Chicago Bulls Free Agency Targets Are Emerging — And the Direction Is Finally Clear

For the first time in a long time, I can actually see the outline of what the Chicago Bulls are trying to do.

After a trade deadline that reshaped the roster and prioritized flexibility, this front office has positioned itself to be one of the few legitimate cap-space players this offseason. That alone is different. The question now isn’t whether the Bulls can make moves — it’s whether they’ll execute them correctly.

If the early rumblings are accurate, Chicago is preparing to be aggressive in restricted free agency — specifically at the wing position.

That makes sense.

This roster is being built around Josh Giddey’s size and playmaking and Matas Buzelis’ versatility. Adding a two-way forward who can defend, space the floor, and thrive in transition fits the identity they’re trying to form.

Names like Tari Eason, Bennedict Mathurin, and Peyton Watson make basketball sense. Eason would bring defensive toughness and length. Mathurin adds pure scoring punch. Watson offers athletic upside and two-way potential. If the Bulls are serious about building a modern, switchable roster, this is the market to attack.

But restricted free agency is a gamble. Offer sheets can be matched. That means Chicago needs to be decisive — and aggressive enough to make teams uncomfortable.

Even with the wing focus, center remains a glaring need.

Walker Kessler is the name that keeps surfacing. A rim-protecting anchor who can finish inside would dramatically shift the defensive ceiling of this team. If Utah hesitates on a long-term commitment, Chicago has the cap space to test that relationship.

There are also fallback options — veterans like Mitchell Robinson or Robert Williams III — but those come with injury concerns. The Bulls need durability as much as talent.

My gut says they address center twice: once in free agency, once in the draft — especially if that Portland pick conveys.

As if the roster questions weren’t enough, injuries continue stacking up.

Anfernee Simons’ wrist sprain, Jalen Smith’s calf issue, and the general wear-and-tear across this group only reinforce one reality: this losing streak isn’t ending anytime soon.

Nine straight losses could turn into fourteen. And if we’re being honest, that may not be the worst outcome.

Lottery positioning matters. This draft class matters. The Bulls’ future may hinge on how high that pick lands.

Chicago Bulls Arturas Karnisovas, executive vice president of basketball operations talks to the press on Media Day.

David Banks-Imagn Images

Artūras Karnišovas created flexibility. That’s step one.

Step two is turning that flexibility into actual impact talent.

Cap space without execution is meaningless. Draft picks without development are wasted. This franchise has struggled historically with both consistency and long-term vision.

The opportunity is here. The margin for error isn’t.

If the Bulls swing big and connect, this reset starts to look strategic. If they miss, we’re staring at another cycle of mediocrity — just with different names on the back of the jerseys.