To say that the 2024-25 NBA season was memorable for the Chicago Bulls, it was truly historic. The team saw player movement from the summer through the trade deadline.
Alex Caruso was shipped to the Oklahoma City Thunder for Josh Giddey, and DeMar DeRozan got traded out west to the Sacramento Kings. Zach LaVine joined him months later as the Bulls took in a number of players with expiring contracts: Tre Jones, Kevin Huerter, Zach Collins, among others.
March 6th was the beginning of a four-game win streak. Since that mark, the Bulls only dropped five games (four of which were against Western Conference opponents).
Chicago set a record for most points scored, assists and 3-point shots made. With major decisions on where the team goes from here, these are the three best fits for the Bulls next season.
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, Forward/Center
Also known as 'the Greek Freak,' this 30-year-old veteran may want out of Milwaukee. Despite the Bucks winning a ring, they have been ousted by the Indiana Pacers in the first round of the playoffs two years in a row.
Furthermore, his running mate, Damian Lillard, has been ruled out for next season due to his recent Achilles' tendon injury. Thus, Milwaukee may push the reset button, and that means Chicago should be calling the Bucks' front office.
Giannis has put up amazing numbers in his 12 NBA seasons thus far. He recorded career highs the past two seasons with 6.5 assists a game. The Bulls racked up almost 2,400 assists in 2024-25.
The former NBA champion has made at least 60% of his field goals the past two seasons, as well. He gives the Bulls versatility at the 4 or the 5. He can play power forward or center.
Assuming that Chicago would keep Coby White, Josh Giddey, and breakout rookie Matas Buzelis, Giannis becomes a solid complement to their young core. The Bulls would potentially have the money to keep Giannis long term after the 2025-26 season, as many players come off the books.
While the ideal trade package would still have to be constructed, there are a number of expiring contracts and future first-round picks Chicago could utilize in a deal. The Bulls would be a playoff team with Giannis, and the Bucks would most likely not be without him.
2. Walker Kessler, Center
This current Utah Jazz big man has played for two of the NCAA's most prolific programs of all time, the North Carolina Tar Heels and the Auburn Tigers. At 7'0'' tall, Kessler would give the Bulls size down low and a presence on both sides of the floor.
While the Atlanta, Georgia native is not a threat to go off from behind the arc, Kessler has made at least 65% of his field goals in all three of his seasons in the league. He has also increased his steals, blocks, and assists over the course of his NBA career.
"Despite a lot of adversity we went through as a team, we handled it well, we grew, and moving forward, it definitely helps us... I'm a big believer in, you really only can appreciate those moments of glory, or when you do well or something, when you've been through a tough time."Walker Kessler, Utah Jazz center
Kessler is a big man who can rebound. With his average of 11 points and 12 rebounds a game, the Jazz center would allow Chicago to move on from their veteran starting center, Nikola Vucevic.
On his current contract, Kessler is making less than $3.5 million a year. He is scheduled to make closer to $4.9 million next season, which is still significantly lower than Vucevic's ($21.5 million).
Again, the proper trade package would have to entice the Utah Jazz to move on from Kessler. However, Kessler would certainly be worth the inquiry his summer.
3. Caris LeVert, Guard
Unlike Giannis and Kessler, this player is not under contract with a team for the 2025-26 NBA season. The Atlanta Hawks may choose to re-sign the combo guard. However, LeVert will surely be contacted by some other teams.
Salary cap restraints for the Chicago Bulls may turn their attention away from LeVert. The nine-year veteran made about $16 million the past two seasons from his two-year deal.
The Columbus, Ohio native posted a career high in field goal percentage (48.2%) in 38 games with Atlanta and a career best in 3-point percentage (40.5%) with the Cleveland Cavaliers last season. LeVert will still command more than $10 million a season on his next deal.
Chicago has a crowded backcourt as it is now with White, Giddey, Jones, and Huerter, as well as the returns of Ayo Dosunmu and Lonzo Ball. If the Bulls move on from Jones, Huerter, and/or Ball, then LeVert is worth the short-term deal for a few seasons in a mutually beneficial monetary amount.