What If the Bulls DON’T Trade Their Expiring Contracts? ...Middle East

Here are two words that go really well together: “Bulls” and “Fail.” Not just a reality on the court, but an even bigger one in the front office.

Right now, all eyes are on the Chicago Bulls — especially on their players with lucrative expiring contracts. On paper, those contracts are a golden ticket for NBA teams looking to dump bad money and regain financial flexibility.

But having leverage only matters if you know how to use it.

You’ve heard the phrase, “He who does not know the value of what he has is a fool.” The Chicago front office seem to live that out daily. And, unfortunately, that mindset could become reality for the Bulls, who are now just weeks away from the trade deadline with nothing but rumors to show for it.

The entire purpose of trading Zach LaVine for expiring contracts, rather than direct assets, was to eventually flip those contracts into future value. That was the plan. Or at least, it was supposed to be.

Because if that wasn’t the play, then they should’ve simply offered LaVine for De’Aaron Fox straight up and, you know, traded a valuable asset for actual talent.

This has become a real organizational issue, and it goes beyond simply overhauling the roster. A serious conversation needs to be had about overhauling Arturas Karnišovas and the front office itself. They put themselves in this position by repeatedly failing to maximize the assets they had.

They could’ve secured the big man of the future by drafting Derik Queen, or by being the team that pulled the trigger on a deal with the New Orleans Pelicans for their pick this year. Instead, there was no pick in the Alex Caruso trade, no real return in the Zach LaVine deal, and nothing meaningful gained from the DeMar DeRozan sign-and-trade.

Alex touched on it, and I largely mirror those opinions. In fact, we’re constantly talking about the state of Chicago’s front office in the DMs of our Slack conversations. And while the rest of this article lays out options the Bulls could consider, I’m not convinced the current people in charge are capable of executing them. Before we even get into free agency, I might honestly prefer seeing new people in power, people who actually have the nerve to make real decisions.

If the Bulls’ brass fails, again, to move their expiring contracts — contracts that carry significant trade value — what then? What can they do next? And, more importantly, what should they do next?

The Bulls Should Go All In on Free-Agency

If Chicago doesn’t trade away their seven expiring contracts or re-sign them, they’ll walk into the offseason with roughly $79 million in cap space and just eight players under contract.

That’s money to spend, and a lot of roster spots to fill.

So how should they do it?

We already know the timeline of this team. We know the building blocks of the roster, how this team plays, and what their identity is supposed to be. Based on all of that, and on the free agents who will be available, the Bulls actually have a path to building a well-constructed, successful team.

Here are seven players who I believe would work best for the Bulls.

Free Agency Wishlist:

With Nikola Jokić, Christian Braun, Aaron Gordon, Jonas Valančiūnas, and Cam Johnson all missing considerable time, the Denver Nuggets needed the others to step up. And out of the shadows, taking full advantage of his opportunity, came Peyton Watson.

If you haven’t been paying attention around the league, Watson is a 23-year-old small forward averaging 14 points, five rebounds, two assists, one steal, and a block. But those numbers don’t tell the full story of what he’s been doing lately. Since December 31st, Watson has been on a tear, averaging 24 points per game, seven rebounds, and three assists, while even earning a Western Conference Player of the Week award.

Denver Nuggets guard-forward Peyton Watson and Toronto Raptors forward-guard Scottie Barnes have been named the NBA Western and Eastern Conference Players of the Week, respectively, for Week 12 of the 2025-26 season (Jan. 5-11). pic.twitter.com/5OHMiuBheG

Now he’s set to become a restricted free agent for a Denver team that would love to bring him back. But if the price climbs too high, it could severely handicap their future, pushing them into the dreaded second apron. If the Bulls play this cheeky and throw a slightly above-market offer at Watson, they could force Denver into an impossible decision.

And suddenly, the Bulls are looking at a 23-year-old wing coming off a legitimate breakout season.

2. Tari Eason – PF – Houston Rockets (RFA)

Tari Eason is in a situation similar to Peyton Watson’s, heading into restricted free agency with one of the more expensive teams in the NBA, putting real strain on their financial flexibility. Eason is a high-level defender, just 24 years old, and a potentially perfect fit for a Chicago Bulls team that’s starving for defense.

Tari & Bari making plays ?@Toyota pic.twitter.com/IrCn3mekCs

On top of that, Eason missed significant time this season with an oblique strain and at times, comes off the bench for the Rockets. That combination alone opens the door to a real possibility that Houston may not be willing to match a sizable offer, especially if the Bulls push the number.

And with Eason in the lineup, Matas Buzelis could even slide down to small forward, a position he’s already shown he can thrive in.

