Recently, head coach Billy Donovan shared publicly what the front office told him about the new players, per Paolo Songco of ChiCity Sports.

Essentially, it’s a very lukewarm approach management is taking. In other words, go out and do your best.

“The discussions I had with [the front office] when the trade deadline was finalized was, ‘Nothing has changed, try and get these guys to play to the best of their ability; we know it’s going to be somewhat challenging with seven new players,’ ’ Donovan said. “Even talking to ownership, it’s been, ‘Hey, go out there and do your very best.’ There has been no indication from ownership or the front office of, ‘Hey, listen, if we finish here, here or here’ or ‘Listen, don’t worry about playing these guys; just play these guys.’ There’s been none of that at all.”

Although the Bulls are denying allegations of tanking, Donovan recognizes that they are in a prime position to draft high.

“Philosophically, I get the dynamics once June, whatever date that draft date is, I get how that impacts all of that,” he continued. “It’s not like I’m sitting over there saying, ‘Well, it’s a close game right now, let’s sit Josh [Giddey] and Tre [Jones] and Jalen [Smith].’ There has not been that. And I think if I did do that, they would say, ‘Listen, you need to put the best guys out there.’ ’’

On Sunday, the Bulls will play the Milwaukee Bucks to kick off March.

The post Billy Donovan reveals what front office said about new players appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Bulls’ losing streak is at 11, and they are five games shy of the franchise record of 16 set in 2001.

On Friday, former Bulls player turned analyst Stacey King made a bold request to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on his Gimme The Hot Sauce Podcast. He is asking for the Bulls to receive the No.1 Draft Pick before the lottery.

“It’s time to get Chicago basketball relevant again” he said.

Stacey pleads with Adam Silver to bless the Chicago Bulls with the #1 pick in the draft

“It’s time to get Chicago basketball relevant again”

:https://t.co/LPxfvRzPIG pic.twitter.com/0Oxik6VAi6

— Gimme The Hot Sauce Podcast (@gimmehotsauce21) February 27, 2026

After losing to the Trail Blazers, Chicago now stands at 24-36. On Sunday, they will kick off March by taking on the Milwaukee Bucks at home. Then, next Tuesday, they will play against the Oklahoma City Thunder at home.

Lately, there has been speculation that Chicago is tanking games to be in a position to secure higher draft picks. However, Matas Buzelis completely refuted those claims, saying that the Bulls are playing to win.

Lately, the NBA has been taking steps to combat tanking. Chicago is adjusting to a new roster dynamic following seven trades that sent away Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Nikola Vucevic, and Kevin Huerter.

King is known for playing for Chicago during the first three-peat teams from 1991 to 1993. Altogether, he played in Chicago from 1989 to 1994.

Since 2007, he has become a popular analyst for the franchise. He is currently working for the Chicago Sports Network. In addition, King is the co-host of the popular Gimmie The Hot Sauce Podcast.

The post Stacey King begs Adam Silver for rigged lottery after Trail Blazers loss appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Check our Sneakers news for more upcoming releases and breaking content!

In a story from ESPN’s Baxter Holmes, Nike creators originally intended for the “Black Mamba” moniker to be attached to Michael Jordan. While Jordan is widely know as the “Black Cat” to many for his jaguar-like movement on the court and several sneaker colorways with the nickname, the mamba concept was born when developing the Air Jordan 19 sneakers.

Michael Jordan had wanted a new concept for the 19th sneaker in his signature collection, to which a design team looked to innovated the first laceless basketball sneaker. The weave locking system resembled snakeskin, so the creative team jumped at the idea of branding Jordan as “The Black Mamba.”

Kobe Bryant emerging as “The Black Mamba”

As it turns out, Michael Jordan was “visibly uncomfortable” during the pitch as the creative team wasn’t previously aware of Jordan’s phobia of snakes. The blunder was a complete afterthought and Nike executive diverged from the idea for some time. That is, until Los Angeles Lakers’ Kobe Bryant left Adidas in 2003 to join Nike.

