Teambuilding: How do you want to do it

[Dan Z]

Why will the Bulls get a first round pick + additional assets in your examples? Are you suggesting that the Clippers or Jazz trade picks/assets/Sexton or Powell for Coby?

I was thinking of getting them as free agents. We'd trade Coby for matching salary plus assets and address any scoring issue at a later date. Volume scoring is important, but one-way volume scorers are readily available.

I'm not asking for as much as others are here.

Norm Powell + OKC's 2025 FRP (#30)

CJ McCollum + NOP's 2026 FRP

Fine deals to me, I'd prefer more picks, but this team isn't going to tank, so that's not realistic.

Ah okay. You're saying that the Bulls trade Coby for picks and then sign one of those players. Do the Bulls even have cap space?

[Stratmaster]

Fire Billy Donovan and get rid of Williams...or DNP him. Then get back to me. None of the rest matters until those 2 things happen.

[PJSteven22]

I'm not that high on Coby. I don't need a positional upgrade to trade him, I'd be fine with a first-round pick plus assets. Volume scoring guards that don't defend or playmake at an above-average level aren't huge difference makers and tend to be overvalued by fans, at least IMO.

I don't think having Coby signed to a market-rate contract helps his value much. Maybe it's just me, but I wouldn't give up two firsts for Tyler Herro at 30M AAV, and I have a similar mindset about Coby. I think there are better, cost-effective options out there.

Examples?

Norm Powell and Sexton stand out among the 2026 free agents, and Donte DiVincenzo is a similarly paid option with worse offense and better defense. Powell's age might keep his value low, Donte shouldn't cost that much, and Sexton has to deal with Ainge's tank shenanigans.

Spoiler:

Just an example, but if the Wolves were to offer DDV, Detroit's 2025 FRP (#17), and Terrence Shannon for Coby. I'd take this deal.

Ultimately, my mindset is that volume scoring guards that don't defend or pass at a high level aren't keepers. Zach fit the bill, and Coby replaced his offensive production at a third of the price. Coby improved, but what is the upside in these players? How many of them become anything other than fringe All-Stars? Kyrie comes to mind, but he's quite gifted as a scorer, and there's Jamal Murray, who isn't too popular right now.

Yeah I’d can understand that. He’s not a Booker/Edwards/Kyrie level scorer. It’s probably best to shop him.

[Sinistar6]

I want Lamelo to force a trade and play with his brother. Let’s go Ball brothers!! take over the Chi! Let Bron and Bonnie be LA, since New York stole homegrown talent from Chicago we steal from LA!!!!! Go Big Ballers!!

[prolific passer]

Offer Vuc, Coby, and portland pick for Zion and higher Budenholzer or Malone as the hc.
Collins
Zion
Matas
Ayo
Giddy
Smith
Pat (unless you trade him)
Phillips
Huerter
Lonzo

Budenholzer or Malone as the hc.

Just a pipe dream with this front office though.

[Jcool0]

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[Jcool0]

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[Jcool0]

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[Guru]

This should be an easy offseason
1. Trade Vuc for whatever
2. Draft BPA
3. Re-sign Giddey
4. You can't re-sign White yet to anything he would take so you see how he plays next season and then maybe trade him
5. You want Tre Jones back but thats probably a pipe dream
6. You start out with

1 Giddey-Ball
2 White-Terry
3 Ayo-Huerter-Phillips
4 Buz-Williams
5 Collins-Smith

Gone-Vuc, THT, Tre Jones, Carter somehow, hopefully a buyout.

Add the draft pick, add the 2nd round pick, add whatever it is you get for Vuc.

The only big questions are
1. How much for Giddey
2. What do we get for Vuc
3. Is there a possibility that we try to get a Big name to add to the mix through Draft picks/Vets.

[sco]

This should be an easy offseason
1. Trade Vuc for whatever
2. Draft BPA
3. Re-sign Giddey
4. You can't re-sign White yet to anything he would take so you see how he plays next season and then maybe trade him
5. You want Tre Jones back but thats probably a pipe dream
6. You start out with

1 Giddey-Ball
2 White-Terry
3 Ayo-Huerter-Phillips
4 Buz-Williams
5 Collins-Smith

Gone-Vuc, THT, Tre Jones, Carter somehow, hopefully a buyout.

Add the draft pick, add the 2nd round pick, add whatever it is you get for Vuc.

The only big questions are
1. How much for Giddey
2. What do we get for Vuc
3. Is there a possibility that we try to get a Big name to add to the mix through Draft picks/Vets.

