Rebuilding the Chicago Bulls
because why not
The Chicago Bulls have had so many… I mean so many draft misses over the last 7 years.
Even this year, Chicago selected Noa Essengue — out of France originally — and Germany’s Ratiopharm Ulm. I like Essengue as a prospect a lot; however, he is a raw prospect, as he’s an inconsistent shooter and creator. Essengue is a player who can become great — it just may take time.
Additionally, in the second round of the draft, the Bulls took Lachlan Olbrich with the #55 selection. Olbrich is a smaller center who can’t really do an extraordinary amount on the floor due to a lack of athleticism and length. I will give him credit for being a solid rebounder and scorer.
So you draft two somewhat raw prospects, both international — which means they’ll either be a complete bust, playing overseas for most of their career, or a superstar. Take Dragan Bender, for example: he was picked fourth overall in the 2016 NBA Draft, ahead of better players including Buddy Hield, Jamal Murray, and Domantas Sabonis.
Also take Luka Doncic or Nikola Jokic, for example: superstars. So you never know what you’re going to get with an international, particularly EuroLeague/ EuroCup (Essengue played in second-divison) guys. Those guys are either, like I mentioned, complete busts, or some of the best NBA players we’ve ever seen.
For Olbrich, he played at UC Irvine for a season then moving on to the NBL (National Basketball League.) In Australia’s top league, guys like LaMelo Ball (star) are the best you’re going to get. However, guys like R.J. Hampton (bust) are the worst you could get.
So both European and Australian leagues produce busts and stars. We’ll see where these two guys end up.
Moving on — free agency has just officially started.
I’m a happy guy right now. However, if you’re a Bulls fan, you shouldn’t be. That’s why I am incredibly lucky to be a Lakers fan, of course — only one other team can brag that they have more than 17 NBA championships, and all of their success came in the '80s.
But talking about the Chicago Bulls, I made some realistic moves that they should actually make in real life, and here, I’m breaking every one I made down.
#1. Trade For New Starting Shooting Guard
In this trade, Chicago receives Sacramento’s Malik Monk and Boston’s Xavier Tillman, while sending out Patrick Williams and two second-rounders to the Kings, and Julian Phillips plus an additional second-round pick to Boston.
With these moves, Chicago gets their new starting shooting guard (in Monk) and gains better center depth with Tillman.
#2. Trade For A Star
In this deal, the Bulls get Jaren Jackson Jr. and Brandon Clarke for Nikola Vucevic, Kevin Huerter, Ayo Dosunmu, and three future first-round picks to Memphis.
Chicago also ships out point guard Lonzo Ball to Cleveland for Isaac Okoro (that one deal happened two days ago).
With this move, Chicago gets a star in Jackson Jr., potentially attracting more stars to the “Windy City.”
#3. Trade For Another Star
In this trade right here, Chicago moves off of many solid assets including Coby White, Dalen Terry, Zach Collins, Jevon Carter, as well as three future first-rounders and three future seconds for Atlanta’s Trae Young.
This deal would send shockwaves across the league, but the Bulls should do this to contend. With a roster not including Young and Jackson Jr., they almost made the playoffs. With the additions of two stars — and more — the Bulls are not only not going to barely miss out on the postseason every year, but will be a top seed by the time the playoffs come around.
I do acknowledge that this is highly unlikely
Another Option Instead Of Trae Young (Jamal Murray)
I prefer Young, however Murray is still a decent option.
Free Agency
Sign Myles Turner to a 4-year contract worth $66.5M.
Sign free agent Caris LeVert to a 3-year contract worth $21.2M.
Sign free agent Dennis Schröder to a 1-year contract worth $9.8M.
Sign free agent Gary Payton II to a 2-year contract worth $7.2M.
Sign free agent Dorian Finney-Smith to a 3-year contract worth $18.7M.
Re-sign free agent Josh Giddey to a 4-year contract worth $31.8M.
With these moves, Chicago goes all in — potentially making the playoffs for years to come. These are all great additions to help put the Bulls back on top in the future
Roster
Starting 5:
PG: Trae Young
SG: Malik Monk/Josh Giddey
SF: Caris LeVert
PF: Jaren Jackson Jr.
C: Myles Turner
Rotation
6: SG: Josh Giddey
7: SF: Matas Buzelis
8: SF/PF: *Noa Essengue
9: SG: Dennis Schröder
10: SF/PF: Dorian Finney-Smith
11: PF: Brandon Clarke
12: SF: Isaac Okoro
13: C: Jalen Smith
14: C: Xavier Tillman
15: C: *Lachlan Olbrich
*Selected in 2025 NBA draft
Lineup with Murray
Starting 5:
PG: Jamal Murray
SG: Malik Monk/Josh Giddey
SF: Caris LeVert
PF: Jaren Jackson Jr.
C: Myles Turner
Rotation
6: SG: Josh Giddey
7: SF: Matas Buzelis
8: SF/PF: *Noa Essengue
9: SG: Dennis Schröder
10: SF/PF: Dorian Finney-Smith
11: PF: Brandon Clarke
12: SF: Isaac Okoro
13: C: Xavier Tillman
14: C: *Lachlan Olbrich
15: SG: Jalen Pickett
*Selected in 2025 NBA draft
Not much of a difference here - I’d prefer the first lineup a lot more even if Young→Chicago is highly unlikely now with Atlanta’s recent trade for Kristaps Porzingis.
Closing Thoughts
If this happens:
With all of these trades, draft picks, and signings, Chicago has a bright future ahead. Now with two stars in Trae Young and Jaren Jackson Jr., the team has a legitimate chance to win their first championship in almost 30 years.
Reality:
If these moves happen, I’d be shocked and very happy for Bulls fans. You’ve had to sit through so many painful years being good and losing, and so many years sitting through your team being terrible — always being close to the postseason, but always missing it. Having to reminisce on the time of winning championships must be a struggle for some.
To the GM of the Bulls, Marc Eversley: please hire me to work for you. I may not be a fan of your team, but I can turn this team around in just a few moves.
If anyone is in contact with some GM in the NBA, please put me in touch so I can save the franchise — even if it’s the Celtics, I don’t care.
In all seriousness, I really think Chicago should read this article. If you want your team to be great, Marc Eversley, take advice from me and help turn your franchise around — back to greatness, how it once was in the 1990s.
Please help me reach my goal of 300 subscribers by the end of July!
Enjoyed the piece, I can’t imagine Giddey getting less than 20-25 million a year right?