(From left to right) Matas Buzelis, Josh Giddey and Coby White are 3 key youngsters for Chicago. (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)
Get Caught Up
2024-25 Record: 39-43 (10th in East, lost in Play-In Tournament)
Chicago’s end-of-season sprint ranked among the best in the league as it won 15 of its final 20 games. That was a better finish over that span than the East-leading Cleveland Cavaliers and the third-place New York Knicks. However, inconsistency earlier in the 2024-25 season kept them down in the standings, and despite qualifying for the Play-In, they wound up falling on that stage for the third consecutive season.
After waving farewell to the Zach LaVine era in a midseason trade with the Sacramento Kings, Chicago embraced rising stars Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis and Coby White as the centerpieces of what’s to come. That showed in the franchise’s quiet offseason as it hunts for a return to the playoffs.
Offseason
- Re-signing: Jevon Carter (player option exercised), Josh Giddey, Tre Jones
- Additions: Isaac Okoro (trade)
- Draft: Noa Essengue (12th pick), Lachlan Olbrich (55th pick)
- Departures: Lonzo Ball (trade)
- Unsigned Free Agents: Talen Horton-Tucker
The Bulls largely sat back and watched the East landscape change around them. Four of their top-six scorers in White (20.4 points per game), Nikola Vučević (18.5), Kevin Huerter (13.2) and Ayo Dosunmu (12.3) were already locked up entering the offseason. They re-signed Tre Jones to a reported three-year deal and, after months of negotiation in restricted free agency, brought back Giddey on a reported four-year deal.
Continuing to develop Buzelis and Noa Essengue, the 11th and 12th overall picks in 2024 and 2025, respectively, will be crucial. With Giddey, White and Buzelis all just 25 years old or younger, the Bulls have a young core to carry them into the future.
"If you are around not only special talent but special people, a lot of unbelievable things can be accomplished."
Congratulations on a Hall of Fame career, Coach Donovan 👏 pic.twitter.com/Wekgld5Kd0
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) September 7, 2025
Bulls coach Billy Donovan was inducted into the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame this offseason as part of the Class of 2025.
X-factor
Coby White. A seventh-year guard, went on a second-half tear last season and was a big part of Chicago’s late-season surge. He scored at least 20 points in 18 of 19 contests from Feb. 28 to April 6, and his six outings of 35-plus points surpassed his combined career total entering 2024-25. The Bulls were 9-0 in games White scored 30 or more.
The speedy White ups the tempo and is a tough one-on-one matchup thanks to his ball-handling and quick first step. He has increased his field goal percentage in each season and last season’s career highs in points, 3-point field goals, steals and free-throw percentage offer evidence that more production could be ahead.
> Watch Coby White on NBA League Pass
One key question
How will Buzelis fare in 2025-26? He didn’t start a game for the Bulls until Feb. 5 (after the LaVine trade), but held that role for 31 consecutive contests once he got it. Whether or not Chicago gets over the hump could depend on the leap he makes.
Should Buzelis remain a rotation mainstay, he must continue to develop his shot-creation skills and ability to operate in space. The 6-foot-10 forward has the benefit of established on-court chemistry with White and Giddey. If he finds more comfort in the team’s up-tempo approach, he can now focus on his game rather than finding a role.
Fantasy Outlook from RotoWire
The team at RotoWire broke down the top fantasy options for each team in the East. Here’s how they broke down some of the best options from the Bulls:
“Over the last couple of years, Coby White has shown flashes that he can shine as one of the most electric guards in the East. He averaged a career-high 20.4 points per game last season, including reaching the 25-point mark in 21 games, and notching a season high of 44 points. He faces an ideal opportunity to step into the role of offensive leader for his team and is certainly a player to watch in the coming season. Matas Buzelis is also an exciting young player, as his offensive versatility at 6-foot-9 makes for a tough cover. He averaged 13.2 points on 49.2% shooting, including 41.5% from 3-point range over the final 20 games last season and is likely to take a significant step forward in a dedicated starting role.”
Key dates
- Preseason Opener: Oct. 7 at Cavaliers (7 ET, Peacock)
- Regular Season/Home Opener: Oct. 22 vs. Pistons (8 ET, League Pass)
- Emirates NBA Cup East Group C Play: Oct. 31 vs. Knicks (8 ET, League Pass), Nov. 7 at Bucks (8 ET, League Pass), Nov. 21 vs. Heat (8 ET, League Pass), Nov. 28 at Hornets (7:30 ET, League Pass)
What they’re saying
Joel Lorenzi, The Athletic: “Ayo Dosunmu is a solid defender. Buzelis projects as someone who can defend multiple positions, a lengthy athlete who could aid a rim protector from the help side. Tre Jones, though undersized, seems capable of holding his own and is capable of steadying an offense, which should compensate for any aforementioned issues.” (Read More)