Generally agree. A few thoughts.
1) I am struggling to see how we are able to trade Vuc given his cost, age, flaws. Our only hope, IMO, was GS, and I think they no longer have the contracts to match.
4) I certainly try to trade him if anyone (ORL?) would offer 2 1sts.
5) I place an even higher value on Jones now given our playin performance. His ability to defend and get his own shot are needed. I think he may come at an doable price as his "good" run with us was brief, ending in injury...may keep him off the radar of teams.

[kodo]

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So basically, run it back.

[Dan Z]

Okay. Let's try this again. I didn't say make a trade every year to get another teams picks. For instance we do a trade right now with Coby and get two firsts. Now we have two firsts. We trade down in this draft and pick up an extra first. Now we have three firsts. We trade our 2027 pick to somebody for their 2028 pick in a Vucevic trade. We've picked up and swapped a lot of firsts already. We can use our own firsts in trade. The idea is to believe in your own team to get better every year more than other teams and stack picks from other teams. Plan to win deals instead of losing them. There are teams swapping tons of picks every single year, the whole it doesn't happen often is just old. It happens when GM's make it happen. Jazz had tons of picks. Spurs had multiple picks. Nets have tons of picks. Suns picked up 3 for 1. We can do it too.

Sure the Bulls could trade Coby for picks and maybe get a pick by trading down, but I'm not sure about the other part of your idea. A team will trade an unknown 2027 pick for an unknown 2028 pick?

Yes, teams trade picks all the time. The reason why Utah has extra picks is because they traded Mitchell and Gobert for them. The Spurs traded Dejounte Murray for picks and made other moves such as Dillingham for a future pick, S&T DDR for a pick, etc. OKC got picks by trading Paul George and Chris Paul. Over the years they've also taken on bad contracts in order to draft picks in the process.

The Bulls could try to do that, but don't have a Murray, Mitchell or Gobert unless you're counting Coby as one. I doubt he has the same value as those three did (at the time they were traded...I guess you could make an argument for Murray, but I'm not sure I'd agree). They could also take on bad contracts to acquire picks too. However, AK doesn't seem interested in picks and I don't see him doing any of this.

This was more a long-term plan, long term guidelines. Coby was an example. The Bulls right now? Keep this year's pick. I think the Bulls with Coby, Giddey, Matas, 2025 rookie and a star/superstar is really a solid core. This season if the right star becomes available, it's the perfect time to pounce for several reasons. We'll have already re-signed Giddey, Matas and 2025 rookie are on the rookie scale and Coby's still at $12 mill. Perfectly prepared to trade the 2027 pick and 2029 pick to get that player. We have expiring contracts plus Pat, enough to take a huge contract. We can fill out the roster then re-sign Coby over the cap. Perfectly fine paying tax for that team.

Not a lot of players to choose from to target, especially before knowing who we draft this year. Who's a superstar who's available at all and makes sense? Zion. Would take a shot at KD if it didn't cost too much. I'm testing the waters and starting conversations about Giannis quietly with the GM. But never thought Luka would be traded and the Heat started the season saying they weren't trading Butler. We talk about getting a number 1, who are the true number 1's in the league? Jokic, Luka, Giannis, Lebron, Steph, mitchell, Leonard, SGA. Most are too old and/or completely unavailable.

I think I'd try to take a serious shot at Anthony Edwards. Fine sending Coby out in that trade, I'm sure they say no, but I'm in their ear so much if they even think about it, I'm the first call. As long as I keep Giddey and Matas, we'll work the rest out. We have a strong trade relationship with them and he could demand out at some point. Maybe as soon as this year.

I was thinking about your plan when it comes to draft picks and then the Kings (because they lost last night). It's a shame that the Bulls didn't keep the 2031 pick swap (while taking Barnes in the process). That fits your idea, but AK wasn't interested in it.

[Infinity2152]

Sure the Bulls could trade Coby for picks and maybe get a pick by trading down, but I'm not sure about the other part of your idea. A team will trade an unknown 2027 pick for an unknown 2028 pick?

Yes, teams trade picks all the time. The reason why Utah has extra picks is because they traded Mitchell and Gobert for them. The Spurs traded Dejounte Murray for picks and made other moves such as Dillingham for a future pick, S&T DDR for a pick, etc. OKC got picks by trading Paul George and Chris Paul. Over the years they've also taken on bad contracts in order to draft picks in the process.

The Bulls could try to do that, but don't have a Murray, Mitchell or Gobert unless you're counting Coby as one. I doubt he has the same value as those three did (at the time they were traded...I guess you could make an argument for Murray, but I'm not sure I'd agree). They could also take on bad contracts to acquire picks too. However, AK doesn't seem interested in picks and I don't see him doing any of this.

