The 2025-26 NBA season is almost here. With the draft, free agency, summer league, and EuroBasket now in the books, the next marquee date on the calendar is training camp, which begins September 29.
While many teams are still finalizing their rosters, the Chicago Bulls already have theirs set—though that couldn’t be said until just last week, when the team and Josh Giddey agreed on a four-year, $100 million extension. The 6-foot-8 floor general is now locked in, a deal that looks like a win for both sides.
ESPN takes a snide view of the Bulls’ future
Still, locking up the 22-year-old point guard wasn’t enough to earn the Bulls any praise from ESPN. In its recently released “NBA Future Power Rankings,” the network projected the three-year outlook for all 30 teams, weighing factors such as roster strength, finances, draft capital, market, and asset management. Chicago landed at 28th—ahead of only the New Orleans Pelicans and Phoenix Suns.
ESPN analyst Kevin Pelton, who penned the Bulls' blurb, wrote, "…few teams have less hope of becoming a contender than the Bulls, who have prioritized competing for the play-in over grander ambitions… The Bulls will have cap flexibility next summer, but we don't trust this organization to maximize that opportunity.
Pelton credited Chicago for moving on from an older core of DeMar DeRozan and Zach LaVine to a younger one led by Giddey, Coby White, and Matas Buzelis. Still, he argued, it’s hard to trust the Bulls’ front office and ownership after years of mediocrity.
Pelton is right about the mistrust of the Bulls’ brass, but their recent moves deserve recognition. Last season’s trade for Giddey was criticized at the time, but ultimately savvy. Letting go of LaVine and the $100-plus million remaining on his contract at the trade deadline was essential, and the swap of Lonzo Ball for Isaac Okoro will pay dividends for both the short- and long-term.
More evidence is needed before the Bulls can rise in the rankings. Chicago lacks enough draft capital to make significant moves, and the roster is still without a bona fide star. Buzelis shows promise, but he averaged just 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.0 assists as a rookie. A strong sophomore campaign could validate the Bulls’ hopes for him as a star and boost the franchise’s future outlook.
Still, there are too many unknowns to label the Bulls as a franchise with a clearly promising future. Re-signing Giddey to a team-friendly deal is a win, but he still has plenty to prove as he develops his all-around game. The same applies to White, who is next in line for a sizable contract.
ESPN’s bottom-tier ranking of Chicago’s future is brutal, but fair. At least the Bulls aren’t in financial ruin; they still have some draft capital, and it’s Chicago; the market will always be desirable. Still, until the team shows tangible progress, especially from the front office, they won’t climb any higher.