Building the Bulls 2026-2027 Season

[kodo]

Where are people at with Okoro, he's the one guy nobody ever talks about.
Next year at $11.8M. Age 25.
9.1 ppg 2.7 rpg 1.6 apg 46% FG / 34% 3P

Stay Starter next year?
Resign after next year?

[leo921]

My dream offseason is the following:

My assumptions are Bulls have the 1st pick, Port makes the playoffs 16th pick, 33 rd pick.

1st pick I would want AJ Dybantsa 6-9, 6-11 wingspan two way wing. Think he can be a game changing wing along the lines of a
Jaylen Brown/Kawhi Leonard/Tatum type. AJ/Matas would be a monster young core that can make the Bulls revelant again.

Can create a shot nearly at will. Effective jab step and quick crossover, stays low and good burst with the ball. Can be shifty with a lot of wiggle with his dribble. Changes his speed well with the ball. Gets to the rim off the dribble in the half-court and isn’t reliant on triple threat. Operates well in tight spaces … Natural IQ. Can dissect the game, facilitating well in the half-court as well as transition. Sees the floor well, doesn’t have tunnel vision and knows his options as a passer. Reads and reacts with good instincts and doesn’t predetermine his decisions with the ball. Passes well out of drives and mid-attack with either hand. Keeps turnovers low, especially for his usage.

16th pick I would take Carr (6-5 SG, 6-10 wingspan 3 and D guy) There are some possible guys that can be interesting in the 2nd round as well.

Free Agency

Renouncing everyone's cap holds give us ~70 million to spend. Stretching and waiving Patrick adds an additional $11 million to that, to give us ~80 million to spend before hitting the salary cap.

Tari Eason (RFA), G/Wing, 24 years old - 4 years $100 million - Efficient scorer with good size and still only 24 years old. 25-27m per year range, Eason/AJ/Matas would create a fun uptempo 2/3/4 grouping who can create havoc on the defense end as both can create blocks and steals.

Mitchell Robinson/Hartstein/Mark Williams - Bulls need a high level rebounder, shotblocker, lob threat on the roster. Hartstein would be my ideal choice but he has a team option, if OKC lets him go we should pick him up. Williams has had a good year for Suns but they can't afford to keep him but he would be a solid choice to fill that role. I like Robinson but he is injury prone and have to load manage him.

Nick Richards, C, 28 years old - 1 year minimum salary - I've liked what I've seen from him so far. Brings good energy and protects the rim, perfectly acceptable 3rd/4th big.

Final Roster

PG: Giddey - Jones -Dillingham
SG: Eason - Carr
SF: AJ - Noa - Okoro
PF: Matas - Smith - Noa - Miller
C: Hartstein - Richards

Young uptempo team that can create mismatches, is deep, young and improving moving forward. Overwhealm with size defense and shooting.

[Primo Movement]

If we get super lucky and get top 3 pick and we draft Dybantsa or Boozer, you dont sign a guy like Eason for SG spot lol.. he is pure SF/PF guy at this stage! Also that lineup would be joyride for smaller SG guards and PG to blew past Giddey and Eason in backcourt.

Also Matas stays as SF, Dybantsa is clearly PF among them two.

As you lucked in draft, we can then easily spend more on starting & backup SG and starting C.

Kessler and Duren will be super hard to get and I dont think we should spent over 35M for those guys and even that is very likely matched by Utah and especially Detroit.
More likely we get Hartenstein or M.Williams which should be still pretty good.

SG top free agents (no, Watson aint SG and Eason aint either) group aint that great this year, so I would still try to get Ayo and Grimes, two good defenders, capable offensive guys, good fits next to Giddey, instead of throwing huge money at some bad defender misfit.

I posted few versions of possible roster already, with Dybantsa as our pick and Hartenstein as FA C pick up, if roster looks like this to start season : happy days

Giddey, Ayo, Buzelis, Dybantsa, Hartenstein
Jones, Okoro, Grimes, Smith, Bidunga/Veesaar as #33
Sign one more vet shooter for bench
x - Dillingham, Williams, Essengue, Olbrich

And MOST important thing, I hope we clean the house and do a reset in offices and on bench, AK, ME and both Billy's gone.

[burlydee]

The Bulls need a top 20 player. The best and easiest path to that player is to win the lottery. Right now I'd rank the prospects - 1. AJ 2. Petersen 3. Boozer 4. Caleb. But that is all subject to change. In the event the Bulls win the lottery, more paths open up. But needless to say I think they should be targeting young vets on short deals and obtaining more draft picks to accumulate players around their top guy.

If the Bulls can't get a top pick, then I think they have to dive into free agency. I'm all for renouncing everyone. There isn't a guy under RFA or contract the Bulls should be holding out cap holds for. After that, the Bulls have to overpay in free agency and/or be willing to take on an overpaid superstar.

