Building the Bulls 2026-2027 Season

[BullsBoozer]

Carr is better than Tony Snell right? I’m getting flashbacks with the way some of you guys are describing him

[drosestruts]

I'm worried our roster won't have enough shooting moving forward, ecspecially if we draft Wilson.

It also likely pigeon holds us into looking for additional spacing from our center position, one of the reasons I feel we held onto and started Vuc for so long.

And honestly, there's not really any good options when it comes to floor-spacing centers, but I've decided to rank them anyways


1. Kristap Porzingis - he more exists as a theoretical on-paper option, but once upon a time Porzingis was the model floorspacing/rim-protecting big in the NBA. He's somehow only 31 but various health and injury issues make it seem like he's closer to 40. I have no idea if he'd actually see the floor for us, and if so, what shape he'd be in. But there's an upside play to pursuing Porzingis this summer.

2. John Collins - would be more of a small ball center, but depending how the draft works out, perhaps there's enough length elsewhere on the court to make it work. A 40% 3-point shooter the past two seasons, he also had 83 dunks this past year, which would have led our entire team.

3. Sandro Mamukelashvili - Sandro is a legit floor spacer and shooter who isn't shy about getting shots up. Sandro also had some good advance stats this season in addition to his good shooting.

4. Zach Collins - Only played 10 games this year but shot well and looked good for us in those games. Health issues mean you can't rely too heavily on him but honestly, between the NBA roster and 2-way contracts, you're a fool if your center rotation isn't 4-deep. His previous health concerns should results in an ability to get him on a value contract.


Like I said, not great. But we'll likely need floor spacing from the center position, and these are the best shooting free agent bigs.

[Guru]

I'm worried our roster won't have enough shooting moving forward, ecspecially if we draft Wilson.

It also likely pigeon holds us into looking for additional spacing from our center position, one of the reasons I feel we held onto and started Vuc for so long.

And honestly, there's not really any good options when it comes to floor-spacing centers, but I've decided to rank them anyways


1. Kristap Porzingis - he more exists as a theoretical on-paper option, but once upon a time Porzingis was the model floorspacing/rim-protecting big in the NBA. He's somehow only 31 but various health and injury issues make it seem like he's closer to 40. I have no idea if he'd actually see the floor for us, and if so, what shape he'd be in. But there's an upside play to pursuing Porzingis this summer.

2. John Collins - would be more of a small ball center, but depending how the draft works out, perhaps there's enough length elsewhere on the court to make it work. A 40% 3-point shooter the past two seasons, he also had 83 dunks this past year, which would have led our entire team.

3. Sandro Mamukelashvili - Sandro is a legit floor spacer and shooter who isn't shy about getting shots up. Sandro also had some good advance stats this season in addition to his good shooting.

4. Zach Collins - Only played 10 games this year but shot well and looked good for us in those games. Health issues mean you can't rely too heavily on him but honestly, between the NBA roster and 2-way contracts, you're a fool if your center rotation isn't 4-deep. His previous health concerns should results in an ability to get him on a value contract.


Like I said, not great. But we'll likely need floor spacing from the center position, and these are the best shooting free agent bigs.

I think the first step is to gather talent....even if it's misfitted talent. Then you think about spacing etc.

[ShouldaPaidBG]

Carr is better than Tony Snell right? I’m getting flashbacks with the way some of you guys are describing him

Don't disrespect former All-Mountain West 3rd team member Tony Snell around here, please.

[sco]

I'm worried our roster won't have enough shooting moving forward, ecspecially if we draft Wilson.

It also likely pigeon holds us into looking for additional spacing from our center position, one of the reasons I feel we held onto and started Vuc for so long.

And honestly, there's not really any good options when it comes to floor-spacing centers, but I've decided to rank them anyways


1. Kristap Porzingis - he more exists as a theoretical on-paper option, but once upon a time Porzingis was the model floorspacing/rim-protecting big in the NBA. He's somehow only 31 but various health and injury issues make it seem like he's closer to 40. I have no idea if he'd actually see the floor for us, and if so, what shape he'd be in. But there's an upside play to pursuing Porzingis this summer.

2. John Collins - would be more of a small ball center, but depending how the draft works out, perhaps there's enough length elsewhere on the court to make it work. A 40% 3-point shooter the past two seasons, he also had 83 dunks this past year, which would have led our entire team.

3. Sandro Mamukelashvili - Sandro is a legit floor spacer and shooter who isn't shy about getting shots up. Sandro also had some good advance stats this season in addition to his good shooting.

4. Zach Collins - Only played 10 games this year but shot well and looked good for us in those games. Health issues mean you can't rely too heavily on him but honestly, between the NBA roster and 2-way contracts, you're a fool if your center rotation isn't 4-deep. His previous health concerns should results in an ability to get him on a value contract.


