The Chicago Bulls pulled off one of the shrewdest moves of the 2026 offseason when they signed veteran guard Norman Powell to a two-year, $45 million contract. The deal is structured so that the 33-year-old can be moved as soon as this year’s trade deadline, presumably for some draft capital.
But the Bulls should aim higher: Package Powell and some of their own draft picks to land a franchise cornerstone to place alongside Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis.
And as ESPN's Bobby Marks lays out, the team already has a blueprint to follow, courtesy of their Eastern Conference rivals down in Indiana.
The Bulls have an important decision to make regarding Norman Powell’s future
Chicago's decision to add Powell, an 11-year veteran on the back nine of his NBA career, was initially met with some skepticism. How does a player like that fit with youngsters like Wilson and Buzelis? And in the first year of a rebuild, too?
But the move made way more sense once the contract details became public.
Sure, it was $45 million over two years, an even $22.5 million per year. But the second season is a team option, meaning the Bulls — or any other organization — can cut bait on Powell after the 2026-27 campaign. Essentially, the UCLA product is playing on a $22.5 million expiring contract.
Powell was an All-Star with the Heat last year after averaging 21.7 points and shooting 38.0 percent from 3-point range on a high volume (7.1 attempts per game). He's averaged 21.8 points and shot 40.0 percent from three over the last two seasons.
He'll be a featured part of the offense and get a ton of shots up in the Windy City; if he continues to produce, he'll undoubtedly be an in-demand trade piece at the deadline.
But Chicago can do something more compelling and dangerous with a much higher upside.
Bulls can package Powell and picks to land their version of Pascal Siakam
In January 2024, the Pacers traded Bruce Brown, Jordan Nwora and three first-round picks to Toronto for Siakam. The then-29-year-old was set to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, and the Raptors decided they weren't going to offer him a lucrative new deal.
So Indiana dealt three first-rounders and Brown — who was in the second year of a two-year, $45 million contract (sound familiar?) — to add a proven veteran star to a young core that included Tyrese Haliburton.
The Pacers finished one Haliburton injury away from winning an NBA championship the very next season.
Parting with multiple first-round picks would be a tough pill to swallow for the Bulls. But given the new lottery system and Powell's desirable contract, the price would presumably be lower than that.
Is there a player out there right now who could be Chicago's Siakam?
Well, Karl-Anthony Towns is aiming for a new contract in New York, and the Knicks don't seem in a hurry to extend the 30-year-old six-time All-Star and newly crowned NBA champion.
The Bulls have the right kind of contract — and valuable veteran scorer — in Powell, who should tempt New York. They also have the draft assets. And the cap space.
Their own Siakam is sitting on a silver platter if they're bold enough to grab him.
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