Chicago Bulls Continue Years-Long Trend of Middling Success and Bad Trades

The Miami Heat’s Jaime Jaquez Jr., left, drives against the Chicago Bulls’ Ayo Dosunmu (11) during the first quarter at Kaseya Center on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026, in Miami. (Megan Briggs/Getty Images/TNS)

The Bulls sit with a record of 23-23 at the midway point of the season, as numbers show yet another uneventful season for the team.

Over the last four years, the Chicago Bulls have had middling records, this year currently at 24-25, through 49 games as of writing. They have been consistently in the middle of the pack and are on track to do the same this year.

With the trade deadline coming up fast, the Bulls have to decide whether they want to buy in or sell at this year’s deadline. The Bulls and making a trade at the deadline are things that do not match.

In the last five seasons, the Bulls have made one move during this time, when long-time Bull Zach LaVine was traded to the Sacramento Kings.

Now that trade was huge, the players they got in return, Tre Jones, Kevin Hurter, and Zach Collins, have all been key pieces in the Bulls’ wins this year. Tre Jones, in particular, has been a stand-out.

During the offseason, Jones signed a 3-year, $24 million contract to stay in The Windy City. Jones has come off the bench this year and has also started. He is currently averaging 12 ppg, five assists per game, and plays the best defense on the team.

Jones not only brings a spark off the bench, but also plays a huge role in how the team is on the defensive end. He is averaging 1.4 steals per game, which is in the top 30 in the league. When Giddey was out for 11 games, Jones was put into the starting lineup and helped facilitate the offense, holding things down when Giddey was out.

At only 26, Tre Jones is in his prime, and the Bulls got a steal with his contract.

Jones, however, has also been thrown into trade talks this year. The Bulls have been offering just about every name on the team except for rising star Matas Buzelis.

NBA reporter Jake Fischer noted on X (formerly Twitter), “Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Tre Jones have drawn trade interest; White is most likely to be moved.”

Hearing Dosunmu and White’s name in trade talks should not come as a surprise, as both are on expiring contracts this year and will be free agents next offseason.

White will be asking for 30 million per year this upcoming offseason and, from my perspective, that is way too much for someone who can’t stay consistently healthy and play at a consistent level.

He is averaging 19.1 ppg this year, and with Giddey being out, he has stepped into that top option for the Bulls offense. Some nights he shoots 2-7, and other nights he shoots 9-17 and drops 30 points. For someone who can’t consistently score at an elite level and is already seven years into his career, White has not shown the Bulls front office or the fans that he deserves 30 million a year.

I can easily see him heading to a different team at the deadline. The Timberwolves seem like a top fit as they need a backup guard off the bench who can catch and shoot at a high level.

As a die-hard Bulls fan, I want the team to sell. Trade Guard Coby White and Center Nikola Vučević. The two longest-tendered Bulls are both on expiring contracts, and I don’t see them resigning in the offseason to come back.

In a package for Vučević, I can see the Bulls getting a few second-round picks and another player on an expiring contract. It slots Jalen Smith into the starting role and really gives a direction for this team as they look to compete once again.

For White, I can see a package of a first-round pick and another guard, a player I would love, is former Illini star Terrence Shannon Jr. He would have a huge minutes increase in the Bulls rotation and has a very high ceiling for what he can do in the NBA.

Now, will the Bulls make moves and try to rebuild, or will they try to push for a playoff spot in an Eastern Conference that has been pretty weak this year? I don’t think the Bulls will make any crazy moves and keep the same team past the deadline.

Unfortunately, this team will not pick a direction and try to rebuild, but that is what this front office loves to do. I do not see that changing any time soon. Something might change, but in my eyes, Bulls fans, be ready to be in the Play-In again.