The NBA trade deadline has passed, and the Chicago Bulls have a whole new look.
Midseason moves haven’t been the norm for the Bulls, who went three consecutive years (2022-24) without making a single deadline trade under executive vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas.
But after making a blockbuster trade to send away Zach LaVine last February, the Bulls were deadline sellers again this year due to their high volume of expiring contracts.
When the buzzer finally sounded, the Bulls had executed seven trades and parted with eight players: Jevon Carter (who was waived), Ayo Dosunmu, Kevin Huerter, Emanuel Miller, Julian Phillips, Dalen Terry, Nikola Vučević and Coby White.
Additionally, they moved three players — Mike Conley Jr., Ousmane Dieng and Dario Šarić — whom they had acquired via trade. In return, they picked up seven players, mostly on expiring contracts, and netted nine second-round draft picks. The player additions were Rob Dillingham, Jaden Ivey, Leonard Miller, Nick Richards, Collin Sexton, Anfernee Simons and Guerschon Yabusele.
Here’s a recap of the week’s action.
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Thursday: Bulls’ 7th and final trade lands center Nick Richards
The Bulls fit in a seventh and final trade under the wire before Thursday’s trade deadline, sending Ousmane Dieng to the Milwaukee Bucks and acquiring center Nick Richards as part of a three-team deal.
The 6-foot-11 Richards likely will shoulder serious minutes at the five after Tuesday’s trade of Nikola Vučević. A 28-year-old in his sixth season in the league, Richards was averaging 3.2 points and 3.3 rebounds in 9.1 minutes per game this season.
The Bulls had acquired Dieng on Wednesday in the Coby White trade. He was dealt three times over the two days, from the Oklahoma City Thunder to the Charlotte Hornets to the Bulls to the Bucks.
Thursday: Bulls trade Ayo Dosunmu and Julian Phillips to Minnesota Timberwolves
Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu rests on the bench during a timeout in the second quarter against the Heat at the United Center on Nov. 21, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) hugs Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (0) after they won their game 128-123 against the Atlanta Hawks, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, at the United Center in Chicago.
Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) drives on Boston Celtics guard Jordan Walsh (27) in the first half of a game at the United Center in Chicago on Jan. 24, 2026. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
Utah Jazz guard Keyonte George (3) guards Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) during the second quarter at the United Center Jan. 14, 2026 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bears President Kevin Warren hugs Chicago Bulls Ayo Dosunmu before the Bears play the Minnesota Vikings at Soldier Field Monday Sept. 8, 2025, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) and teammates head toward the locker room after a 143-107 loss to the Heat at the United Center on Nov. 21, 2025, in Chicago. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) guards San Antonio Spurs forward Keldon Johnson (3) during the fourth quarter at the United Center on Monday, Nov. 10, 2025, in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu passes the ball in the second quarter against the Hawks on Oct. 27, 2025, at the United Center. (Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) shoots around during practice before a game against the Atlanta Hawks, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, at the United Center in Chicago. (Dominic Di Palermo/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu (11) drives to the basket during the first quarter of the home opener against the Detroit Pistons at the United Center Wednesday Oct. 22, 2025 in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu poses for photos during media day at the United Center on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)
Chicago Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu answers questions during an end-of-season press conference at the Advocate Center on Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Eileen T. Meslar/Chicago Tribune)
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Bulls guard Ayo Dosunmu rests on the bench during a timeout in the second quarter against the Heat at the United Center on Nov. 21, 2025. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune)
Ayo Dosunmu will play for a basketball team outside of his home state for the first time in his career.
The Bulls traded the guard to the Timberwolves a few hours before the trade deadline, sending Dosunmu and forward Julian Phillips to Minnesota for guard Rob Dillingham, small forward Leonard Miller and four second-round picks.
The Bulls have added nine second-round picks with their trades ahead of the deadline. They now own a total of 14.
The Bulls traded into the second round of the 2023 draft to select Phillips, who quickly joined the ranks of toolsy forwards with limited offensive abilities who never quite fit into the rotation. He averaged 2.8 points and 1.3 rebounds in 9.5 minutes per game for the Bulls this season. Read more here.
Wednesday: Bulls trade Dalen Terry to New York Knicks
The Bulls’ Dalen Terry shoots past the Bucks’ Jericho Sims on Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
The Bulls traded their fourth player on an expiring contract late Wednesday, sending Dalen Terry to the Knicks in exchange for forward Guerschon Yabusele, per an ESPN report.
The No. 18 pick in the 2022 draft, Terry never established himself in the primary rotation for the Bulls, even during periods of fluctuation on the roster. He was averaging 3.5 points and 1.9 rebounds in 11.1 minutes per game this season, his fourth with the Bulls.
Yabusele is a 6-foot-7 forward who makes up for a slight lack of height with a powerful frame and aggressive approach around the basket. At 30, he is in only his fourth NBA season. He played for the Boston Celtics from 2017-19 but mostly rode the bench before heading to Europe for the next five years of his career.