This was more a long-term plan, long term guidelines. Coby was an example. The Bulls right now? Keep this year's pick. I think the Bulls with Coby, Giddey, Matas, 2025 rookie and a star/superstar is really a solid core. This season if the right star becomes available, it's the perfect time to pounce for several reasons. We'll have already re-signed Giddey, Matas and 2025 rookie are on the rookie scale and Coby's still at $12 mill. Perfectly prepared to trade the 2027 pick and 2029 pick to get that player. We have expiring contracts plus Pat, enough to take a huge contract. We can fill out the roster then re-sign Coby over the cap. Perfectly fine paying tax for that team.

Not a lot of players to choose from to target, especially before knowing who we draft this year. Who's a superstar who's available at all and makes sense? Zion. Would take a shot at KD if it didn't cost too much. I'm testing the waters and starting conversations about Giannis quietly with the GM. But never thought Luka would be traded and the Heat started the season saying they weren't trading Butler. We talk about getting a number 1, who are the true number 1's in the league? Jokic, Luka, Giannis, Lebron, Steph, mitchell, Leonard, SGA. Most are too old and/or completely unavailable.

I think I'd try to take a serious shot at Anthony Edwards. Fine sending Coby out in that trade, I'm sure they say no, but I'm in their ear so much if they even think about it, I'm the first call. As long as I keep Giddey and Matas, we'll work the rest out. We have a strong trade relationship with them and he could demand out at some point. Maybe as soon as this year.

I was thinking about your plan when it comes to draft picks and then the Kings (because they lost last night). It's a shame that the Bulls didn't keep the 2031 pick swap (while taking Barnes in the process). That fits your idea, but AK wasn't interested in it.

Exactly. Bulls have a ton flexibility with all these expiring contracts and all our own picks. We have more than enough picks to trade for most stars. Why I'm hesitant to make moves without a great return.

Like say we move Vuc this summer for two bum expiring players and 2 seconds. Then a star becomes available. We still have $20 mill expiring going out, but they're bums. Vucevic on the other hand, a team could realistically plan to re-sign him, so his value in trade is likely to be higher than those two bums plus those seconds. A lot of the league sees Vuc's 19pts, 10 rb, 3.5 assts 40% from three and would take him as a piece in a star trade, especially expiring. Of course it's been harder to move him in a straight $20 mill salary swap. Think about how bad Collins looked before he got here. Much worse than Vuc, he makes almost as much and wasn't expiring and we took him in a star trade.

People's opinions differ on this, I don't believe there's any way an expiring unrestricted free agent Coby at only $12 mill is worth as much as a market rate re-signed Coby for 4 years. One is a rental, the other a long-term piece. Especially in a star trade, not going to care much about $12 mill expiring when trading a star. I think his trade value increases if we trade him in 2026 rather than 2025. Worst case, we might be able to get a first in a sign and trade next summer. If I trade him this year it's probably in a star trade, his $12 mill contract fits nicely with the huge expirings of Collins, Vucevic, Huerter and his trade value is higher than either. The pieces we get back in a straight Coby trade may not be as attractive trade pieces.

Re-sign Giddey, draft our rookie, contact every team with a star we'd be interested in and let them know, if they even think about trading their guy, call us first, business is open. Matas looked great last night, we might be closer than we think.

Wouldn't give up on Patrick Williams. Time to devote some time, money and resources to getting him better. Build that asset up. There are other teams that have guys they are just as down on as we are on Pat. Guys like Bol Bol, who never get on the court. Maybe SA is ready to get rid of Harrison Barnes and take a chance they can rehab Pat. Two older useful vets for $16-18 mill total with shorter contracts. Or use in that star trade.

[Dan Z]

This was more a long-term plan, long term guidelines. Coby was an example. The Bulls right now? Keep this year's pick. I think the Bulls with Coby, Giddey, Matas, 2025 rookie and a star/superstar is really a solid core. This season if the right star becomes available, it's the perfect time to pounce for several reasons. We'll have already re-signed Giddey, Matas and 2025 rookie are on the rookie scale and Coby's still at $12 mill. Perfectly prepared to trade the 2027 pick and 2029 pick to get that player. We have expiring contracts plus Pat, enough to take a huge contract. We can fill out the roster then re-sign Coby over the cap. Perfectly fine paying tax for that team.

Not a lot of players to choose from to target, especially before knowing who we draft this year. Who's a superstar who's available at all and makes sense? Zion. Would take a shot at KD if it didn't cost too much. I'm testing the waters and starting conversations about Giannis quietly with the GM. But never thought Luka would be traded and the Heat started the season saying they weren't trading Butler. We talk about getting a number 1, who are the true number 1's in the league? Jokic, Luka, Giannis, Lebron, Steph, mitchell, Leonard, SGA. Most are too old and/or completely unavailable.