The talented, yet controversial talent was then dubbed the new “Black Mamba,” an alter ego Bryant fully embraced with his mindset and play on the court. Growing up a fan of the “Kill Bill” films, Bryant was able to transform into the “Black Mamba” en route to winning five championship rings.

The Nike Kobe signature line

The Nike Kobe signature line grew into a phenomenon of its own, spanning across 12 name-bearing silhouettes and pioneering the designs of the most popular basketball sneakers in the current landscape. Legendary Nike sneaker designer Eric Avar spearheaded the operation and truly helped to convey the Mamba Mentality through sneakers that would fit the same attitude.

Several designs like the Nike Kobe 3 and Nike Kobe 6 took direct inspiration from snakes, while recent releases play even further into the ‘Black Mamba’ moniker with updated colorway. In the NBA today, the Nike Kobe sneakers are the most widely-worn shoe out of any other model.

Transcending basketball

Not only is the Nike Kobe line dominating the footwear of the NBA, but the hottest football cleats on the market currently are the Nike Kobe 6 PE sneakers-turned-cleats players have been wearing around the NFL. Athletes across all sports have been inspired by Kobe Bryant’s play on the court, but it’s been the Mamba Mentality that transcends all sports and speaks to the competitor in all of us.

While the “Black Mamba” may have not been the clear choice for the greatest player of all time in Michael Jordan, they couldn’t have landed on a better player to represent as the “Black Mamba” than Kobe Bryant. He lived the moniker throughout his entire NBA career, addressing the fans in a Lakers’ uniform one last time by saying “Mamba out.”

The post Michael Jordan received Nike’s first Black Mamba pitch before Kobe Bryant earned moniker appeared first on ClutchPoints.

However, Matas Buzelis emphatically denied those claims, per Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic. Instead, Buzelis tapped into his intense desire to win.

“I don’t really like that word. And people might think that (we’re tanking), but I’m going out and trying to win every night. All these guys are, too.”

Undoubtedly, the losing streak is taking its toll on Buzelis. On Tuesday, Chicago lost its 10th straight to the Charlotte Hornets 131-99. A game in which Buzelis scored a season high of 32 points.

“I’m sorry, I just … I wanna win games, and that’s what everything is all about,” Buzelis said when asked about his ongoing development following the latest Chicago Bulls loss.

Additionally, the Bulls are still in the adjustment phase with a new roster following a multitude of trades. Trades that sent away Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Nikola Vucevic, and Kevin Huerter.

But to hear Buzelis tell it, that’s no reason not to play to win.

“When you trade half the team, and you bring in new guys, it’s tough,” Buzelis said. “It’s no excuse, though. We gotta come in and figure it out. And I’m (going to) say it again: I know we’re capable of doing that.”

On Thursday, the Bulls will close out the month against the Portland Trail Blazers. They currently stand at 24-35.

The post Matas Buzelis fires back at tanking allegations amid 10-game losing streak appeared first on ClutchPoints.

For this game, Jaden Ivey will be out due to Left Patellofemoral pain syndrome, while Anfernee Simons will also be sidelined with a left ulnar styloid fracture. Meanwhile, backup big man Jalen Smith is listed as doubtful due to a right calf strain, while Patrick Williams is also doubtful due to a right quadriceps strain.

Zach Collins will remain out of the lineup after recently undergoing surgery.

The Bulls have gotten some injury reinforcements in recent weeks, with Josh Giddey returning from a hamstring injury and working back into his normal amount of minutes per night, but it still hasn’t done anything to stop the Bulls’ hemorrhaging over the last ten games, which has sent them well below the play-in line in the Eastern Conference.

At this point, some Bulls fans are already turning their attention to the upcoming NBA Draft lottery, with many projecting the 2026 class to be one of the most talented in years. Chicago could certainly benefit from adding a blue-chip prospect to slide in alongside Giddey and Matas Buzelis to build around moving forward.

