All signs still point to Josh Giddey remaining in Chicago despite the lack of any reported movement on a new contract. But if Giddey exits the Windy City, what happens to the Bulls' starting lineup? And how does the rest of the guard rotation fill out?
The roster isn't barren, but head coach Billy Donovan isn't exactly blessed with a deep and talented bench, either.
Here's where he could turn -- in the backcourt and otherwise -- in the event his star point guard doesn't come to an agreement with Chicago's front office.
Potential Chicago Bulls starting lineup without Josh Giddey
The easiest alteration Donovan could make to his first five is simply replacing Giddey with another floor general:
- PG: Tre Jones
- SG: Coby White
- SF: Kevin Huerter
- PF: Matas Buzelis
- C: Nikola Vucevic
Jones was more than up to the task of running the Bulls' offense after he was acquired from the San Antonio Spurs in the trade that sent Zach LaVine to the Kings. In 18 games with Chicago, nine of which were starts, Jones averaged 11.5 points, 3.2 rebounds and 4.9 assists in 25.3 minutes per contest. The 25-year-old was wildly efficient, posting shooting splits of 57/50/88.
The five-man lineup of Giddey, White, Huerter, Buzelis and Vucevic was far and away Chicago's best last year. Jones doesn't possess the same standout size Giddey does, but he's capable of running Donovan's up-tempo show.
Bulls rotation if Giddey leaves
Before he suffered a season-ending injury, Ayo Dosunmu was locked in as the team's sixth man last year. His role shouldn't change -- at least as long as he's with the Bulls. White admirably filled LaVine's role as the team's No. 1 offensive option when the former UCLA star departed, but he's also an underrated combo guard who averaged 4.5 assists in 2024-25. He could slide over and play point guard when Jones exits in favor of Dosunmu.
With Lonzo Ball now in Cleveland, Dalen Terry or Jevon Carter could see more minutes until the Bulls sign Giddey's replacement.
Donovan could have some fun playing around with his interesting glut of wings in this scenario. Buzelis is expected to take on more playmaking duties this year, whether Giddey returns or not. This would be the perfect opportunity to hand him the keys in a point forward role and surround him with shooters, athleticism and defense.
A bench lineup that includes another pair of wings in Isaac Okoro and Patrick Williams, a defensive-minded guard like Dosunmu and one of the Bulls' reserve big men -- or, in a tantalizing idea, rookie Noa Essengue -- would give Chicago a massive lineup full of athletes and limbs sprouting in all directions.
Giddey will almost certainly return. But if he doesn't, there are some intriguing lineups Donovan could roll out, and if nothing else, the Bulls would be a bizarre watch.