Like I said, not great. But we'll likely need floor spacing from the center position, and these are the best shooting free agent bigs.

I think the first step is to gather talent....even if it's misfitted talent. Then you think about spacing etc.

Agree. Said differently, I'm against putting a multi-year $20M+ deal in place with a C until we have a #1 option in house. Now if we end-up nabbing Peterson or Watson I could come around on a guy like KP (although still prefer MRob).

Back to the list, I'd be more than happy to take a swing on a 1 yr deal for Collins.

[Muzbar]

Carr is better than Tony Snell right? I’m getting flashbacks with the way some of you guys are describing him

Without question.

[drosestruts]

I'm worried our roster won't have enough shooting moving forward, ecspecially if we draft Wilson.

It also likely pigeon holds us into looking for additional spacing from our center position, one of the reasons I feel we held onto and started Vuc for so long.

And honestly, there's not really any good options when it comes to floor-spacing centers, but I've decided to rank them anyways


1. Kristap Porzingis - he more exists as a theoretical on-paper option, but once upon a time Porzingis was the model floorspacing/rim-protecting big in the NBA. He's somehow only 31 but various health and injury issues make it seem like he's closer to 40. I have no idea if he'd actually see the floor for us, and if so, what shape he'd be in. But there's an upside play to pursuing Porzingis this summer.

2. John Collins - would be more of a small ball center, but depending how the draft works out, perhaps there's enough length elsewhere on the court to make it work. A 40% 3-point shooter the past two seasons, he also had 83 dunks this past year, which would have led our entire team.

3. Sandro Mamukelashvili - Sandro is a legit floor spacer and shooter who isn't shy about getting shots up. Sandro also had some good advance stats this season in addition to his good shooting.

4. Zach Collins - Only played 10 games this year but shot well and looked good for us in those games. Health issues mean you can't rely too heavily on him but honestly, between the NBA roster and 2-way contracts, you're a fool if your center rotation isn't 4-deep. His previous health concerns should results in an ability to get him on a value contract.


Like I said, not great. But we'll likely need floor spacing from the center position, and these are the best shooting free agent bigs.

I think the first step is to gather talent....even if it's misfitted talent. Then you think about spacing etc.

Agree. Said differently, I'm against putting a multi-year $20M+ deal in place with a C until we have a #1 option in house. Now if we end-up nabbing Peterson or Watson I could come around on a guy like KP (although still prefer MRob).

Back to the list, I'd be more than happy to take a swing on a 1 yr deal for Collins.

I mostly agree with both of you here.

I wouldn't advocate for spending big money on any of the above mentioned players.

We don't need to go all-in now, but we do need a functional roster that allows key young players the opportunity to develop.

We're hurting a players development if for instance you throw him out there on an ill-fitting rosters with no spacing or playmaking or a bunch of players just looking to go iso.

All issues we've witnessed first hand in recent memory.

I still think the biggest failure of our Dunn, Lavine, Lauri, etc. era roster was the complete lack of a playmaking lead guard.

It was never Dunn nor Cobys nor Zach's game and the team suffered for it over all.

I also really like DeMar DeRozan and enjoy watching him play basketbal;. DeMar is great for being a role model for how players should approach the game and put in work off the court, but on the court I'm not always sure he's the best for players' development. Ecspecially young players.


Guru for instance, I've seen posts advocating for signing Robert Williams 3. I don't think Time Lord is some secreat late blooming all-star, and I think he'd be a bad fit for our roster depending which players we end up drafting

The players above have likely the same impact on winning as Time Lord (likely very little), but would allow for better spacing and a modern play-style on the court for our young guys to develop.

[MGB8]

I hadn’t really looked at Kessler before, so I watched a couple of vids today. If the shoulder checks out, I’m comfortable with the notion of 35 M AAV, or maybe up to the full 25% max, on him (but if full max, might want to limit to 3 years, maybe with a mutual option [player option, but no guaranteed salary] in year 4).

I thought he was just a drop defense big,but the vids showed solid switch ability and I really liked his effort and short area movement. I think he can play uptempo. Coupled with his 9’5 standing reach (though o recorded vert and impressions were that it would be poor) and offensive upside, worth the shot.

I also suspect that the Jazz will draft Boozer. That may make them reluctant to match a big offer to Kessler. It also means either DP or Wilson will fall to the Bulls, and I think it is close to 50/50 and you have to plan for both contingencies.

