A second midseason trade has finally been made, and wait… the Chicago Bulls are involved. Yes, the Bulls were part of a near-midnight deal on the final day of January that sent Keon Ellis and Dennis Schröder to the Cleveland Cavaliers, DeAndre Hunter to the Sacramento Kings, and Dario Šarić, along with two future second-round picks, to Chicago.
In a subsequent move to make room for Šarić, the Bulls waived guard Jevon Carter, who had just scored 11 points and grabbed five rebounds in Chicago’s 125–118 win over the Miami Heat. As for the draft compensation, the Bulls will receive a 2027 second-round pick via Cleveland, originally from the Denver Nuggets, and a 2029 second-rounder from Sacramento, which will be the least favorable of Detroit, Milwaukee, and New York.
Bulls use salary cap space to acquire draft capital
Chicago became involved in this deal for one reason: to acquire draft capital, something the franchise hasn’t done nearly enough of in recent years. In a piece published January 30 outlining Ayo Dosunmu’s value and Cleveland’s perceived interest in him, I detailed how difficult it would be for the Cavaliers to make a trade. Ultimately, a third team would need to be involved—and that’s exactly what happened.
Cleveland received a pair of guards, not Dosunmu, but the cheaper Ellis. Schröder, the other guard, carries a higher price tag, owed a combined $30 million over the next two seasons, roughly equivalent to the non-tax midlevel exception.
The Kings added Hunter, reportedly eager to pair him with Keegan Murray, while also clearing space for two-way standout Dylan Cardwell to sign a standard contract.
As hinted, both the Cavaliers and Kings made this deal to improve their rosters, while the Bulls were focused on acquiring draft assets, perhaps with a future move in mind. Chicago didn’t even have to dip into its salary cap to get Šarić, using the remainder of the Zach LaVine trade exception created last year to absorb the 31-year-old big man.
Grade the Trade: Chicago comes out as a winner
Without tapping further into its salary cap to add Šarić (who could even be bought out, the Bulls come out of this three-team deal as winners. They didn’t have to get involved, yet in return, they secured two second-round picks, giving them seven disposable second-round selections in total.
However, while acquiring draft capital is valuable, it’s worth taking a closer look at these picks. The 2027 second-rounder from Cleveland originally belonged to Denver, so it’s unlikely to be anywhere near a first-round selection, especially with the Nuggets expected to remain a championship contender with Nikola Jokić still leading the team.
The second-round pick from Sacramento could theoretically carry more value, given the Kings’ struggles in recent seasons. However, this pick is the least favorable among those of Detroit, Milwaukee, or New York. In reality, it will likely end up as a late second-round selection.
All in all, the Bulls finally netted some draft capital by using their cap space to facilitate a trade. Yet, the deal also makes their Central Division rival, Cleveland, stronger. By rerouting Šarić to Chicago, the Cavaliers save nearly $40 million in luxury tax payments. They are now close to falling below the second-apron threshold, giving them significantly more trade flexibility. On top of that, Cleveland added Ellis, a low-usage guard who pairs perfectly with Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland. The Bulls aren’t actively competing with the Cavs (who are several tiers ahead), but it’s a trade that clearly benefits a rival.