It’s a bold statement to make, but it’s also true. The Chicago Bulls have no clear direction. That uncertainty isn’t entirely new—the franchise has been stuck in the middle for years. Previously, though, there was at least a predictable outcome. Chicago fielded a roster good enough to win around 35–40 games, fall short in the Play-In Tournament, and pick in the late lottery. Now, even that sense of predictability is gone. For the first time in a while, the Bulls’ future feels less defined and more uncertain than ever.
Bulls' roster is in flux
Chicago made a series of largely lateral moves at the trade deadline, completely reshaping its roster. Seven new faces arrived in the Windy City while eight departed. Despite all the activity, it remains difficult to understand where the Bulls stand moving forward.
Yes, the Bulls needed a roster shake-up… that much was non-negotiable. As mentioned earlier, the team has been stuck in mediocrity. Chicago has won 39 or 40 games in each of the past three seasons, offering little reason to believe the current core could get over the hump. There was no justification for continuing to trot out a lineup that had already shown its ceiling.
But while the Bulls added some intriguing young talent at the trade deadline, most notably 21-year-old Rob Dillingham, their overall approach remains confusing. Chicago swapped Coby White for Collin Sexton, added Anfernee Simons, and brought in Jaden Ivey, further crowding an already guard-heavy rotation. The Bulls also acquired frontcourt pieces in Nick Richards, Guerschon Yabusele, and Leonard Miller. Don’t get me wrong, the slew of second-round picks is a nice addition, but it’s still puzzling why Chicago prioritized adding so many guards without a vision for long-term building blocks.
It’s not as if the Bulls were going to land a coveted young cornerstone at the deadline (players like that rarely become available). Still, why not target a quality defender? Why not pass on a few second-round picks to pursue a player like Joan Beringer from the Minnesota Timberwolves instead? Why not make a move that felt proactive rather than reactive?
Reactive moves over a clear vision
All valid questions, and ones that don’t necessarily have clear answers. Still, if one thing is certain, it’s that these deadline moves felt more reactive than anything else. Chicago knew it didn’t want to re-sign Coby White to an exorbitant deal (the same likely applied to Ayo Dosunmu), and it understood Nikola Vučević wasn’t part of the long-term picture beyond this season. Meanwhile, Dalen Terry and Julian Phillips had seen their opportunities come and go after multiple seasons in the Windy City. These moves weren’t made from a proactive vision, but rather out of necessity.
Essentially, Chicago could have done nothing and found itself in a similar predicament. But again, standing pat wasn’t an option. The Bulls’ prolonged mediocrity made that clear. Still, these moves leave the present just as uncertain. This offseason will likely provide more answers to many of the lingering questions, but for now, the direction remains unclear. Chicago has made it known around the league who its building blocks are (Matas Buzelis, Noa Essengue, and Josh Giddey). Yet the reasoning behind stockpiling so many second-round picks remains to be determined.