Bulls Rebuild Makes Giannis Trade Unlikely
As the Chicago Bulls continue their rebuilding process, it’s only natural they’ll be linked to every major star rumored to be on the trade block. Rebuilding teams typically stockpile young talent and draft picks—valuable currency for taking big swings in the trade market.
Among the biggest names circulating in trade rumors is Giannis Antetokounmpo. The Milwaukee Bucks’ early playoff exit—marked by a first-round elimination for the second straight year—has fueled speculation about the two-time MVP’s future. Unsurprisingly, the Bulls have emerged as a speculative dark horse in discussions.
However, acquiring a player of Giannis’ caliber would come at a steep cost. According to Julia Poe of the Chicago Tribune, the Bulls would have to gut their roster to make a competitive offer.
“Trading for Antetokounmpo would mean sacrificing the bulk of the Bulls’ young core,” Poe reported. “That starts with Coby White and Josh Giddey, their two most promising players… The Bucks likely wouldn’t stop there, perhaps looking to plunder young players such as Ayo Dosunmu and Matas Buzelis to flesh out a restart without Antetokounmpo… At the end of the day, this likely won’t be an issue.”
Poe added that while the Bulls’ trade package wouldn’t be the worst on the table, they still don’t stand out as a top contender for Giannis.
Though Giannis remains a borderline MVP-level talent, the cost to acquire him might be too steep for a team in the midst of a rebuild. Standing pat and focusing on development may be the more strategic path for Chicago.
K.C. Johnson Shares Similar Outlook
Veteran Bulls insider K.C. Johnson echoed Poe’s sentiments on a recent episode of The Fastbreak. Johnson emphasized just how much the Bulls would need to give up in a potential deal.
“You’d probably have to throw in a signed-and-traded Josh Giddey. Coby White would probably be asked for in that package,” Johnson explained. “You absolutely have to think the Bucks would ask for Matas Buzelis. And then look, every first-round pick that the Bulls own, and every pick swap available to the Bulls would be headed Milwaukee’s way. That would leave you with Giannis and Vučević as your core moving forward. Is this something you’d want to do as a Bulls fan?”
Given the price tag, adding Giannis doesn’t seem like the right move for where the Bulls currently stand. While tempting, such a move would likely strip the team of its depth and long-term upside.
Chicago Must Lean Into the Rebuild
Rebuilding is rarely glamorous, but it’s necessary for sustained future success. The Bulls are in the early stages of this process, planting the seeds for what they hope will become a contending roster over the next four to five years.
Kenny Beecham, speaking on Fan Duel TV’s Run It Back, emphasized that Bulls fans should brace for more tough seasons ahead before things turn around.
“I don’t think there’s saving this team,” Beecham said. “A lot of us wanted this team to take a step back, which they did. They traded Zach LaVine. Traded DeMar DeRozan before the season started. And even then, we still look at the roster squinting our eyes, like ‘there’s not a lot going on here.’ I think we’ve still got two to three more years before we can be excited about Bulls basketball again.”
With draft night approaching, Chicago has numerous holes to fill. Above all, the front office must focus on selecting prospects who complement the projected backcourt of the future: Josh Giddey and Coby White.
Leave a Reply