Freshly hired Chicago Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations Bryson Graham has his work cut out for him over the next few months.
Graham has brought on former Bulls guard Acie Law IV and ex-Orlando Magic assistant general manager Stephen Mervis to help him navigate the continuing NBA Draft Combine scrimmages and interviews, in Chicago, that will last through Sunday. In next month’s draft, the Bulls possess the Nos. 4, 15, 38 and 56 picks.
During his introductory presser, Graham established the four preferred attributes he’s looking for in a player, which he’s calling “SLAP” — Size, Length, Athleticism and Physicality.
"Teams that are having success are very good [on defense]…I refer to it as guys who have 'SLAP':SizeLengthAthleticismPhysicality…and that's gonna be felt on the defensive side of the ball."– Bryson Graham
— CHGO Bulls (@CHGO_Bulls) May 6, 2026Chicago also has a league-leading $54.4 million in projected salary cap space, thanks to a variety of vets coming off the club’s books this summer. Given Graham’s (accurate) appraisal of the Bulls roster as being very, very far away from true contention, it feels likelier than not that Chicago will look to absorb bad money into that cap space, in exchange for future draft equity from other teams. Former team president Arturas Karnisovas was never creative enough to even attempt that!
Still, there are a variety of intriguing free agents who either will or could hit the open market this summer — some of whom will even semi-align with the Bulls’ developmental timeline. Let’s examine a few contenders.
Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Lew-Imagn Images1. Jalen Duren, C, Detroit Pistons (RFA)
All-Star Detroit Pistons center Jalen Duren’s reputation has taken a massive hit during the postseason. He’s seen the second-biggest historic regular season-to-playoff scoring decline in the history of the NBA for an All-Star (across at least 10.0 minutes per), behind only Wilt Chamberlain, who as Underdog NBA observes averaged a not-too-shabby 35.0 points in 1962 — down from his record 50.4 points scored a night during the regular season.
Duren was shockingly outplayed by 2018 Bulls lottery pick Wendell Carter, now on the Orlando Magic, in the first round of the playoffs. The Magic built up a 3-1 series lead, but a Franz Wagner injury ultimately set the stage for a Pistons rally. Detroit subsequently took a 2-0 edge over the Cleveland Cavaliers in their ongoing semifinal clash, but the Cavs have won three straight to improve to a 3-2 series lead.
Duren has remained underwhelming against the Cavs’ All-Star big man tandem of Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
Across five games in the series, he’s averaging 9.4 points on 46.2 percent field goal shooting and 6.6 rebounds a night. In 70 healthy games during the regular season, Duren averaged a 19.5-point, 10.5 rebound double-double on 65 percent field goal shooting.
Jalen Duren in the East Semis:9.4 PPG6.6 RPG46.2% FGHasn't scored more than 11 PTS in a game. pic.twitter.com/YXROr1a4Kx
— Underdog NBA (@UnderdogNBA) May 14, 2026Duren so wore out head coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s trust in a Wednesday 117-113 overtime Game 5 loss that his backup, Paul Reed played all 17 minutes of the fourth quarter and the bonus period — while Duren sat. Keep in mind, Reed had not played a second in the game prior to the fourth frame.
This is happening at an inopportune moment for the Pistons. Duren will be a restricted free agent this summer, and had been angling for a maximum, $200 million-plus salary, per Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints. Siegel suggests that Duren’s asking price could dip by as much as $50 million.
So could a rival team with money to burn, like the Bulls, swoop in to steal him with a “Godfather offer” (i.e. a deal he couldn’t refuse) that Detroit would actually decline to match? He’s still only 22 years old, and clearly has room to grow.
It does seem possible that Duren could truly be poached in free agency with a slight overpay. He’s clearly a very talented player, especially on the defensive end. But maybe the Bulls don’t want to do something to move up their timeline much, especially with so many draft picks at their disposal right now.
