This is the offseason that defines everything about the Chicago Bulls.

Following a front office overhaul and Billy Donovan stepping down, what lies ahead for the Bulls is nowhere. For a franchise that spent years threading the needle between contention and mediocrity — and eventually failed at both — the Bulls finally have no choice but to commit to a real rebuild.

But given that the team has a healthy financial flexibility and a sufficient draft capital, the room to maneuver is as wide as it's ever been. It's hard to screw this up, so let's dive into what the franchise needs to do before next season.

As the team's CEO Michael Reinsdorf said, the Bulls cast a wide net — wider than the initial ESPN report suggested, per The Athletic. Shams Charania's original list included six names: Matt Lloyd (Minnesota Timberwolves), Dennis Lindsey (Detroit Pistons), Bryson Graham (Atlanta Hawks), Mike Gansey (Cleveland Cavaliers), Dave Telep (San Antonio Spurs) and Austin Brown of CAA, who has since removed himself from consideration.

And the front office search has seen progress recently. Per Jake Fischer of The Stein Line, the Bulls have narrowed the field to three finalists following a round of interviews: Graham, Lindsey and Lloyd. In-person meetings in Chicago are expected this week.

Lloyd is the name to watch. A Chicago native who spent nine years with the Bulls organization before departing in 2012, Lloyd climbed from intern to operations and scouting before eventually becoming a general manager for the Timberwolves in 2024. Coming home would make for a good story. More importantly, he has the resume to back it up.

Check out our breakdowns on every candidate:

- Bulls Begin Front office Search With Six Targets, Two With Chicago Ties

No reported candidates yet — the Bulls are wisely waiting for new front office leadership before making any coaching calls. Once that's settled, here's who should be on the radar.

Willie Green is the most intriguing name. Fired by New Orleans after a brutal 2-10 start this season, Green is worth a second look, who guided the Pelicans to the playoffs twice and back-to-back winning seasons in 2022-23 and 2023-24. In a league increasingly trending toward young coaches — Jordan Ott took Phoenix to the playoffs in his first season, Joe Mazzulla won a title in Boston — Green fits the profile of a coach who has already been tested and paid his dues with a struggling roster.

Sean Sweeney is another name gaining traction. The Athletic identified him as one of the top assistant coaches on the market this summer. Currently on Mitch Johnson's staff in San Antonio, Sweeney has logged time with the Nets, Bucks, Pistons and Mavericks — two stints under Jason Kidd. His work with the Spurs this season also adds a timely stamp of credibility.

Other names worth monitoring: rising assistants Micah Nori (Minnesota) and Chris Quinn (Miami), as well as veterans Mike Budenholzer, Frank Vogel and Wes Unseld Jr., who already has an existing relationship with the organization. Unseld Jr. would be the path of least difficulty — but probably not the level of ambition this moment calls for.

Check out our briefs on Unseld Jr., Sweeney and other candidates: 

- Most Likely Candidates to Replace Billy Donovan as the Bulls' Head Coach

The Bulls enter the offseason with a league-high $58 million in cap space and a mandate to spend. According to ESPN's Bobby Marks, Chicago must commit at least $46 million by opening night just to hit the league's minimum salary floor.

Ten players are hitting free agency: Nick Richards, Collin Sexton, Anfernee Simons, Guerschon Yabusele, Zach Collins, Leonard Miller, Mouhamadou Gueye, Mac McClung, Yuki Kawamura and Lachlan Olbrich.

Several are extension-eligible, including Simons (three years, $104.6M), Sexton (three years, $71.7M), Collins (four years, $113.4M) and Isaac Okoro (four years, $92.8M).

Which ones should stay? That's a front office decision. But the bigger picture should be clear for the organization that badly needs talent to revamp the roster. Shooting, frontcourt depth and rebounding are major deficiencies Chicago should address. Whoever runs this team this summer needs to prioritize impact over familiarity.

Check out our full free agent breakdown:

- Which Free Agents Should the Bulls Re-Sign and Let Go?

The Bulls hold two first-round picks heading into the 2026 NBA Draft on June 23-24 — their own selection at an expected No. 9, plus a lottery-protected pick from Portland projected around No. 15 after the Blazers clinched the playoff berth. They also hold two second-rounders: No. 37-38 via New Orleans and No. 56 via Denver. Their odds at the No. 1 pick stand at 4.5%, with the lottery order set for May 10.

This is going to be a deep class. Names like Aday Mara, Hannes Stainbach, Nate Ament and Braden Burries are realistic targets for the Bulls if their two first-rounders land at No. 9 and No. 15. If the best lottery luck bounces Chicago's way, the conversation opens to AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, Koa Peat and Darryn Peterson — a generational class where it's genuinely hard to pick wrong.

Check out our full draft coverage for scouting breakdowns:

- Brayden Burries Is a Perfect Fit with the Chicago Bulls

- Could Keaton Wagler's Shooting Boost the Chicago Bulls' Offense?

- Why Caleb Wilson and Labaron Philon Jr Could Fit With the Chicago Bulls

- Could Cameron Boozer Fix the Bulls Halfcourt Offense?

- Would Darryn Peterson Elevate the Bulls Offense?

- Is AJ Dybantsa a Perfect Fit with the Bulls?

- Chicago Bulls Select Tennessee Star Freshman in New Mock Draft

- Guards, Wings and Bigs the Bulls Should Target in the NBA Draft

- Mock Draft Roundup: Chicago Bulls Slide Into Top-10

- Fit or BPA? New Mock Draft Has Chicago Bulls Going Big Over Acuff, Wagler

Ultimately, the Bulls might not solve them all well, or they probably don't have to push for perfection. Considering Chicago's recent dysfunctional cases of swinging stars from the free agency, spending $58 million on repeating the same mistake doesn't sound promising.

Since the roster already has untapped talents worth investing in — Noa Essengue hasn't scratched the surface yet, Giddey is ascending and Buzelis is poised to leap further. Two first-round picks in a deep draft class isn't just a consolation prize; it's a real opportunity for a brighter future.