As the Chicago Bulls search for paths to a brighter future, parting with a fan favorite is unfortunately their best shot at creating such an outcome. Ayo Dosunmu is a pending free agent whose talent will inevitably be coveted as teams around the Association search for impact players with two-way value.
Knowing the risk of losing Dosunmu to unrestricted free agency later this year, the Bulls must sell high on Dosunmu and bring back assets that can strengthen their future.
Dosunmu, 25, has spent his entire five-year NBA career with the Bulls. During that time, he's earned the reputation of one of the most compelling young two-way guards in the Association, with value as a scorer, playmaker, and defender on clear display.
That's translated to a strong 2025-26 season at 14.0 points, 3.4 assists, 2.7 rebounds, and 1.6 three-point field goals made per game on .500/.430/.861 shooting.
Unfortunately, Dosunmu is averaging just 26.0 minutes per game—down from 30.3 in 2024-25. With declining playing time, a robust market for his skill set and upside, and unrestricted free agency just over the horizon, the Bulls are running out of reasons to believe that he'll stay in Chicago long term.
Rather than disillusioning themselves into believing that they should try their luck in free agency, the Bulls must trade Dosunmu and improve their own long-term outlook.
Bulls must trade Ayo Dosunmu before losing him in free agency
A trade centered around Dosunmu could be structured in several captivating ways. The most obvious approach would be to flip him for a player or even multiple individuals signed to long-term contracts, thus enabling Chicago to create a sense of stability.
The options beyond the obvious, however, are the ones that the Bulls should be most intrigued by—particularly in regard to draft compensation and shedding unfavorable salary.
There's ample reason to believe the Bulls could get at least one first-round draft pick back for Dosunmu. Not only is he a productive two-way player, but he's still just 25 years of age and has visible signs of untapped potential.
In the event that Chicago can get at least one desirable first-round pick attached to a trade that ideally includes quality talent, as well, then they'd instantly improve their outlook.
The most intriguing possibility, however, is that the Bulls could utilize a Dosunmu trade to get out of Isaac Okoro or Patrick Williams' unfavorable contracts. Dosunmu is making just $7,518,518 in 2025-26. Considering he's underpaid, moving him for a fellow impact player with a similar salary will be difficult to pull off—primarily due to the fact that rival teams wouldn't want to lose such a valuable commodity.
As such, the Bulls could push to shed the final season of Okoro's deal or even the final three years of Williams' contract in a package deal with Dosunmu for a more expensive returning package.
An example would be swapping Dosunmu and Williams for Fred VanVleet's $25 million salary in a hypothetical deal with the Houston Rockets. There's no telling if the Rockets would be open to such an exchange, but the point stands that Chicago needs to milk a potential Dosunmu trade for all it's worth.
The ideal scenario would be to re-sign Dosunmu, but faced with the reality that he has every reason to walk in free agency, the Bulls need to get everything they can out of a potential trade.