Free agents the Bulls could splurge on -

1. Austin Reeves - the Bulls should just offer him the max offer sheet. Does he want to be 2nd fiddle to Luka? He looks like loves LA but he would have his own team in Chicago.
2. Tari Eason - A good 2 way complement to the current roster who perhaps could be even more impactful in a bigger role. I'm worried his ceiling isn't that high though.
3. Peyton Watson - I'm not as high on him as some here, but he's a young wing on the come up and Denver doesn't seem like they can afford to keep him and Cam.
4. Kessler - I think its more likely Kessler is traded than Duren, so Kessler is my choice here. I don't love his fit on the Bulls - but he's an obvious talent at center.
5. Lu Dort - OKC can't keep everyone. The dirty bastard is the type of defensive 3 and D specialist that helps transform a very soft team.

I'm not a Hartenstein guy. Not for the Bulls. His skills are wasted on a team that basically can't score in the halfcourt.

The Bulls HAVE to get one of these guys. AK has basically staked his Bulls future on it by trading Ayo and Coby. They have to bring in something better than they sent out or ownership HAS to take notice.

The other possibility is trade. I can see the Bulls trying to add that signature piece by taking on someone else's problem. That is essentially what they did with Derozan and Vuc. Two guys stand out for the Bulls in that regard - Ja Morant and KAT. Ja is cheap. The Bulls are desperate. I think they could be even more desperate if they don't get a top 4 pick. I like the talent at 7-9 but its hard to see how another middling pick does anything for AK's job security. Adding a rejuvenated JA could. Kat is a guy NY wants to seem to want to move off of. The Bulls are the type of team where KAT makes some sense. The Bulls need a guy who can score 22 a night on a consistent basis. He needs a place that will tolerate his goofiness.

If I were the Bulls I would tank. Take on bad contracts for picks. AK has hollowed out the team to the point where it is hard to see 1 or 2 moves making a difference. But I think the pressure has to be on, so I think they will be very aggressive in free agency and trades, and throw a lot of money at someone(s) main piece or problem child.

[Primo Movement]

Dort would be great guy to get, awesome 3 & D guy.

Reaves hell no, especially for max money

[Jcool0]

My dream offseason is the following:

Final Roster

PG: Giddey - Jones -Dillingham
SG: Eason - Carr
SF: AJ - Noa - Okoro
PF: Matas - Smith - Noa - Miller
C: Hartstein - Richards

Young uptempo team that can create mismatches, is deep, young and improving moving forward. Overwhealm with size defense and shooting.

Your dream off season puts Matas at the 4? I mean that is an awful idea.

[MikeDC]

Mostly, our hopes seem to come down to getting lucking in the lottery. If I just look at who we are mocked to take its

1- Jones, Acuff
2-
2/3- Okoro
3/4- Matas, Giddey, Noa
4/3 Pat
4/5- Smith, Veesaar
5-

To me, this is a completely hopeless roster. Our two best players play the same position defensively. No real star power. No half-court, playoff friendly offense. It's basically an expansion team.

I would start with trading Giddey, but I think even beyond the fact that AKME wouldn't, that's as difficult to predict the return as lucking into the top 4. I would try, in rough order:
1. Giddey + cap space for Banchero and Goga (would include Noa and/or Dillingham if it made a difference to the Magic)
2. Giddey + cap space for Maluach and Jalen Green and a future pick
3. ???

But, again, if that doesn't happen, and I'm under orders not to tank, I'd do:

1. Offer seconds or a pretend first and cap space for 1- Missi, 2- Goga. Jones if they want Jones.
2. Sign Mamu for a similar deal to what we signed Jones for last summer 2yrears + TO
3. Offer everything else equally to Tari Eason and Peyton Watson
4. Still be looking to move off Giddey
5. Would be fine with Zach Collins and Ivey on low risk (TO for year 2) contracts

1- Acuff?
2- Ivey
2/3- Watson, Okoro
3/4- Matas, Giddey, Noa
4/3- Eason, Pat
4/5- Smith, Veesaar
5- Goga, Mamu, Collins

[burlydee]

Dort would be great guy to get, awesome 3 & D guy.

Reaves hell no, especially for max money

Given the current roster I think the Bulls have to prioritize talent. Thats why I think they have to at least consider Reaves.

Mathurin is another young wing I think the Bulls should consider breaking the bank for. I like him better than Watson. They are just going to have to overpay for someone.

[sco]

Where are people at with Okoro, he's the one guy nobody ever talks about.
Next year at $11.8M. Age 25.
9.1 ppg 2.7 rpg 1.6 apg 46% FG / 34% 3P

Stay Starter next year?
Resign after next year?

