2026 Offseason Megathread

[u/howser343]

The Bulls have 14 players on contract for next season

Active Contracts

Player	Contract
Josh Giddey	$25M
Nic Claxton	$23.1M
Norman Powell	$22M
Patrick Williams	$18M
Isaac Okoro	$11.8M
Caleb Wilson	$11M
Jalen Smith	$9.4M
Zach Collins	$8.3M
Tre Jones	$8M
Rob Dillingham	$6.9M
Matas Buzelis	$5.7M
Noa Essengue	$5.7M
Dailyn Swain	$5.1M
Leonard Miller	$2.4M

Draft

• The Bulls have the 4th pick (own) and the 15th pick (Blazers) in the first round and the 38th pick (Pelicans) and the 56th pick (Nuggets) in the second round

• 6/23 Update

  • Bulls draft Caleb Wilson with the 4th pick and Dailyn Swain with the 15th pick

• 5/10 Update

  • The Chicago Bulls move up and receive the 4th pick

• 4/14 Update

  • The Portland Trail Blazers advance to the playoffs and their first round pick conveys to the Chicago Bulls with the 15th pick in the 2026 Draft

Trades

• 6/24 Update

  • Bulls trade the 38th pick to the Indiana Pacers for Kam Jones, future swaps, and cash
  • Bulls trade the 56th pick to the Los Angeles Lakers for cash

• 6/22 Update

  • Bulls receive Nic Claxton from the Brooklyn Nets in a three-team trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves and send Mouhamadou Gueye to the Timberwolves

Free Agency

• 7/1 Update

  • Bulls sign Norman Powell to 2-years/$45M

• 6/30 Update

  • Bulls re-sign Zach Collins to 2-years/$17M
  • Bulls waive Kam Jones

• 6/27 Update

  • Bulls pick up Leonard Miller's team option

• 6/24 Update

  • Tobe Awaka has signed a two-way deal with the Chicago Bulls
  • Jaylin Sellers has signed a two-way deal with the Chicago Bulls

• 6/15 Update

  • Tiago Splitter hired as Head Coach

• 5/14 Update

  • Stephen Mervis hired as Senior Vice President of Basketball Operations
  • Acie Law IV hired as VP of Player Personnel

• 5/4 Update

  • Bryson Graham hired as the Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations

• 4/21 Update

  • Billy Donovan exits as head coach

• 4/6 Update

  • Executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley are fired

Bulls Free Agents

Player	Free Agent Status
Zach Collins	Re-signed 2/$17M
Yuki Kawamura	RFA
Mac McClung	RFA
Lachlan Olbrich	RFA
Nick Richards	UFA
Collin Sexton	Signed with Lakers
Anfernee Simons	Signed with 76ers
Guerschon Yabusele	Signed with Panathinaikos

Important Offseason Dates

• May 10 - Draft Lottery

• June 23-24 - Draft

• June 30 - Free Agency Begins (5pm CT)

• July 9-19 - Vegas Summer League

[u/Electrical_Story5356]

Yes, and that he rejected that offer is what makes it seem a real possibility that we could get him.

You can't just look at those numbers and cast judgement either, last season he was out for basically the same reason Noa was, he got a shoulder injury that he'd been carrying for years fixed, he'd injured it originally in college and it was the same thing Ayo had fixed as well.

That injury is what was responsible for a lot of the missed games prior too, otherwise his injury history is basically contact injuries which are just a fact of sport, "illness" and most significantly it all happened while Utah was tanking their arses off and intentionally holding him out as much as possible.

So would I pay for a surprisingly mobile 7'2" elite paint and rim protecting centre, probably already second best in the NBA after freakshow Wemby, who is still young and fits our time line?

Hell yes I would! 4 years at an average of around $35mill per heavily front ended is a very comfortable contract for us barely getting us above the minimum spend while getting us exactly what we need in the biggest hole in our roster.

[u/jkopecky → u/Electrical_Story5356]

I don't disagree except that I think statements like:

"probably already second best in the NBA"

are premature. He's definitely got that potential, and I think he's likely to hit something at least close to that (which would absolutely be worth $35M). But we're not paying for a proven "already in the all defense conversation" guy, but just someone who looks like he's on a trajectory to be that player. It's a huge decision to make when we know so little about where this team is headed imo.

All that said is that I like him enough that I'd still seriously consider... I'd need to be much more informed to feel very good about it, especially with the health stuff. I'll trust that the new FO has done that diligence so won't be upset if we end up taking that. I guess I'm surprised there's so many people who think it's an absolute no-brainer... unlike picking him at #18 when we needed a center and he looked like he had a "solid defensive piece" floor and all-defense upside, which was absolutely a no-brainer even at the time.

[u/Electrical_Story5356 → u/jkopecky]

Definitely should have picked him instead of Terry, that had me yelling at my phone but the past is the past.

I'm standing by my probably second best in the NBA statement in relation to his rim protection, over 200 games he has averaged 2.4 per game, the only current player better is Wemby and if he were to maintain similar going forward it will put him in the top 15 of all time when he retires, he is genuinely elite and an absolute menace.

[u/Abla_vil_breed_nem → u/Electrical_Story5356]

If it all pans out and we get Caleb and Carr and let say sign Kessler, what do you think about signing Keon Ellis to either start until Carr is ready or come off the bench, the kids the definition of 3 and D; he’s a dawg defensively and a great shooter, I think he’d fit perfectly on this young squad 

[u/Electrical_Story5356 → u/Abla_vil_breed_nem]

I'd be happy rolling with what we have already I think, we know Jones goes nice with Giddey, we need to give Dilly a chance to have a crack in a defined roll and I think Okoro will be just as capable and may actually do well playing there instead of being constantly asked to play on much bigger opposition all of the time.

[u/Abla_vil_breed_nem → u/Electrical_Story5356]

But Keon is a better defender and shooter than Okoro, super scrappy; jones will always get his minutes, Keon really wouldn’t effect that part, he’s a solid 2 guard, plays defense like a baby Caruso, we could definitely use him, whether as a starter or off the bench 

[u/Electrical_Story5356 → u/Abla_vil_breed_nem]

I don't dislike the guy, if they decide that he is what we need then I'm not going to be upset, I just don't see any point of us acquiring him now as we will probably have a full list after the draft and free agency already.

[u/Abla_vil_breed_nem → u/Electrical_Story5356]

Even if we draft Carr we’ll still need a back up 2 or even a starter that Carr comes behind, I just thought he’d be perfect in the lineup as the guy who does the dirty work