The Bulls haven't begun making offseason moves quite yet, but franchise-changing decisions are right around the corner. Chicago's future could hinge on the resolutions of three postseason storylines playing out in Denver, Cleveland and New York.
Would a Nuggets title run — or early collapse — change their minds on Peyton Watson? If the Cavaliers flame out again, could Jarrett Allen become available? What happens to Karl-Anthony Towns (or even Mikal Bridges or OG Anunoby) if the Knicks don't fulfill their championship-or-bust aspirations?
3 NBA playoff storylines Bulls fans can't afford to ignore
Chicago is in a holding pattern. The organization doesn't have a GM at the moment, but there are two first-round picks to be made and $60 million of cap space to use.
What happens with the Nuggets, Cavaliers and Knicks will have ripple effects that hit the Windy City.
Can Denver win another title? What happens with Peyton Watson/Nuggets roster?
Nikola Jokic doesn't need another championship to cement his legacy as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. But it certainly wouldn't hurt.
The Nuggets won the 2023 title with Jokic at the helm, but Jamal Murray and Aaron Gordon played significant roles. Murray has had an All-NBA-caliber season, and Gordon appears healthy and peaking at the right time. Jokic will likely finish first or second in the MVP race.
But with another epic series against the Minnesota Timberwolves ahead of them, the Nuggets will need all hands on deck. That includes Peyton Watson — provided he's healthy.
The 23-year-old missed Game 1 against the Wolves with a hamstring injury, but averaged 14.6 points, 4.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists this season while shooting from 49.1 percent from the field and 41.1 percent from 3-point range. He's the type of 3-and-D wing that teams will push hard for this offseason.
If Denver exits early and decides to go young, trading a more established player like Gordon or Christian Braun could help the Nuggets open their checkbook and hold onto Watson as a younger option. If not, the Bulls should be ready to pounce.
The Cavaliers could blow it up with an early exit
Rumors swirled in Cleveland after last year's postseason. Donovan Mitchell has yet to carry a team to the finals despite his superstar status.
What if another Cavs season ends in disappointment?
This could be the summer things finally change dramatically.
James Harden is expected to decline his player option and become an unrestricted free agent, but other major moves will be on the table, including trading big man Jarrett Allen — a long, bouncy shot-blocker and rim-runner who would solve a lot of problems in Chicago.
Are the Knicks in for another failure?
Owner James Dolan said he not only expects New York to make this year's finals, but to bring home a championship. If it doesn't happen, there could be major alterations coming to the Big Apple.
Karl-Anthony Towns is ever-present in trade rumors. Those would pick up again this summer, and there's a good chance the Knicks move on from the All-NBA center, barring Dolan's title.
The Bulls have plenty of cap space to absorb Towns' salary. He has his flaws, but he would be a considerable improvement over any big man Chicago currently has. It could be the kind of buy-low acquisition that makes sense for the franchise's new regime.
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