Jalen Duren, Peyton Watson and Bennedict Mathurin are the top restricted free agents on the market. Naturally, the Bulls are interested, but can they pry the young stars away from their current teams?
As free agency winds down, three high-profile names remain unsigned. It is the second consecutive year in which restricted free agency has led to lengthy contract holdouts, and the Bulls are familiar with the process after last summer's Josh Giddey saga.
With the second-most cap flexibility in the league and one open roster spot, the Bulls financially make sense as a destination for any of Jalen Duren (Pistons), Peyton Watson (Nuggets) or Bennedict Mathurin (Clippers). But is Chicago a good team fit for one of the restricted free agents? And could Bryson Graham actually convince Detroit, Denver or Los Angeles to part with their budding, young stars?
Let's take a look at each and evaluate the probability:
C Jalen Duren (Detroit Pistons, 22 years old)
Duren earned his first All-Star nod and was selected to the All-NBA Third Team last season for helping bring the Pistons to the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference. The Pistons have made it clear that they want him back, but not at the five-year, $287.1 million max contract that he's eligible to receive. Duren's play plummeted from 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds per game on 65.0% shooting in the regular season to 10.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game on 51.4% shooting during the playoffs, making Detroit skeptical about using 35% of the salary cap on him.
May 11, 2026; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) guards Detroit Pistons centerJalenDuren(0) during the second half of game four in the second round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Rocket Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images However, the Pistons would be remiss to let Duren walk after the duo of him and Cade Cunningham finally broke through last season. The Bulls could offer Duren a $41.2 million salary in a sign-and-trade for either three or four seasons, but Graham would need to give up Nic Claxton, Isaac Okoro (via the taxpayer exception) and draft capital to get there.
Does that make Detroit, which is built to win now, a better team? Probably not, and the Pistons would be better off with a disgruntled Duren than leaving Cunningham without his co-star.
Duren to Bulls Likelihood: 5%
G Peyton Watson (Denver Nuggets, 23 years old)
Watson proved he's an essential player to Denver's title hopes, but the Nuggets are in salary cap prison. Nikola Jokic, Jamal Murray, Aaron Gordon, Cam Johnson and Christian Braun are owed a combined $185.7 million next season, and after re-signing Spencer Jones, the Nuggets are now in the second apron.
This means that Denver cannot aggregate salaries in trades, use trade exceptions or take in more money in a trade than it sends out. These restrictions make it incredibly difficult for the Nuggets to negotiate a deal and give Watson the upper hand. Denver has offered Watson $70 million over five years, while the almost 24-year-old is reportedly seeking closer to the range of $28 million annually.
Mar 22, 2026; Denver, Colorado, USA; Denver Nuggets guardPeytonWatson(8) drives past Portland Trail Blazers forward Deni Avdija (8) in the first quarter at Ball Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-Imagn Images Chicago could not sign Watson outright, so it would need to initiate a sign-and-trade. Assuming the Bulls could get Watson's asking price down to $23 million annually, they would also need to acquire an undesirable contract like Zeke Nnaji to help get Denver out of the second apron. Since the Nuggets cannot aggregate salaries, they would also need to receive two players that add up to the roughly $19 million in outgoing salary.
Jalen Smith and Rob Dillingham would do the trick, but would either of those two push Denver over the top? Dillingham likely wouldn't be able to crack the contending Nuggets' rotation, meaning they would essentially be trading one of their best perimeter defenders for a backup forward and cap relief. It's hard for me to believe that Denver sees that as its best possible option to remain in title contention.
Watson to Bulls Likelihood: 15%
G Bennedict Mathurin (Los Angeles Clippers, 24 years old)
Mathurin is the Bulls' most likely target, both from a financial and compensation perspective. Both the Bulls and Clippers are projected to be under the first apron and Mathurin presumably won't cost as much in a trade. However, Los Angeles is currently in limbo due to the Kawhi Leonard investigation and may be unwilling to strike a deal until his trade to the Raptors is finalized.
Apr 7, 2026; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guardBennedictMathurin(9) controls the ball during the first half against the Dallas Mavericks at Intuit Dome. Mandatory Credit: William Liang-Imagn Images The Clippers are rebuilding, so they likely won't be very interested in a package centered around Smith and Okoro. Perhaps Dillingham or Leonard Miller would be intriguing, but the upgrade from those two to Mathurin may not be large enough for the Bulls to pull the trigger on a much more expensive — and longer — contract.
Mathurin definitely aligns with the vision that the Clippers' rebuild seems to have, but they may not be willing to pay him the price he's asking for. That's where the Bulls could swoop in if they decide to bet on the young wing's upside.
Mathurin to Bulls Likelihood: 25%