I think Okoro is a good POA defender 1-3. He's an effort guy on both ends. Offensively, he's a good 5th option player in that he makes opportunistic plays and often makes shots when left alone.

If he netted us a 1st in a trade, I'd take it, but I don't see that happening. I am happy to keep him next year.

I am fine if he is our designated POA defender with the starters, but we really need a good #1 scoring option, and if we got that guy and it bumped him to the bench, I'd be fine with that.

[burlydee]

The perfect realistic offseason.

Land a top 4 pick. Draft AJ Dysbanta.
Land #15 pick from Portland. Paul Nnogba
Land #33 pick. Take Isaiah Evans

Roster

Giddey / Jones / Dilly
Okoro / Evans
Matas / Williams/
Dysbanta / Essengue
Smith / Nnogba

70-82 million to spend in free agency.

$30 million to Kessler. $25 million to Watson. $10 million to Simons. $5 million to Richards.

Final roster

Giddey / Jones / Dilly
Watson / Okoro / Simons
Matas / Williams / Evans
AJ / Smith / Essengue
Kessler / Nnogba / Richard

[burlydee]

Alternative version. Petersen -

The perfect realistic offseason.

Land a top 4 pick. Draft Darryn Peterson
Land #15 pick from Portland. Nnogba
Land #33 pick. Take Evans

Roster

Giddey / Jones / Dilly
Peterson / Okoro /
Matas / Williams / Evans
??? / Essengue
Smith / Nnogba

70-82 million to spend in free agency.

$30 million to Kessler. $25 million to Eason. $10 million to Simons. $5 million to Richards.

Final roster

Giddey / Jones / Dilly
Petersen / Okoro / Simons
Matas / Williams / Evans
Eason / Smith / Essengue
Kessler / Nnogba / Richard

[Chi town]

Where are people at with Okoro, he's the one guy nobody ever talks about.
Next year at $11.8M. Age 25.
9.1 ppg 2.7 rpg 1.6 apg 46% FG / 34% 3P

Stay Starter next year?
Resign after next year?

Trade. Take a gamble on a higher upside player with his mins.

[ChiTownHero1992]

Where are people at with Okoro, he's the one guy nobody ever talks about.
Next year at $11.8M. Age 25.
9.1 ppg 2.7 rpg 1.6 apg 46% FG / 34% 3P

Stay Starter next year?
Resign after next year?

Okoro to me reminds me of a Nocioni or Taj Gibson type, can get by with him starting but he is not a great starter just a roleplayer...I dont mind bringing him back on a cheap deal but if some other team wants to pay him then you just let them do that. I see him more as a valuable 6/7th guy on a championship level team but if you want him as a long term starter...not sure that team is winning.

[Guru]

I don't think next year will be a tank year, but the more I think about it, I think it will be a development year. Wins and losses won't be as important as player development.

I think they will go all in and be able to sign Peyton Watson. I think he fits next to Giddey perfectly, and they will install him between Giddey and Mattas. He will be the priority, and unless we get in the top 4 picks, he is coming. The Nuggets can't pay him, and we have created this offseason for a player like him.

There was mention that we were interested in Easo,n but I think he mimics what we have in Matass and Noa too much, so I am surprised.The team loves Okoro and Jones and wants to see what they have in Dillingham. They will learn their lesson from this trade deadline when they stacked too many guards to give him breathing room.

That will leave us
1 Giddey-Jones
2 Watson-Dillingham
3 Matass-Okoro
4
5

Noa and Smith will take up 2/4 of the post positions but I think they will try to get at least one post player with the draft...unless they get into the top 4.

I will always love Yaxel and what he can do all around. That would be my choice despite age. I actually wouldn't hate going 2 Michigan guys if we get the Portland pick and Mara was there. Or Yaxel and Quantance if he continues to drop.

I wouldn't be mad at all for a year where we start out with
Giddey-Jones
2 Watson-Dillingham
3 Matass-Okoro
4 Noa-Draft Pick
5 Smith-Draft Pick

Smith can play PF or C. Noa might not be ready, but that's not the point of the season.

Then the other 5 are Pwill a re-signed Yabu who can play small ball 5 or rotate in at the 4. An early 2nd round guard in a deeeeeeep guard draft. Ivey on a Lonzo Ballesque 2 year deal. Probably a flyer with a young Center. Maybe a Jaxson Hayes

1 Giddey-Jones-DP
2 Watson-Dillingham-Ivey
3 Matass-Okoro-Pwill
4 Noa-Draft Pick-Yabu
5 Smith-Draft Pick-Hayes

[Guru]

Where are people at with Okoro, he's the one guy nobody ever talks about.
Next year at $11.8M. Age 25.
9.1 ppg 2.7 rpg 1.6 apg 46% FG / 34% 3P

Stay Starter next year?
Resign after next year?

