For the most part, it seemed as though the Chicago Bulls' offseason business had come to an end.
They had made their draft picks, selecting both Caleb Wilson and Dailyn Swain in the first round, and they had declined to hold onto any of their second-round picks in favor of picking up a pair of two-way undrafted free agents in Jaylin Sellers and Tobe Awaka. Their signings of Norman Powell and Zach Collins and their trade for Nic Claxton seemed to have matters settled.
But we got a bit of a revelation earlier this week accompanying the news of Jonathan Kuminga's two-year, $13 million deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves. Chicago—along with the Portland Trail Blazers and the Los Angeles Lakers—were among the other teams to submit offers for the slashing forward.
The Bulls' interest in Kuminga is well chronicled dating back to his time with the Golden State Warriors. But it's surprising that Bryson Graham, who has focused largely on developmental pieces with upside in a team-oriented defensive scheme, would carry that interest over to the new regime.
But now that the Kuminga situation is resolved—along with any lingering interest they might have had in Bennedict Mathurin—it's time to put this offseason to rest. Chicago's priority should be on developing and trimming down the talent they currently have on the roster, and that's what the focus should be on in 2026-27.
It's time for the Bulls to focus on sifting through what they currently have on the roster
On paper, Chicago's reported interest in Kuminga and Mathurin makes sense. They're both slashing forwards with major offensive upside, and they both certainly still have upside to be unlocked as contributors on both ends of the floor.
It wouldn't have been disastrous if Kuminga had wound up in Chicago. But it certainly would've been a distraction.
Kuminga has been known throughout his career for seeking on-ball touches and limiting the flow of the offense when he's been on the court. If the team was willing to commit to giving him starting touches and extensive opportunities, it could've been a worthy signing. But with both Wilson and Matas Buzelis in the fold, it's hard to see where those reps could have come from.
More importantly, this season for Chicago needs to be focused on decision-making in terms of the future of their roster.
Tre Jones has a team option next offseason, as do Zach Collins and Norman Powell. Isaac Okoro will be an unrestricted free agent. Patrick Williams' contract is likely dead weight at this point, but he needs to at least get a chance to justify some of his $18 million salary under Tiago Splitter. Noa Essengue also has yet to see extensive NBA touches, and the Bulls desperately need to give him time and space to get more comfortable in his role.
This Bulls rotation is not complete to the extent that there wouldn't have been room for Mathurin or Kuminga. But adding either of those pieces to the roster would've limited touches for players like Williams, Swain, and Okoro on the wing.
If Chicago is going to consistently add young talent through the draft and identify their needs with this current roster, every single one of these players requires extensive opportunities in 2026-27 to either prove themselves as trade candidates or future building blocks. That should be the priority, and the signing of Kuminga or Mathurin only would've interfered with that.
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