Ayo Dosunmu is having a breakout season and is quickly playing his way into a bigger role on the Bulls. With his strong two-way play, he's sure to earn a big payday next offseason as he enters unrestricted free agency. The Bulls will be forced to either pay him much more than his current $7.5 million salary or watch him walk.
Dosunmu has far outperformed his contract
Dosunmu has shown tremendous improvement from last season and made himself a marquee free agent target in the summer of 2026. His breakout was most obvious in the Bulls' most recent game against the Pelicans. While it ended up being a disastrous loss for the team, Dosunmu individually shined. In a rare start, he scored 28 points and led the Bulls in scoring.
He is averaging a career-high 16.4 points per game in just 26.5 minutes—the second fewest of his career. His scoring rate and incredible efficiency (56 percent from the field and 48 percent from three) have impressed not only the Bulls but front offices around the league. As an unrestricted free agent next summer, his contract situation will be even more tense than the Bulls' standoff with Josh Giddey this past summer.
As it stands, Dosunmu's current contract is an absolute bargain. He's been good enough this season to start on most teams, but is getting paid like an average reserve. He will expect the Bulls to reward his improvements handsomely and may feel resentment if that isn't the case. The Bulls will have to compete with other teams in the open market and with Dosunmu's own expectations of reciprocated loyalty.
He's been one of the team's only two-way players this season. Although the Bulls have gotten off to a surprisingly strong start at 9-8, they are lacking in players with strengths on both sides of the court. The Bulls succeeded with defense in the early part of the season, but it seemed like a stretch of good luck which eventually dried up as opponents started to hit shots.
Dosunmu is one of the team's strongest defenders with his 6-foot-4 frame and an intriguing combination of quickness and physicality. He's switchable across multiple perimeter positions and embraces the challenge of locking down the league's best guards. Dosunmu has contributed to a solid perimeter defense that is being held back by poor rim protection.
The 25-year-old is well on his way to receiving a big contract next summer. He's having a career season, especially in terms of scoring the ball, even without heavy playing minutes. The Bulls must be wary of another team wondering what he could look like with a bigger role and offering him a huge contract. If they aren't careful, they might easily lose one of their best surprises this season.