I think I'd try to take a serious shot at Anthony Edwards. Fine sending Coby out in that trade, I'm sure they say no, but I'm in their ear so much if they even think about it, I'm the first call. As long as I keep Giddey and Matas, we'll work the rest out. We have a strong trade relationship with them and he could demand out at some point. Maybe as soon as this year.

I was thinking about your plan when it comes to draft picks and then the Kings (because they lost last night). It's a shame that the Bulls didn't keep the 2031 pick swap (while taking Barnes in the process). That fits your idea, but AK wasn't interested in it.

Exactly. Bulls have a ton flexibility with all these expiring contracts and all our own picks. We have more than enough picks to trade for most stars. Why I'm hesitant to make moves without a great return.

Like say we move Vuc this summer for two bum expiring players and 2 seconds. Then a star becomes available. We still have $20 mill expiring going out, but they're bums. Vucevic on the other hand, a team could realistically plan to re-sign him, so his value in trade is likely to be higher than those two bums plus those seconds. A lot of the league sees Vuc's 19pts, 10 rb, 3.5 assts 40% from three and would take him as a piece in a star trade, especially expiring. Of course it's been harder to move him in a straight $20 mill salary swap. Think about how bad Collins looked before he got here. Much worse than Vuc, he makes almost as much and wasn't expiring and we took him in a star trade.

People's opinions differ on this, I don't believe there's any way an expiring unrestricted free agent Coby at only $12 mill is worth as much as a market rate re-signed Coby for 4 years. One is a rental, the other a long-term piece. Especially in a star trade, not going to care much about $12 mill expiring when trading a star. I think his trade value increases if we trade him in 2026 rather than 2025. Worst case, we might be able to get a first in a sign and trade next summer. If I trade him this year it's probably in a star trade, his $12 mill contract fits nicely with the huge expirings of Collins, Vucevic, Huerter and his trade value is higher than either. The pieces we get back in a straight Coby trade may not be as attractive trade pieces.

Re-sign Giddey, draft our rookie, contact every team with a star we'd be interested in and let them know, if they even think about trading their guy, call us first, business is open. Matas looked great last night, we might be closer than we think.

Wouldn't give up on Patrick Williams. Time to devote some time, money and resources to getting him better. Build that asset up. There are other teams that have guys they are just as down on as we are on Pat. Guys like Bol Bol, who never get on the court. Maybe SA is ready to get rid of Harrison Barnes and take a chance they can rehab Pat. Two older useful vets for $16-18 mill total with shorter contracts. Or use in that star trade.

I'm not sure if there's a star who will realistically be available and someone the Bulls should go after. Zion? Too injury prone. Durant? Too old and too costly. Paul George? Is he washed up or will he improve next year?

As for Coby the reason why he'd be more valuable now is because the team trading for him gets a year to see how he fits before re-signing him. At least that's the idea. The other thing is if he's traded after getting a contract extension the team trading for him needs to match his new salary (whatever number that is). The Bulls also have to wait for a period of time before they can trade him (because of the new extension).

I agree with you about Patrick Williams and think the Bulls are basically stuck with him (unfortunately).

[+2number4+]

I lean toward building infrastructure first: dev staff, analytics, cap fluency. Stay flexible until a real top option shakes loose; rushing the name move wrecks timelines. With my rec club and a startup, spending outside the cap on coaches and data beat chasing one star. Stagger ages and contracts, use swaps when value tilts your way, and sell high before extensions.

For culture and onboarding, we ran mission-based competitions with the GooseChase platform. Quick to set up, the live feed and simple codes kept everyone engaged and gave us clean participation stats.

[LateNight]

I lean toward building infrastructure first: dev staff, analytics, cap fluency. Stay flexible until a real top option shakes loose; rushing the name move wrecks timelines. With my rec club and a startup, spending outside the cap on coaches and data beat chasing one star. Stagger ages and contracts, use swaps when value tilts your way, and sell high before extensions.

For culture and onboarding, we ran mission-based competitions with the GooseChase platform. Quick to set up, the live feed and simple codes kept everyone engaged and gave us clean participation stats.

Do posts like this really help their SEO enough to justify the time commitment on your end?