Okoro to me reminds me of a Nocioni or Taj Gibson type, can get by with him starting but he is not a great starter just a roleplayer...I dont mind bringing him back on a cheap deal but if some other team wants to pay him then you just let them do that. I see him more as a valuable 6/7th guy on a championship level team but if you want him as a long term starter...not sure that team is winning.

Okoro is a choose your own adventure player. He helps enough and can impact the game enough that if you are playing well at the deadline you probably don't trade him. If you aren't playing well you can dangle him and if you get enough you trade him. If you don't you keep him.

[Chi town]

Watson Hart Hannes. AK will try and win next season.

Giddey/Jones/RobD
Watson/Okoro
Buz/Noa
Smith/Hannes/PW
Hart/Smith/Hannes

That team is much bigger and more athletic. Better defensively. Needs more shooting too.

[Guru]

Watson Hart Hannes. AK will try and win next season.

Giddey/Jones/RobD
Watson/Okoro
Buz/Noa
Smith/Hannes/PW
Hart/Smith/Hannes

That team is much bigger and more athletic. Better defensively. Needs more shooting too.

For wahtever reason I am thinking Watson and then no other big FAs. But I would be down for Watson and Hart or Watson and Mark Williams

[Chi town]

Watson Hart Hannes. AK will try and win next season.

Giddey/Jones/RobD
Watson/Okoro
Buz/Noa
Smith/Hannes/PW
Hart/Smith/Hannes

That team is much bigger and more athletic. Better defensively. Needs more shooting too.

For wahtever reason I am thinking Watson and then no other big FAs. But I would be down for Watson and Hart or Watson and Mark Williams

I could see that if we draft two bigs and have Jalen. Sign a backup C like Huff or Richard’s or trade for Missi.

[drosestruts]

Maybe i'm just not optimistic enough, but I really don't feel like any of these RFAs will be changing teams.

My top target remain:

Isaiah Hartenstein - gives us the paint defense we've coveted for years and is a good passer, which I do think is needed from our center position

John Collins - we simply look better when playing with size and allowing Buzelis to play the 3. We also need our big 4's to be able to stretch the floor. I like Jalen Smith, I just don't think we can ever rely on him to play big minutes. People ask why Billy doesn't play Smith more, I don't think Smiths body can handle it.

Not sure there's a guard free agent I think we could get that would make for a good starting 2 guard, part of me wonders if we could run a jumbo lineup and try to get in on someone like Cam Johnson if Denver looks to cut salary to retain Watson. I know many here dream of Watson, Ultimatley I feel like Denver will find someone to give them salary relief, I don't think we should miss on an opportunity to acquire Johnson just cause we dream of Watson. Not sure how that works with the above targets, who I would priortize above this, so will put it in the backseat for now

We'll potentially have 4 picks, I can't see us adding 4 rookies, but you never know

Some value free agents I'd look at:

Anfernee Simons - hasn't looked all that impressive here, but I think his volume shooting would be welcomed

Zach Collins - an issue when making $19m a year, would be welcome on a lower contract.

Collin Gillespie - good guard, brings shooting.

Jaxson Hayes/Kai Jones - athletes this size are rare and will always intrigue me

Draft:
Tankathons mock currently as us taking Wagler at 9 and Veesar at 35 so let's just pretend that happens

Giddey/Jones/Dillingham
Wagler/Simons/Okoro
Buzelis/Williams/Miller
Smith/J. Collins/Essengue
Hartenstein/Z. Collins/Veesar/

Does this team compete for a playoff spot? Does this team provide you with hope? I think it's potentially realistic

[patryk7754]

Its been a while since I've deeply looked in to stuff like bird rights so I may have forgotten how it works, but if I understand a lot of the "law" of how some of these things work, I think an offseason like this would be excellent:

If we renounce Ivey's right, we'd be on the books for about 77m with about 90m of cap space to play with (based on 166m projected cap space)

Trade 1: Do this assuming Dejaunte Murray looks above average functional by the end of the season

Williams and Okoro for Murray and possibly a protected 1st.

This trade would result in a 2.97 cap loss

Trade 2:
Dillingham and a lotto protected 1st for Hartenstein

This trade would result in a 21.6 cap loss.

After trades we would have about 65.4m in cap space

Sign Porzingis ($20ish/year), Tari Eason (30m/year) and Luke Kennard (8m/year)
Resign Simons, Harris, and Yabusele

Giddey/Jones
Murray/Simons
Matas/Kennard
Eason/Porzingis/Noa
Hartensein/Smith/Harris

Then we draft the best player available.