The Bulls missed out on several potential roster additions including a sharp-shooting Denver guard.
The Chicago Bulls are heading into the 2026-27 NBA season with plenty of hope and new faces after the acquisitions of new head coach Tiago Splitter and rookie forward Caleb Wilson.
They also added high-scoring guard Norman Powell from the Miami Heat, but were reportedly in the market for additional scoring help this season to ease the transition to Wilson and Matas Buzelis as the team's foundational pieces.
On Wednesday, the Bulls missed out on acquiring a talented player, sharp-shooting Denver Nuggets guard Peyton Watson, as a huge five-team deal was completed by the Cavaliers, Nuggets, Clippers, and two other teams.
Mar 22, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets guard Peyton Watson(8) drives past Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) in the first quarter at Ball Arena. Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Watson to Cavs in Five-Team Deal
The former restricted free agent Watson will head to Cleveland after Wednesday's deal, and will sign a new four-year, $88 million deal with a player option and trade kicker to join the Cavs according to Klutch Sports CEO Rich Paul and agents Lucas Newton and Calvin Andrews, ESPN said.
The deal spanned nearly a week dating back to last Friday when the Cavaliers traded guard Dennis Schroder to the Charlotte Hornets for guard Tre Mann, setting the wheels in motion.
The Cavaliers ended up with small forward Cam Whitmore from the Wizards and a 2027 second-round pick from the Clippers that is going to the Wizards.
After parting with Watson, the Nuggets will get an unprotected 2031 first-round pick from the Cavs and a 2032 Sacramento Kings second rounder.
The Nuggets also received small forward Julian Reese from the Wizards, who will be waived off his two-way deal.
The Clippers added Cavaliers guard/forward Max Strus in the deal while the Hornets added guard Dennis Schroder and cash.
The Wizards got guard Tre Mann along with a 2027 second rounder and cash from the Cavaliers.
Watson is the crown jewel of the trade, as the 23-year-old, 6-foot-8 guard scored 14.6 points per game last season on 49.1% shooting including 41.1% from three-point land.
Bulls Trade Possibilities Ahead of 2026-27 NBA Season
The Bulls have other trade possibilities ahead of the 2026-27 NBA season and executive vice president Bryson Graham would almost certainly inspire hope if he pulled the trigger on a deal before the team's regular season opener against Toronto on Oct. 21.
The Bulls were mentioned as a potential trade candidate with the Nuggets for forward Cam Johnson and forward/center Zeke Nnaji of the Nuggets by Elias Schuster of Sports Illustrated.
Johnson averaged 12.2 points in 54 games last season while shooting 48% from the field and is on an expiring contract worth $23 million.
He would add a veteran presence to a Bulls front line in need of another mentor for Buzelis and Wilson.
Nnaji is under contract through 2027-28 for $7.5 million and could bring size and depth to Chicago's front line.
The Bulls missed out on Watson, but they already acquired Powell this offseason and appear mostly content to test the NBA waters with the roster they have.
With a little more than a month to go until the start of the 2026-27 NBA season, Splitter, Graham and company will likely stand pat, but a trade could add a little seasoning to an already intriguing roster before Oct. 21.