[MikeDC]

General orders:
1. Build development and analytics staffs.
2. Aim to pay everyone at the low end of fair on longer term deals. Be sure you are comfortable with anything beyond two years. A team in the Bulls position shouldn't be overpaying for anyone. No contracts based on speculation, hope, loyalty, etc.
3. Don't waste money on backups

More specifically. If this team with Giddey is going to amount to anything, what they really need is the next Kellil Ware, Porzingis, or Myles Turner type of guy who can defend but still shoot. Obviously JJJ or Bam would also be good sorts of fits.

Without this guy, I don't think Giddey works. My vision the best case with him would be something like "take the current Miami Heat's three best guys and the Bulls 3 best guys, and you'd have

Ware
Bam
Giddey
Buzelis
Herro
White

That seems about the best case scenario, although I think the real best case scenario is turning White or Herro into a guy with more defensive potential like Desmond Bane

I think there's potential for Essengue to become one of those high level players. Also, I think he's less of a project than people imagine in the sense that, like Matis, I think it'll be possible to work him into a useful role pretty soon. People undersell non-NCAA guys too much still. Matis and Essengue played a lot more minute against a lot better competition than, for example, Pat Williams did.

[sco]

General orders:
1. Build development and analytics staffs.
2. Aim to pay everyone at the low end of fair on longer term deals. Be sure you are comfortable with anything beyond two years. A team in the Bulls position shouldn't be overpaying for anyone. No contracts based on speculation, hope, loyalty, etc.
3. Don't waste money on backups

More specifically. If this team with Giddey is going to amount to anything, what they really need is the next Kellil Ware, Porzingis, or Myles Turner type of guy who can defend but still shoot. Obviously JJJ or Bam would also be good sorts of fits.

Without this guy, I don't think Giddey works. My vision the best case with him would be something like "take the current Miami Heat's three best guys and the Bulls 3 best guys, and you'd have

Ware
Bam
Giddey
Buzelis
Herro
White

That seems about the best case scenario, although I think the real best case scenario is turning White or Herro into a guy with more defensive potential like Desmond Bane

I think there's potential for Essengue to become one of those high level players. Also, I think he's less of a project than people imagine in the sense that, like Matis, I think it'll be possible to work him into a useful role pretty soon. People undersell non-NCAA guys too much still. Matis and Essengue played a lot more minute against a lot better competition than, for example, Pat Williams did.

Yeah, I'm generally with you.

But I think if they keep Giddey, they need to make a big swing for a legit #1 (should one become available). They'll lose a ton of expiring after the season and a deal will become much harder. I would encourage them to trade Coby at that time (either as part of that deal or in a separate one). They can throw a bunch of picks on the table. If they have enough left, going after a defensive/rim-running C is a great idea.

I have no idea as to Noa. He could be a Phillips type guy or a Matas type guy...the latter would be great!

[MikeDC]

[But I think if they keep Giddey, they need to make a big swing for a legit #1 (should one become available)

What are even hypothetical #1 options that we'd want to pair with Giddey? Go through all the current best players and just imagine which ones would actually fit well with Giddey. You need someone that doesn't hold the ball too much, and that rules out all the best players. Like, if you have Shai or Mitchell or Luka or Giannis or Curry, there's not a lot of sense in having Giddey at all.

The only really narrow slice of guys would have the archetype of KD.

I think guys like Tatum or Wemby would overall be good fits, but I don't think they are truly even "#1 scoring option". They're amazing all around players, but I think their pure offensive firepower is obviously a tier below SGA, Giannis, Jokic, Luka, Ant type guys.

So basically, to have a fighting chance, we'd need a KD or Tatum or Wemby level player. Not just a #1, but a #1 who is also in the tiny subset of #1s who aren't completely ball dominant. That's asking for a lot.

[League Circles]

[But I think if they keep Giddey, they need to make a big swing for a legit #1 (should one become available)

What are even hypothetical #1 options that we'd want to pair with Giddey? Go through all the current best players and just imagine which ones would actually fit well with Giddey. You need someone that doesn't hold the ball too much, and that rules out all the best players. Like, if you have Shai or Mitchell or Luka or Giannis or Curry, there's not a lot of sense in having Giddey at all.

The only really narrow slice of guys would have the archetype of KD.

I think guys like Tatum or Wemby would overall be good fits, but I don't think they are truly even "#1 scoring option". They're amazing all around players, but I think their pure offensive firepower is obviously a tier below SGA, Giannis, Jokic, Luka, Ant type guys.

So basically, to have a fighting chance, we'd need a KD or Tatum or Wemby level player. Not just a #1, but a #1 who is also in the tiny subset of #1s who aren't completely ball dominant. That's asking for a lot.

IMO the point and benefit of Giddey is that we may actually be able to build a good playoff team with him without any clear #1 guy. I mean RIP Hamilton was an nba champion "#1 option" FWIW.