Meanwhile, the Bulls’ logjam of backcourt players that they assembled at the trade deadline has yielded predictably disastrous results, although that chaos has been cleared up at the moment due to the injuries to Simons and Ivey.

In any case, the Bulls and Trail Blazers are slated to tip off at 8:00 pm ET on Thursday evening from the United Center in Chicago.

The post Bulls add another injury ahead of Blazers game amid 10-game losing streak appeared first on ClutchPoints.

However, that does not come close to explaining exactly what D-Rose stands for, for Chicago, something the Chicago Cubs’ Pete Crow-Armstrong may have a fair idea about. The 37-year-old recently spoke about his meeting with Rose, claiming that the Bulls legend was everything he wanted him to be.

"That was one of the coolest days of my life"

Pete Crow-Armstrong talks about the time he met Chicago legend Derrick Rose pic.twitter.com/yuTlDj0rSn

— MLB (@MLB) February 25, 2026

“That was one of like the coolest days of my life. Yeah, D-Rose was big in my house growing up. I am learning like what he really meant to the city. He gave me a lot of his time one day, and he just reminded me that like, I am meant to be there. He really just took the time to get to know me and hear my story,” he said per a post on X by MLB, before explaining that Rose seemingly had an answer for everything he was unsure about.

“It almost felt like he had an answer for everything, that I was either unsure of or, but coming from him like, he was Chicago, and is Chicago really. But that guy is like everything and more that I wanted him to be. That was about the coolest thing ever,” Crow-Armstrong said.

Rose was drafted first overall by the Bulls in 2008, immediately breathing life into a struggling franchise by securing Rookie of the Year honors and dragging the team to a 41-41 record. However, his best season came during the 2010-11 run.

En route to becoming the youngest MVP in NBA history, Rose led the Bulls to the Eastern Conference Finals, positioning Chicago as a legitimate championship threat for the first time since the Michael Jordan era. Of course, the fairytale was quickly derailed when he suffered an ACL tear during the opening game of the 2012 playoffs, the first of multiple injuries that eventually limited his potential.

Still, as the Cubs star claimed, Rose is and was Chicago itself, and remains a major source of inspiration for young stars across sports.

The post Cubs star Pete Crow-Armstrong’s Derrick Rose admission will catch Bulls fans’ attention appeared first on ClutchPoints.

White made his debut for the Hornets on Tuesday night against a familiar foe, and he put up 10 points on 4-9 shooting from the field against his former team. The Hornets were able to ease him into action, which was important considering that the calf injury he was dealing with was serious enough for the Bulls to get one fewer second-round pick in the trade.

This was certainly an emotional night for White considering that he had spent the first six and a half seasons of his career with the Bulls. Bulls fans also acknowledged his contributions for the team during his time in the Windy City, and White appreciated the warm reception he received.

“You don’t really know the impact you have on people. And the impact people have on me. I got the ovation and whatever, but so many people being here tonight, wearing my jersey, calling my name. For me, it’s just trying to be in the moment. And just try to stay grounded. It’s very humbling to find out how many people you impact through this beautiful game that we play,” White said, via CHSN.

"It's very humbling to find out how many people you impact through this beautiful game that we play."

Coby White on the support he felt in his return to Chicago tonight pic.twitter.com/WqZPPQyYXi

— Bulls on CHSN (@CHSN_Bulls) February 25, 2026

Coby White joins nascent Hornets core

The Bulls had run their course, paving the way for White to join the upstart Hornets. With LaMelo Ball having a checkered injury history, White figures to play a huge role for one of the league’s hottest teams.

White is only 26 years of age and he can be one of the most explosive scorers in the association. He also studied in Chapel Hill, which means that he’s already beloved in Charlotte.

The post Hornets’ Coby White has heartwarming reaction to fan reception in Chicago return appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Nevertheless, Matas Buzelis came through with a season-high 32 points. However, to hear him tell it, that doesn’t matter as much as winning games, per K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Sports Network.