After a standout performance with the French national team at the Paris Olympics, Yabusele returned to the NBA last season with the Philadelphia 76ers. He averaged 2.7 points and 2.1 rebounds in 41 appearances off the bench for the Knicks this season.
Yabusele is in the first season of a two-year deal with a player option for the second year. If the Bulls had taken on his contract as it stood at the beginning of the season, they would have been on the hook for another $5.5 million next season for a player in his 30s who doesn’t fit the team’s development timeline.
However, a source confirmed that Yabusele declined his player option as part of the deal, which means he will become an unrestricted free agent this summer, adding to the Bulls’ pool of expiring contracts.
Wednesday: Bulls trade Coby White to Charlotte Hornets
Bulls guard Coby White reacts in the first half against the Celtics on Jan. 24, 2026, at the United Center. (Chris Sweda/Chicago Tribune)
After seven years with the team, Coby White no longer will wear a Bulls jersey.
The Bulls traded White to the Hornets on Wednesday along with Mike Conley Jr., getting back Collin Sexton, Ousmane Dieng and three second-round draft picks.
The No. 7 pick in the 2019 draft, White was the last remaining player acquired before vice president of basketball operations Artūras Karnišovas took the reins in the front office in April 2020. He was a rare source of consistency for the Bulls through two roster overhauls, developing from a score-first guard as a promising rookie into the anchor of the Bulls offense. Read more here.
Tuesday: Bulls trade Nikola Vučević to Boston Celtics
Bulls center Nikola Vučević looks on before the start a game against the Pacers on March 10, 2025, at the United Center. (Armando L. Sanchez/Chicago Tribune)
After years of attempted trades, the Bulls are sending center Nikola Vučević to the Celtics in exchange for guard Anfernee Simons.
The Celtics and Bulls also will swap second-round picks in the deal. ESPN was first to report the trade Tuesday.
Vučević was the first acquisition of the 2021 roster rebuild under Artūras Karnišovas, who took a major swing to craft a group that climbed to the top of the Eastern Conference in January 2022 before crashing to a sixth-place finish and a first-round ouster by the Milwaukee Bucks. The Bulls haven’t returned to the playoffs since.
Simons, a 6-foot-3 guard, was averaging 14.2 points off the bench for the Celtics. He is set to enter free agency this summer, contributing to the Bulls’ goal of creating as much room as possible under the salary cap for the offseason.
After entering the week with eight expiring contracts, the Bulls have parted with two players — Kevin Huerter and Vučević — who were set to hit unrestricted free agency this summer while using their salary flexibility to absorb money for other trade partners. Read more here.
Tuesday: Bulls acquire Jaden Ivey and Mike Conley Jr. in 3-team trade
Pistons guard Jaden Ivey (23) dribbles past Suns forward Ryan Dunn during the first half on Jan. 29, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
The Bulls continued to retool their backcourt Tuesday by acquiring guards Jaden Ivey and Mike Conley Jr. in a three-team trade with the Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves.
The Bulls sent guard Kevin Huerter and forward Dario Šarić — whom they had acquired Saturday in another three-team deal — to the Pistons to complete the trade. The Timberwolves also sent a pick swap for a protected first-rounder to the Pistons in the deal, ESPN reported.
Ivey, a 6-foot-3 shooting guard who is averaging 8.2 points this season, fits the mold for the Bulls’ current youth development plan as a third-year pro at age 23. He will be a restricted free agent after this season.
Ivey missed the majority of the 2024-25 season after breaking his left fibula, a significant injury that required nearly a full year of recovery. He still hasn’t returned to his full vitality — he was averaging 17.6 points in the first 30 games last season before the injury — but there’s hope he will continue to rebuild with another year’s removal from the injury.
Conley, 38, moved to the Timberwolves bench this season and is averaging only 4.4 points. The veteran guard is on an expiring deal that would allow the Bulls to move on this summer.
The Bulls acquired Huerter at last year’s trade deadline with Tre Jones and Zach Collins in a three-team deal that sent Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings.
After making a strong initial impression, Huerter struggled to find his footing this season, shooting 31.4% from 3-point range, significantly below his 37.1% career mark. The Bulls held Huerter out of Sunday’s game against the Miami Heat because of back spasms.
The Bulls acquired Šarić in Saturday’s three-team deal with the Kings and Cleveland Cavaliers. He had not yet joined the team as the Bulls weighed options to move his salary for a better deal.
Betting lines favor Bulls for a Giannis Antetokounmpo trade
Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo shoots against the Bulls during the first half Saturday, Dec. 27, 2025, at the United Center. (Nam Y. Huh/AP)
Could Giannis Antetokounmpo come to Chicago?
This question has tantalized and taunted Bulls fans for years — and this trade deadline is no different. The two-time MVP is dominating the discourse ahead of Thursday’s deadline as the potential centerpiece trade that could set the table for the rest of the league’s dealings. And over the weekend, Las Vegas decided the Bulls were the likeliest trade destination.
