With the 2025 NBA Draft less than a month away, the Chicago Bulls need to make a few major decisions as to the direction they want to take their roster. As they look to prioritize youth along with team-friendly contracts, one player stands out above the rest.
Zach Collins arrived at the Bulls in February as a part of the trade revolving around sending Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings. While he was productive in the final two months of the season in Chicago, Collins' contract, along with his age, are major factors in his uncertain future with the Bulls.
At 27 years old and set to make $18 million next season, Collins is likely to be a top trade candidate for the Bulls heading into the offseason. In addition to the money he will be owed, Chicago looks to be interested in drafting a big man, making Collins a roadblock for developing young talent.
Zach Collins and His Time in Chicago
Collins played in 28 games for the Bulls in the 2024-25 season and contributed to their on-court success in the final two months of the regular season. He averaged 8.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 2.1 assists on 19.7 minutes per night, including four double-doubles and seven 10+ rebounding games.
While those numbers are pretty strong for a backup center, Collins is currently set to be the second-highest-paid player for the Bulls next season. The only player set to make more is Nikola Vucevic, who looks to be on his way out.
For the same reasons Chicago finally seems ready to move on from Vucevic, they should apply the same logic for finding a new spot for Collins. Regardless of the good performances he had in February and March, the team can't justify paying that type of money for a player who will likely come off the bench.
The Bulls' Plans for the Future
The Bulls seem focused on selecting a big man with their 12th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Whoever it may be, Chicago is keen on drafting and developing someone on a relatively small contract to pair with their burgeoning young stars.
The path for Collins to stay in Chicago would mean the exact opposite. Even if he were to stay, the team would need to play Collins on a nightly basis to justify the contract, which at the same time would stunt the development of whoever they pick on draft night.
It isn't to say that the Bulls wouldn't want to keep a player with the experience of Collins, but paying $18 million next season for a 'veteran' doesn't seem like the best decision for this team.
In fact, Chicago is set to have two other players making around that money next season in Patrick Williams and Kevin Huerter. With those contracts, along with Collins', there is no clear reason to pay a total of $54 million for three players who started a total of 60 games last season.
The Bulls also look set to give out extensions for Josh Giddey soon and perhaps Coby White later on, making the idea of keeping Collins and his contract even more implausible for next season.
If the Bulls have learned anything over the past decade of drafting in the mid-lottery and finishing near or right outside of the NBA Playoffs, it should be that money matters. They were stuck with LaVine's contract for years, and finally seemed to realize that it was time to move off of Vucevic and his deal.
Entering a new era with some great young talent, the front office should know that it isn't smart to stockpile contracts to, at best, have a chance at winning the Play-In Tournament.
If they choose to keep Collins for next season, he will likely be a decent player off the bench, but it will only show that the Chicago Bulls aren't focused on a successful future. Rather than playing it safe, the Bulls need to take risks, and it starts on draft night.