anything for him do they?

The Bulls both want to move up for size but will pay to move to #4 to get Bailey, forget about the non workout, to go from 12 to 4 is an expensive move that the Bulls have rarely made, first that talk of Bailey has surfaced

So right after the story that Beal wouldn't waive to go the CHI, the Bulls become a possible destination. Sure let the Buls take 4-5 FRPs and Beal fails to show up, gets suspended then it's a great deal.

and of course Kuminga for Vucevic which could have been done for how long now is possible,

just pre draft excess X ing

[jnrjr79]

??

We literally do nothing under this GM regime

Blew up first team (Lauri, etc.)
Traded for Vooch, DeMar, and Ball.
Maxed Zach
Signed Caruso
Traded Caruso for Giddey
Traded DeMar
Traded Zach
Etc.

AK’s got a lot of problems, but a lack of doing stuff isn’t really it. The timing of a lot of those transactions has obviously been bad, but IMO the criticism of AK isn’t really “he never does anything” and has been a lot closer to “he hasn’t been patient/methodical enough.”

We moved DeMar wayy too late.

We moved Zach wayyy too late.

I don’t consider any of those moves doing something. He inherited a basketball team, I mean he gotta work

Hell he’s the damn VP of operations with a salary cap and budget, he HAS to do something

And with alllll that being said, he hasn’t done sh*t lol

I mean, did you read the post or what

[NecessaryEvil]

Read on Twitter

I see a Josh Smith type player on Chicago with JK

Get it done

[sco]

Read on Twitter

I see a Josh Smith type player on Chicago with JK

Get it done

You mean J.R. Smith

[Peelboy]

I have no faith in this FO not to completely F it up in clearly obvious ways, but based on the rumors, there's at least a glimmer of a path to something useful occurring today and in the next few days.

1. S&T centered on PW for Kuminga. Assume JK gets something like 4/$110. That's a bit higher than Hollinger's value ($24M), but he's 22 and already has shown some really good skills (and some weaknesses). Seems like it fits the Giddey trade mold. Key here is no draft assets going to GSW, maybe a future 2d at most. I think a deal centered on PW+Jevon works. Carter is expiring and fits into GSW TPE. Pat seems a useful 3&D in their system, and with no pressure except to fill a role and a more structured development system there's some upside for them.

2. Trade Vuc to Suns in a Beal trade. I think Vuc+Collins+Terry works. Bulls get back #29 and a future FRP, which is light, ideally 2 future FRPs to get off that giant last year salary and return some useful players for Suns to go with Booker/Green.

3. At 12 and 29, draft a wing and a big. My ideal would be one of Queen/Maluach/Sorber at 12 and someone like Riley/Fleming/Saraf at 29. Alternately, maybe KJ/Essengue/Demin/CMB at 12 and someone like Beringer at 29 (that all seems less likely).

Your team is now: Coby (25), Ayo (26), Giddey (23), Matas (21), Kuminga (22), Phillips (22), and 2 draft picks (<21). Some potentially useful/flippable vets in Huerter, Lonzo, Jalen Smith. That's a reasonable set of young talent, 2 on big (but hopefully not onerous) contracts, and Coby as the big question mark either dealable at deadline or resignable depending on what he does this year.

Do I think AK can do something like that? No. More likely they deal draft capital to get off of Vuc and/or acquire JK, overpay JK (~$30M+), and/or reject deals that acquire assets for cap space (Beal).