If Wilson, Giddey defaults to guarding the 2 except when one of Matas or Wilson are out and a Miller or Moa isn’t in (or when both out and Giddey in). At 15, I’d be looking guard - Philon is likely to drop, and possibly Burries or Carr, too. Any would be acceptable. If both Ament and Steinbach aren’t selected higher and the guards are wiped out, I think you try to trade the pick (trade down) or take who you have ranked the highest irrespective of position (even if it causes a logjam, like Ament would) and look to trade them. Yax or Mojo if there I would look to keep. If trading down, I’d look at Evans, Maleek Thomas (a bit less athletic than you would like but upside) - maybe also a few others (Stirtz, maybe Richmond or Yessoufou, along with looking hard at Okorie and Anderson re ability to be big and strong enough to hang).

At 38, BPA regardless of position. Too hard to predict who might be there. Would like a big but BPA would def take priority. Oweh worth a look at 38 if there among the non-bigs.

If Peterson, similar but reversed, looking for a 4 (or 3/4 or 4/5) from 15. If not there, same look to trade down.

With all of that said, if get Kessler and a 4 and 2 (or 2 and 4), would also look to bring Sexton back at about MLE level (also open to Simmons, even Cam Thomas at a Tre Jones level, def Coby or Ayo at MLE - just think Sexton most likely). Not really interested in Peyton Watson over Kessler and only have room for one big contract.

[patryk7754]

If we can trade up to 1 in a reasonable way, this would be a good plan to have arguably the best young core in the NBA

Trade 4, 15, and unprotect 2028 1st for 1.

Draft AJ Dybansta

Sign:
Jalen Duran to the Max 4/177m (42.25m year 1 and hopefully the Pistons don't match)
Peyton Watson: 4/100m
MLE to Ayo

Package Okoro, Dillingham and the remainder of our cap space (roughly a total 25m) for a PF. Best realistic option is probably DeAndre Hunter. Kuminga would be great but I doubt they just dump him.

Giddey/Jones
Watson/Ayo
Dybansta/Noa/Williams
Matas/Hunter/Miller
Duran/Smith

[Primo Movement]

Duren at 42M ?! WTH noooo
Ayo for MLE, dream on..

[Red Larrivee]

We don't have 67M in cap space. We're around 54-55M.

We'd have to dump salary or do a sign and trade for at least one of those to pull it off. And even then....eh.

[ShouldaPaidBG]

Something I just looked at is there doesn't appear to be many center prospects in next year's draft

https://www.nbadraft.net/nba-mock-drafts/?year-mock=2027

[MGB8]

We don't have 67M in cap space. We're around 54-55M.

We'd have to dump salary or do a sign and trade for at least one of those to pull it off. And even then....eh.

We can add 10 million in cap space instantly by waive and stretching Pat…..

but I have no real interest in Duren, certainly as compared to Kessler. No real interest in Watson, either. Do have interest in bringing back one of the many scoring combo guards who were here or are here to a reasonable, MLE type deal.

[HomoSapien]

I'm worried our roster won't have enough shooting moving forward, ecspecially if we draft Wilson.

It also likely pigeon holds us into looking for additional spacing from our center position, one of the reasons I feel we held onto and started Vuc for so long.

And honestly, there's not really any good options when it comes to floor-spacing centers, but I've decided to rank them anyways


1. Kristap Porzingis - he more exists as a theoretical on-paper option, but once upon a time Porzingis was the model floorspacing/rim-protecting big in the NBA. He's somehow only 31 but various health and injury issues make it seem like he's closer to 40. I have no idea if he'd actually see the floor for us, and if so, what shape he'd be in. But there's an upside play to pursuing Porzingis this summer.

2. John Collins - would be more of a small ball center, but depending how the draft works out, perhaps there's enough length elsewhere on the court to make it work. A 40% 3-point shooter the past two seasons, he also had 83 dunks this past year, which would have led our entire team.

3. Sandro Mamukelashvili - Sandro is a legit floor spacer and shooter who isn't shy about getting shots up. Sandro also had some good advance stats this season in addition to his good shooting.

4. Zach Collins - Only played 10 games this year but shot well and looked good for us in those games. Health issues mean you can't rely too heavily on him but honestly, between the NBA roster and 2-way contracts, you're a fool if your center rotation isn't 4-deep. His previous health concerns should results in an ability to get him on a value contract.


Like I said, not great. But we'll likely need floor spacing from the center position, and these are the best shooting free agent bigs.

Good point. Worth noting that Jalen Smith is a fairly good spacer at the 5 too.

[Evil_Headband]

I’m not sure where to put this thought and I don’t want to start a new thread so I’ll put it here. It involves 2-way guys.

When I looked at the list of NCAA underclassmen who are staying in the NBA draft, I noticed that every single one is mocked to go in the first round or, maybe, very early in the second at latest. None of them will be drafted late in the second or go undrafted — what you might expect from 2-way guys. The early entrant international deadline is later so we’ll see if the same thing happens there. I expect we will.

