The Chicago Bulls may end up with a few of the NBA's most attractive trade assets by the time the Feb. 5 trade deadline rolls around.
Front offices are struggling to find ways to cram superstar salaries into deals within the confines of the CBA -- but Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu and several other Bulls players would give opposing teams no such headaches.
Anthony Davis of the Dallas Mavericks, Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks, Lauri Markkanen of the Utah Jazz, and, of course, two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks, are a few of the splashy names spinning around the rumor mill.
Lesser stars like Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. and Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga could be moved at some point over the next month as well.
But Chicago Executive VP of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnišovas has an advantage that those organizations do not.
Bulls can be sellers during a "quiet" NBA trade deadline
As Tim Bontemps of ESPN points out, the size of superstar contracts makes finding legal trades difficult, especially in-season. One Eastern Conference executive tells Bontemps, "I don't see an eventful trade deadline."
Davis is set to make $58.5 million next year and has a $62.8 million player option for 2027-28. Antetokounmpo ($54.1 million), Markkanen ($46.4 million) and Young ($46 million) are all on expensive contracts that are difficult to trade under the current CBA.
With multiple aprons to finagle -- especially considering any acquiring franchise is likely a title-contender already under financial constraints -- working out the logistics of a blockbuster trade is difficult.
White, Dosunmu, expirings make Chicago an attractive trade partner
Both White and Dosunmu will be unrestricted free agents at the end of this season, so some team, whether the Bulls or otherwise, will have to work out a new contract.
But unlike Young, Davis and others, White is only owed $12.9 million, and Dosunmu just $7.5 million. If a team looking to make a deep playoff run needs a productive guard for the remainder of this season instead of preparing for 2026-27, those two 25-year-olds are at or near the top of the list.
Making the Bulls even more of an attractive trade partner is their horde of expiring contracts. In addition to White and Dosunmu, Chicago can add Vucevic ($21.5 million expiring salary), Zach Collins ($18.1 million), Kevin Huerter ($18 million) and Jevon Carter ($6.9 million) to any trade to balance salaries.
Finances will clearly be a significant sticking point as the Feb. 5 trade deadline approaches. The Bulls have players that don't fall under such constraints, though, which makes them an alluring team to partner with for a squad in need of a championship boost. They should take advantage accordingly.