“I want to win games,” Buzelis said. I’m working every day to try to win. And so is everybody else.” Additionally, Buzelis came away with a team-high six rebounds as well as six 3-pointers.

As a result, the Bulls are now 24-35. On Thursday, they will close out the month with a home game against the Portland Trail Blazers. On Tuesday, Buzelis and company welcomed back his former teammate Coby White in his first game back in Chicago since being traded. White finished the game with 10 points.

Buzelis is averaging 15.3 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Recently, Buzelis has been coming to grips with an entirely new dynamic following the Trade Deadline. He saw his former teammates, White, Ayo Dosunmu, Nikola Vucevic, and Kevin Huerter go to other competitors. Thus, leaving Buzelis, Josh Giddey, and Jalen Smith among the remaining core Chicago players.

Also, he is being entrusted with carrying more of the Bulls’ offense, especially since they are still adjusting. Buzelis is in his second season with Chicago. He recently competed in the NBA Rising Stars Game during the All-Star Weekend. Plus, he has gone viral this season for his explosive dunks.

However, that doesn’t compensate for winning games.

The post Matas Buzelis shuts down career-high question with winning comeback appeared first on ClutchPoints.

As a result, the Bulls have become the only winless team in the NBA, per ESPN Insights. Additionally, Chicago has now lost seven straight home games. The Bulls now stand at 24-35.

This marks the longest losing streak in franchise history in seven years. Matas Buzelis came through with a career high of 32 points, as well as hitting six 3-pointers. Plus, he led the Bulls with six rebounds. Patrick Williams and Guerschon Yabusele matched each other with 11 points. Meanwhile, Collin Sexton, playing against his former team, scored 10 points.

Josh Giddey finished with eight points of his own as he is coming back from a recent hamstring injury. Isaac Okoro demonstrated his consistency by scoring 7 points. Rob Dillingham led the team with five assists. White, in his return to Chicago finished the game with 10 points. During the first quarter, the Bulls played a video tribute to White celebrating his time in Chicago.

On Thursday, the Bulls will face off against the Portland Trail Blazers to close out February. If they had lost, they would have gone an entire month without winning a game. The last time Chicago won a game was on January 31 against the Miami Heat, 125-118. It was one of the last games in which White, Ayo Dosunmu, Nikola Vucevic, and Kevin Huerter were there before being traded.

On Sunday, Chicago will remain at home and will begin March playing against the Milwaukee Bucks.

The post Bulls left alone on February island after brutal loss to Hornets appeared first on ClutchPoints.

During a timeout in the first quarter, the Bulls flashed on the Jumbotron screen a video tribute to White. It highlighted his journey from North Carolina in 2019 to becoming a fan favorite in Chicago.

The Bulls pay tribute to Coby White in his first game back in Chicago as part of Charlotte @ClutchPoints pic.twitter.com/5HLxIaEllp

— Zachary Draves (@DravesZachary) February 25, 2026

As expected, the fans at the United Center gave White loud applause, per @M4VERICK_CARTER on X, formerly Twitter. 

Bulls in-game tribute to Coby White pic.twitter.com/MKCsv4IBZY

— M4VERICK (@M4VERICK_CARTER) February 25, 2026

Additionally, players on both sides clapped for him as he waved to the fans. Going into Tuesday, the Bulls are trying to break a nine-game losing streak. They are 24-34 and haven’t won a game throughout the month. Meanwhile, the Hornets are 27-31 and have won 7 of their last 10 games.

Before Tuesday, there were questions about whether White would play, considering he was coming off a calf injury. He hadn’t played a game with the Hornets until Chicago.

In 29 games with the Bulls, White averaged 18.6 points and 4.7 assists per game. White was in the last year of his three-year $36 million contract he signed with Chicago back in 2023.

Altogether, White built a reputation as an effective scorer and playmaker in Chicago. During his rookie season, White made the NBA All-Rookie Second Team. He also became the fastest player in franchise history to score 500 career 3-pointers in 237 games.

In March 2025, he was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month. That same month, White won two Player of the Week honors. Overall, White scored 6,945 points with Chicago.

