The Chicago Bulls and Oklahoma City Thunder are two franchises that couldn't be further apart at the moment, which is what makes Aaron Wiggins a logical trade target for Chicago.
The Thunder need cap relief, while the Bulls are in desperate need of ... well, pretty much everything. But as Chicago executive VP of basketball operations, Bryson Graham, moves forward with his rebuild, a plug-and-play 3-and-D wing like Wiggins would be a solid addition.
Especially one on a bargain contract who would accept a low-usage role but has shown he's capable of more.
Thunder have difficult decisions to make this offseason and Bulls can help
For several reasons, moving Aaron Wiggins makes sense for Oklahoma City. And Chicago should jump at the chance to assist the Thunder in finding him a landing spot.
As Tim McMahon and Anthony Slater of ESPN point out, OKC's projected salary — before the draft and free agency — is set to hit $250.5 million. That would incur a $200 million luxury tax bill and bring the team well over the second apron.
The Thunder have a $28.5 million team option on center Isaiah Hartenstein and an $18.2 million option on guard Lu Dort. It wouldn't be shocking to see Oklahoma City decline both those options and bring the duo back on longer-term deals with lower annual values.
That would leave Wiggins and fellow guard Isaiah Joe as two logical options to leave, as both fell out of the rotation during the postseason and are surplus to requirements.
Bulls make sense as trade destination for Thunder's Aaron Wiggins
Wiggins is a smooth, lanky 6-foot-6 wing with solid length and athleticism who's played a supporting role in OKC for five seasons as a strong defender and efficient shooter.
But when given the opportunity, he showed he can be more.
The former Maryland standout's best season came in 2024-25 when he appeared in 76 games (starting a career-high 26) and averaged 12.0 points, 3.9 rebounds and 1.8 assists with shooting splits of 48.8/38.3/83.1.
His averages jump to 17.4 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.8 assists per 36 minutes from 2024-26. Those numbers, including his 2.6 3-pointers made per night, would be more indicative of his potential production in Chicago, where he'd go from an end-of-bench option to a core rotation piece.
Wiggins is also a versatile point-of-attack defender. His length and athleticism allow him to switch and pester ball handlers across all three backcourt positions.
Mikal Bridges made a leap as a player and scorer when he went from Phoenix to Brooklyn. Wiggins making a similar jump, going from OKC to Chicago, isn't a bad comparison.
Given Presti's need to save some cash, this move would presumably be on the table for the Bulls, and it makes too much sense for Graham to pass on.
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