It’s a bit of a risky play, as it appears likely that one of two younger, high-upside big men will fall to Chicago with the fourth pick in next month’s draft. But by the time Duren fits free agency, the dust will have settled on the Bulls’ next pick. North Carolina power forward/center Caleb Wilson and Duke power forward Cameron Boozer could both ostensibly play at the four spot next to a more interior-bound five.
Denver Nuggets forward Peyton Watson. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-Imagn Images2. Peyton Watson, F, Denver Nuggets (RFA)
Watson has been linked to the Bulls off and on for weeks at this point. He’s an exciting, defense-first athlete, and versatile enough to be slotted in at multiple positions on either end of the hardwood.
The injury-prone forward enjoyed a breakout season in 2025-26, although true to form, he missed the Nuggets’ entire first-round playoff series loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves with an ailment.
In 54 regular season games (40 starts) for Denver, he averaged 14.6 points on .491/.411/.730 shooting splits, 4.9 rebounds, 2.1 assists, 1.1 blocks and 0.9 steals a night.
Watson is still just 23, and while he’s still clearly the kind of valuable young piece that an aging Denver core clearly needs at this stage, he may have priced himself beyond the team. Even if the Bulls draft Boozer or Wilson, Watson could still carve out major rotation minutes.
Utah Jazz center Walker Kessler (24). Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images3. Walker Kessler, C, Utah Jazz (RFA)
Kessler, like Duren, is a center and a center only. He missed most of the 2025-26 season in Utah thanks to a shoulder surgery. The Jazz have the No. 2 pick in this year’s draft, and also have All-Stars Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr. in their crowded frontcourt.
Will Utah have the appetite to pay a broad, rim-protecting young big at Kessler’s level the kind of money he’ll probably command?
In 58 healthy games for Utah during 2024-25 (he played just five contests this past regular season), Kessler averaged 11.1 points on 66.3 percent shooting, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks a night. He’d be a fun lob finisher to partner up with Josh Giddey.
Now-Phoenix Suns big man Mark Williams, who like Peyton Watson just can’t seem to stay healthy, is maybe the third best pure center who’ll hit the restricted free agent market this offseason. He’s also worthy of consideration, and could be had for less than Kessler or Duren.
Los Angeles Clippers guard Bennedict Mathurin. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images4. Bennedict Mathurin, SG, Los Angeles Clippers (RFA)
Bennedict Mathurin, the rights to the eventual No. 5 pick in this year’s draft, Isaiah Jackson Jr. and an unprotected 2029 pick were shipped out to the Los Angeles Clippers in a fateful Indiana Pacers trade for All-Defensive center Ivica Zubac.
He suited up for 26 regular season games and one doomed play-in tournament clash. In those 26 bouts as a Clippers reserve, Mathurin averaged 17.4 points while slashing .426/.207/.858, 5.5 rebounds, 2.5 dishes and 1.0 swipes a night. Mathurin’s never been a consistent shooter from long range, but he’s a dynamic downhill scorer. His destiny may ultimately be as a permanent sixth man, but in Chicago he could start (depending on the draft).
Philadelphia 76ers guard Quentin Grimes. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-Imagn Images5. Quentin Grimes, SG, Philadelphia 76ers (UFA)
Among realistic candidates who aren’t just, you know, Coby White or Ayo Dosunmu, Grimes feels could be a frisky, affordable backcourt option who still has room to grow a bit.
He’s no spring chicken, however. At 26 years old, the streaky scoring guard is a whopping seven years older than Wilson and eight years older than Boozer. So his timeline doesn’t strictly sync up with either player, nor with those of 23-year-old Bulls point guard Josh Giddey or 21-year-old combo forward Matas Buzelis.
Chicago does need bodies, and it will likely look to sign affordable players who could develop and spread the floor for the athletic stars. Grimes does have the above-the-rim athleticism Graham desires. He’d be more of a supplemental signing, and as a likely bench cog anyway, he would not be a huge priority among the Bulls’ summer moves.
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