3. Walker Kessler – C – Utah Jazz (RFA)

The last restricted free agent included here, is big man Walker Kessler. And to be clear, I don’t see the Utah Jazz not matching any reasonable contract thrown his way. They’re a team with a solid young core, and even if Kessler isn’t firmly in their long-term plans, letting an asset like him walk for nothing would be organizational malpractice.

Who else misses watching Walker Kessler? pic.twitter.com/6ng0cbD0wL

Kessler is exactly the type of center the Bulls should be salivating over. He’s one of the best offensive rebounders in the NBA, averages 2.4 blocks per game for his career, and lives in double-double territory. He’s a natural building block for a defensive identity Chicago has been searching for.

The only reason I think the Bulls even have a chance here is the injury. Kessler is expected to miss the entire season with a torn labrum, and lingering doubts about whether that injury impacts his production long-term could give Utah pause when it comes time to extend him. Add in the fact that his name always seems to pop up in trade talks, and suddenly a sign-and-trade doesn’t feel impossible, it feels plausible.

Walker Kessler will undergo season-ending left shoulder surgery, per @ChrisBHaynes pic.twitter.com/liPmYJQqWS

4. Dominick Barlow – PF – Philadelphia 76ers (UFA)

The first unrestricted free agent Chicago should consider is Dominick Barlow. He’s received significant playing time this season with the Philadelphia 76ers while Joel Embiid and Paul George have missed time. Barlow has appeared in 27 games for the Sixers, and he doesn’t even have a guaranteed contract, currently playing on a two-way deal.

Coming off career highs of eight points, five rebounds, and roughly a steal and a block per game, Barlow will be hunting for his first real NBA contract this offseason. He’s just 22 years old, a high-effort player who relentlessly crashes the offensive glass and ranks in the upper tier of the league in offensive rebounding.

Barlow on the break ? pic.twitter.com/zEBjkL9Shg

With everyone returning to full health, his minutes have been slashed but what he can do with extended run has already been put on tape. And once again, a potentially cheap power forward who brings effort, defense, and physicality, while allowing Matas to slide to small forward, checks a lot of boxes for how the Bulls should be spending their money.

5. Quentin Grimes – SG – Philadelphia 76ers (UFA)

A fellow teammate of Barlow’s, Quentin Grimes, will also hit unrestricted free agency. One of the better sixth men in the NBA and an unspoken victim of an awful Nico Harrison trade, Grimes figures to be one of the more desirable options on the open market.

With most eyes likely locked in on Austin Reaves, the Bulls could pivot and look to replace Coby White with the 25-year-old Grimes. He may not be a long-term answer for Chicago, but I like the immediate impact he could bring, potentially even off the bench alongside Tre Jones.

?️ pic.twitter.com/6GNbCZVdyN

That said, there’s a line you can’t cross. If the price tag balloons because of limited options across the league, this isn’t a move where Chicago can afford to blindly overpay.

6. Jock Landale – C – Memphis Grizzlies

Talk about a bargain. Jock Landale has been heavily outplaying his minimum contract this season, averaging 11 points and six rebounds for Memphis. The 30-year-old isn’t my vision for Chicago’s big man of the future, but with Vucevic gone, Landale would be a more than serviceable option.

His price tag would obviously rise above the minimum, but nothing I’d expect to get out of hand. And there’s upside beyond just production: if things break right, the Bulls could even flip him at the trade deadline to a contender desperate for center depth and walk away from the entire ordeal in the positive.

Low risk. Solid return.

Jock Landale is today's Player of the Game in our dub over the Nets presented by @IntlPaperCo ? pic.twitter.com/kZUa4Xmba9

7. Keon Ellis – SG – Sacramento Kings

Keon Ellis is such an intriguing player. He’s never fully trusted by any coach in Sacramento, yet he’s arguably one of their best defenders. I don’t completely understand it. He rarely gets consistent minutes, but that lack of trust could make him surprisingly easy to pry away from the Kings.

Keon Ellis is a MONSTER point of attack defender…Sacramento had a top 10 defense post-allstar last season & Ellis was a huge reason why. Master deflection/poke-out artist. Full-court pressure bully. Hyper-aglie. Even knocked down a high clip of open 3s. Crucial piece for SAC. pic.twitter.com/ee6LdId7WK

The unrestricted free agent just turned 26 and could immediately fix a number of defensive issues in Chicago’s backcourt. He hasn’t been given much runway to prove himself, which makes me doubt there will be a long list of teams lining up for his services. That alone should make this a relatively easy move for Chicago to execute, and another quiet step toward finally building a real defensive identity.

These are all players I think could make the best out of a bad situation. And trust me, it could be a whole lot worse.

Imagine if the Bulls’ front office decides to re-sign the expiring contracts and just, run it back.

I shudder at the thought that this could actually happen.

Sound off in the comments, what’s the move you want to see next?

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