As NBA teams contemplate all-in trade offers for Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis and others, the Chicago Bulls have a unique and powerful edge: They own all their first-round picks through 2032 (and potentially an eighth coming from the Portland Trail Blazers).
Not to be lost in the equation -- the Bulls also have seven expiring contracts to match salaries and further attract teams like the Milwaukee Bucks with the chance to clear their ledger moving forward.
Does any of this mean executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas will actually consummate any deal at February's trade deadline, let alone a blockbuster move to bring in a player like Antetokounmpo or Davis?
Well, no. But never say never. Ask Mavericks and Lakers fans if they had a Luka Doncic trade on their bingo cards.
Chicago Bulls have complete control of all their first-round draft picks
Thanks to a semi-shrewd recovery by Karnisovas, the Bulls were able to draft Noa Essengue with the No. 12 pick last summer. Chicago's front office leader had dealt that pick to the San Antonio Spurs as part of the package to acquire DeMar DeRozan, and it became the centerpiece of the three-team deal that sent Zach LaVine to Sacramento at last year's trade deadline.
For all his mistakes, Karnisovas has held onto his draft capital: Chicago has control of its own first-round picks from 2026 through 2032. In addition, the Bulls are owed a pick from Portland that's lottery-protected through 2028. Assuming the Blazers, who made multiple win-now moves last offseason, make the playoffs this year, next year or the year after, Chicago will have another pick to work with.
The Toronto Raptors are one of only six other NBA teams in control of their next seven first-rounders, according to Erik Koreen of The Athletic (subscription required).
The Bulls are stocked with attractive contracts
Chicago is also loaded with contracts ideally suited to be included in a blockbuster move. Nikola Vucevic, Kevin Huerter, Zach Collins, Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Jevon Carter and Dalen Terry are all on expiring deals, while Chicago has a team option on Julian Phillips' contract.
Vucevic, Huerter and Collins all make at least $17.5 million. Combined, their expiring salaries add up to about $58 million.
For reference, Antetokounmpo is set to earn $51.4 million this year and $58.4 million next year. Davis is on a similar contract. Both will want a new deal from whichever team wins their respective potential sweepstakes, but with all the aforementioned expiring money, the Bulls have plenty of cash to splash.
All of this means nothing if Karnisovas is afraid to make a dramatic change. But it's clear that if he chooses to take that path, he has the means to do it; perhaps more so than any other NBA organization.