This made me wonder why don’t NBA teams promise some of these fringe underclassmen 2-way contracts if they stay in the draft? That would give the team some control over the player and his development. That seems better than just signing seniors who have games that should be more developed.

I believe the answer to my question is it is not worth it for a player to forgo future NIL money to sign a 2-way NBA contract that isn’t fully guaranteed.

The G-League just isn’t competitive at all with the NCAA. I have often read criticism here and elsewhere about having 2-way guys that lack potential but I’m now wondering if that is even possible. 2-way contracts are a bit of a joke. I can see why teams treat them as emergency players more than players they are truly trying to develop.

[Hangtime84]

I’m seeing Wilson as a Jalen Johnson Point Fwd and here’s how I’d build around him. Need shooting, athletes that will run, and two more shot creators with him. Ideally a stud defensive C that makes the paint a no fly zone and eats up all the rebounds.

Buz fits great as a high volume 3pt shooter that wants to run.

Philon or Carr are good running mates that can shoot play D and run.

Morez is a great C next to Wilson that plays with that same fire and intensity.

Any of these 3 are big additions to Wilson.

FA Watson fits great as a competitive versatile two way and probably a cheap C on a one year deal like Londale. Expecting BG to want another swing next draft before he makes a big trade with his cap space for a player that makes us push for playoffs. Probably one year away from this deadline much like the Jazz trade for JJJ.

Wilson being a point forward would be something to experiment with in summer league. I do think having something like that would open things up, but his playmaking numbers weren't too high in college, although it appeared that was how he was used in highschool minus the time with boozer in AAU.

I want more Matas "build" types on this roster so quite happy about the potential of Noa, Miller, and Wilson. In the wemby era having multiple guys who can defend the rim from the weakside allows flexible schemes.

[drosestruts]

Thankful that the draft is before free agency, who drops to 4 impacts so many of the ideas I have for the offseason

[MikeDC]

Right now, what I'd look for is something like this:

1. If Memphis has any debate and has the choice between Boozer and Wilson, I'd offer a reasonable trade up to get Boozer. He's a tier higher to me. If the Grizzlies can be bought (which they might) I'd offer Something like Noa + taking back KCP to Memphis to move from 3 to 4. We get Boozer and eat the $22M for one year of KCP, they get Wilson and Noa and save $22M.

2. I'd offer the Clippers my unprotected 27 pick, #15, and #38 for #5 and take Acuff. Would also take back Beale and Isaiah Jackson to save them some money.

3. I'd offer to take in #26 Denver ($23M Cam Johnson), #28 Minnesota ($12.5M Donte D), or #30 Dallas (Klay Thompson ~$17M) to get Tarris Reed

4. I'd take Giddey + Johnson/KCP/Beale etc and try to consolidate some of them, but I don't have a clear vision of what that is just yet. One example:
Johnson ($23M) for Lu Dort, Isaiah Joe, and Thomas Sorber or Nikola Topic (~$35M). Thunder will have to make a move something like this.

5. Since Giddey is hurt, I probably don't succeed in the consolidation, but just hold him until he's shown he's healthy and look to move him for a more compatible guy or too (one target off the top of my head would be Trey Murphy)

1- Acuff, Jones, Dillingham
2- Giddey/(Murphy?), Joe, Dort
3- Matas, Okoro
4- Boozer, Miller, Williams
5- Smith, Reed, Sorber, Jackson

========

If it could be done, I think this is the sort of offseason that sets up a dynasty.
1. Acuff and Boozer are a Stockton and Malone pairing.
2. We surround them with shooting (Joe, Smith, Matas) and defense (Dort, Miller) and athletic guys (Jackson, Okoro).
3. Take flyers on guys (Sorber, Jackson, Dillingham) to unexpectedly pop.

[MGB8]

That is an interesting plan. A lot rides on Acuff (and also the Clippers willingness to trade way down for next year's pick and savings) and C remains weak but def worth considering.

But everything would have to be arranged ahead.

[MikeDC]

That is an interesting plan. A lot rides on Acuff (and also the Clippers willingness to trade way down for next year's pick and savings) and C remains weak but def worth considering.

But everything would have to be arranged ahead.

I'm trying to think it through, but I'd probably just do the rest of the stuff if stayed at 4 and drafted Wilson.

I see him a lot differently than most people, I think, and picture him more as, maybe, a big Jimmy Butler or Jaylen Brown if he pans out than Bosh or KG type guy most people see. That's much more in line with his game and physical size (weight and wingspan especially).

In some ways, that's still a good fit with Acuff, because Acuff is unusually good at moving and shooting off the ball. Could still be an awesome fit.

But we'd have to re-orient the 4-5 spots to bring a lot more size and defense I think.