It’s been a long time since the Chicago Bulls were true contenders in the Eastern Conference. Their last real chance came in the early 2010s, when prime Derrick Rose led the team to back-to-back seasons with 20 or fewer losses. But ever since that Eastern Conference Finals run in 2011, Chicago has won just two playoff series, both now over a decade ago, in 2013 and 2015.
You read that right. The Bulls have not advanced past the first round in the NBA playoffs for more than ten years, and with this current roster, it doesn’t feel like that will be changing anytime soon, unless the front office can make some significant moves.
One player who knows what it’s like to be part of a contending Bulls squad is Carlos Boozer. As the second-leading scorer on that 2011 Eastern Conference Finals team, Boozer remains a fan favorite from his four strong seasons in Chicago. Recently, SiriusXM Sports asked the two-time All-Star what he would do if he were the Bulls’ general manager, and his response didn’t disappoint.
“I would make a splash and go get somebody that doesn’t want to be on their current team. I would trade some assets for a potential superstar. And then the draft, I would load up on the 2026 draft. The ‘26 draft is loaded.”
Let’s break that down.
"Make a splash"
Like most fans, Boozer believes the Bulls need to take a big swing. Forget the minor trades and small roster tweaks, he wants Chicago to target a disgruntled superstar who has a chance at becoming available. He’s not wrong. The Bulls have some good players, but they don't have a clear No. 1 option that can lead a contender. Pairing a legitimate superstar with the current supporting cast could finally push the Bulls out from the middle of the standings.
"Trade assets for superstar"
This is where things get a little tricky. Boozer made it clear he’d be willing to sacrifice pieces of the current roster to land elite talent. But what assets of value do the Bulls really have?
Matas Buzelis should be untouchable. Nikola Vučević is past his prime. Josh Giddey just signed a four-year extension. That leaves names like Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, and rookie Noa Essengue as the tradable players who actually have some kind of value. White was the team’s leading scorer last year (outside of Zach LaVine), Dosunmu is coming off a career year as the sixth man, and Essengue showed lots of upside in the summer league.
Would the Bulls truly risk moving those kinds of assets? That’s the issue that Boozer highlights. Still, as he points out, sometimes you need to gamble. Trading for a superstar could be the difference between remaining a play-in team and becoming a top-five team in the East.
"Load Up on the 2026 Draft"
Finally, Boozer wants Chicago to think long term. The 2026 NBA Draft is already being hyped as one of the deepest in years, and the Bulls own their own first-rounder, plus a potential extra pick from Portland if the Trail Blazers make the playoffs.
There’s also a deeper story here. Carlos Boozer’s twin sons, Cameron and Cayden, are both top prospects in the 2026 draft class out of Duke. Imagine the storylines if one of them ended up in Chicago, following in their father’s footsteps just a decade after his own run with the Bulls.
Is it practical?
Boozer’s vision is a bold one. Acquiring a superstar now while also stockpiling draft capital for the future is nearly impossible, especially at the same time. If it were that easy, we would see it a whole lot more. But whether or not his exact blueprint is feasible, his comments reflect something Bulls fans know too well at this point. What they are doing now has clearly not been working.
While it’s great that one of Chicago’s fan favorites still keeps tabs on the team, the practicality of his strategy is questionable. The Bulls may go one way or another, but the real takeaway is this: even former legends see the team falling short of the standards it should be meeting.