In a post on X, DraftKings showed that the Bulls’ odds of landing Antetokounmpo had moved from +4000 to +300 over the course of Sunday alone. Kalshi similarly showed an astronomic leap in the Bulls’ odds to trade for Antetokounmpo, nearing +500 late Sunday.
This isn’t a reflection of the actual trade market — but it is a cautionary tale of how arbitrary information and rumors can influence the sports betting market.
All of this started with a real estate acquisition. Antetokounmpo stayed home from a three-game Milwaukee Bucks road trip while rehabbing a calf injury that could sideline him for the rest of the month. During that reprieve, his family’s investment firm closed a $21 million deal on a 56-unit new-build apartment complex in Chicago.
Do the Chicago Bulls have a chance at landing Giannis Antetokounmpo on the trade market?
The Uptown building is only the latest addition to his portfolio as Antetokounmpo’s family invests heavily in real estate — for instance, buying a pair of apartment buildings in Brooklyn last November. But three days later, a fan posted a clip to social media of Antetokounmpo attending service at a Greek Orthodox church in Chicago.
That combination — a commercial real estate investment and a church visit — was enough to reignite long-dormant hopes that Antetokounmpo might see himself in Chicago.
When NBA insiders talk about Milwaukee’s current negotiations, the Bulls aren’t mentioned. According to reports by ESPN and The Athletic, negotiations for a potential deal are focused on four main suitors: the Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors and New York Knicks.
The Bulls aren’t likely to bulldoze their way into this conversation. Since the original 2021 roster rebuild, the front office under Karnišovas has developed an ethos of “not skipping steps”, a general guideline of building a team’s foundation before chasing a star. That doesn’t mean the Bulls would turn down a legitimate offer for Antetokounmpo, but it does inform how they would approach any conversations with the Bucks.
More importantly, the Bulls lack the trade resources to sit at the table for this conversation. While they certainly could deal away four of their future first-round draft picks — the maximum allowed by the league — and a few pick swaps, they would need to part with a valuable young player asset such as Josh Giddey or Matas Buzelis to complete the deal.
That would leave Antetokounmpo in roughly the same position he currently bemoans in Milwaukee, anchoring an understaffed roster with zero draft capital to build around him. With only two years left on his contract, there’s no reason for the Bulls to believe they could deliver a strong enough product in that short timeline to prevent Antetokounmpo from walking in free agency.
Ultimately, Antetokounmpo wants to leave Milwaukee to win — something the Bulls simply can’t provide.
Saturday: Bulls receive Dario Šarić and a pair of 2nd-round picks in 3-team deal
The Warriors’ Dario Šarić gestures during a game against the Pelicans on Jan. 10, 2024, in San Francisco. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Who got what: The Bulls received two second-round picks and forward Dario Šarić while acting as facilitators in a three-team trade with the Sacramento Kings and Cleveland Cavaliers.
The main core of the trade involved the Cavaliers sending De’Andre Hunter to the Kings in exchange for Dennis Schröder and Keon Ellis. The Bulls also sent forward Emanuel Miller to the Cavaliers.
Notes on the new guy: Šarić, 31, appeared in only five games for the Kings this season. The No. 12 pick in the 2014 draft, Šarić was an exciting prospect when he finally entered the league with the Philadelphia 76ers in 2016. He was the runner-up for Rookie of the Year, averaging 13.5 points and 6.5 rebounds. The 76ers traded him to the Minnesota Timberwolves in 2018.
Šarić struggled to live up to the early expectations, especially after suffering an ACL injury in 2021. He played a total of 21 games over the last two seasons with the Kings and Denver Nuggets.
At 6-foot-10, Šarić could help the Bulls redistribute their size toward bigger lineups, which have become a preference of the front office this season. His limitations as a defender won’t help with rim protection, but he could add size and shooting if needed as a rotational big.
How it works: Due to Miller’s status as a two-way player, the Bulls waived guard Jevon Carter to create room for Šarić on the roster. However, his acquisition won’t affect the team’s spending due to a trade exception acquired in the Zach LaVine trade.
The Bulls can absorb the entirety of Šarić’s remaining $5.3 million contract using this deal. He is in the final year of his contract, which means the Bulls don’t hold any further financial responsibility for him in the 2026 free-agency window. And they will have plenty of cap space for additional trades in the coming week, a healthy prognosis for a team that would benefit from using financial flexibility to scoop up draft picks.
What’s being said: Although he averaged only 12 minutes per game over three seasons in Chicago, Carter was a cornerstone as a rare veteran in the young Bulls locker room. A Maywood native who played at Proviso East, Carter took pride in suiting up for his hometown team.
Carter was waived just minutes after he scored 11 points in Saturday’s win over the Miami Heat. Players and coaches praised the guard’s work ethic and willingness to embrace his role as a deep rotational player.
“It was always a breath of fresh air — it didn’t matter whether we won a good game or lost a bad game, coming in the next day, JC’s going to be in there working,” forward Patrick Williams said. “That’s a constant that every good team has to have, whether it comes from the star player or the last guy on the bench.”