The 2024-25 NBA season is officially in the books. The Oklahoma City Thunder are on top of the world following their defeat of the Indiana Pacers in an epic, seven-game series. Still, despite a champion being crowned, the NBA doesn't rest. The Thunder and the rest of the association will use this offseason as a channel for future improvement.
The Houston Rockets have already made a huge splash, acquiring 15-time All-Star Kevin Durant from the Phoenix Suns for Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks, the 10th overall pick, and five second-rounders. To a lesser extent, the rest of the league will soon follow, making trades with hopes of future improvement, signing free agents to fill key voids, and drafting the next star, or at least, rotation-worthy player.
As for the Chicago Bulls, a savvy trade isn't necessarily out of the picture, but it's also not likely. The Artūras Karnišovas-Marc Eversley regime has manufactured merely 10 trades since taking over as Vice President of Basketball Operations and General Manager in 2020—the least in the NBA over the last five years.
Therefore, a somewhat splashy free agent signing is to be expected. Unlike several cash-strapped teams, the Bulls have the non-tax midlevel ($14.1 million) and biannual ($5.1 million) exceptions at their disposal. Chicago won't be able to sway Pacers' center Myles Turner with a lucrative contract, but that doesn't mean they won't be able to poach a valuable asset.
The Bulls are rumored, and rightfully so, to be a destination for Alexander-Walker
Nearly a month ago, Pippen Ain't Easy fantasized about Minnesota Timberwolves' Nickeil Alexander-Walker's fit in Chicago. Amid a rugged series against the eventual champion Thunder, Alexander-Walker had scored 23 points while playing frenetic defense against Finals MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander when the article was published.
Over the five-game series, Alexander-Walker averaged 12.0 points, 2.6 rebounds, and 2.6 assists, shooting 43.1 percent from the field and 41.4 percent from beyond the arc. Alexander-Walker spent over 15 minutes defending his cousin, Shai, and held the MVP to 8-of-21 shooting and four turnovers.
Supplementing the terrific offensive tandem of Coby White and Josh Giddey with Alexander-Walker's rabid defense and spot-up shooting would be an ideal move for the Bulls—one that might actually come to fruition a month after drooling over his potential fit in Chicago.
Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints wrote, "The Bulls and Atlanta Hawks are two Eastern Conference teams labeled as potential destinations for Alexander-Walker…" While being "labeled as potential destinations" doesn't mean the Bulls, or Hawks for that matter, have any legitimate interest in offering Alexander-Walker a contract this summer, it's still a notable development to see the Bulls mentioned as a plausible destination.
Furthermore, the Bulls being a team to monitor for Alexander-Walker makes sense. Armed with the $14.1 non-tax midlevel exception, Chicago is one of 16 teams with such money to spend. And, with such a strong need for a perimeter defender, it's not a stretch to assume Alexander-Walker is atop the Bulls' wishlist.
If such an assumption, combined with Siegel's sentiment, is true, the soon-to-be extended front office is given a much-needed vote of confidence from yours truly and likely most Bulls fans—a much-needed turn of events for a team mired in mediocrity.