The post Coby White gets emotional tribute video in return to Chicago appeared first on ClutchPoints.

During warmups, White took time to reflect on the moment he felt his career in Chicago was over, per Will Gottlieb of CHGO Bulls. His last game with the Bulls came on Feb. 3 against the Milwaukee Bucks. In that game, White scored 21 points and played 30 minutes.

Ultimately, White had a gut instinct that it would happen.

“I had a feeling it was…You can read between the lines. It ain’t hard in this league and this business to see what’s going on.”

"I had a feeling it was…You can read between the lines. It ain't hard in this league and this business to see what's going on."

Coby White on playing his last game with Bulls

(: @Will_Gottlieb ) pic.twitter.com/fFTcUV26XL

— CHGO Bulls (@CHGO_Bulls) February 24, 2026

Meanwhile, White’s former Bulls teammate Tre Jones is looking forward to the occasion, per Tina Nguyen of Fox 32. During practice, Jones said he fully expected White to do whatever it took to suit up even while recovering from a calf injury.

“We felt like he was gonna push to come back this game, for sure,” Jones said. “It’s a quick turnaround to play your former team. We know what he brings to the table. He can space the floor really well & score at a high level.”

#Bulls Tre Jones on Coby White: "We felt like he was gonna push to come back this game, for sure. It's a quick turnaround to play your former team."

Jones also added, "we know what he brings to the table. He can space the floor really well & score at a high level." #NBA pic.twitter.com/b9LhSLGHXG

— Tina Nguyen (@ttinanguyen) February 24, 2026

White still hasn’t played a game for the Hornets. Meanwhile, he was averaging 18.6 points and 4.7 assists in 29 games with the Bulls.

Also, the Hornets are knocking on the door of the play-in game with a 27-31 record. Charlotte has won seven out of their last ten games. Meanwhile, the Bulls are experiencing their first nine-game losing streak in seven years.

The post Coby White’s Bulls trade revelation before returning to United Center with Hornets appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Buzelis is carrying much of the load for the Bulls in terms of offense and presence. Overall, he has demonstrated consistency throughout a very hectic transition period. Buzelis is averaging 15.0 points and 5.4 rebounds over the course of 58 games played.

Recently, Buzelis was selected for his second NBA Rising Stars Game during All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles.

Nevertheless, it has been a real adjustment for him not to be playing alongside those who helped him during his rookie year. Those included Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, and Nikola Vucevic. All of whom were traded away.

But Buzelis told ClutchPoints that while getting used to the newbies was hard, he accepts it as part of basketball.

“It was tough at first, of course,” Buzelis said. “It’s a whole group of new guys, and I keep telling everybody it is what it is. We have to move past it. It happened, the trades happened, and now we have this group here, so what are we going to do about it? Are we going to pout and get down on ourselves? No, we have to gel together and fight.”

Matas Buzelis is candid about his future aspirations

Right now, the Bulls are in a tough spot. They are in the midst of a nine-game losing streak. They sit at 24-34, and their new roster is still finding its groove.

But Buzelis remains focused on the task at hand. For him, winning is above all else. And he also maintains the philosophy of “No ‘I’ in the team.

During the All-Star Break, Buzelis hinted at wanting to play in the All-Star game in the future, per Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. However, he doesn’t focus on that as much as trying to win in the here and now.

“Everything comes back to winning,” Buzelis said. “You have to win playing in the NBA. It’s kind of harsh, but I really don’t care about that. I want to win as a group, and basketball is a team sport. It’s not individual, so we have to win first.”

That desire to win goes back to his days growing up in Chicago. For Buzelis, no matter what he does, he wants to win. In the process, Buzelis credits his parents for nurturing him with that mindset.

“I want to win at anything I do,” Buzelis said. “It’s not just basketball. I could be playing golf, or I want to win. It’s just in my nature, how my mom and dad raised me growing up.”

The Bulls will play the Charlotte Hornets on Tuesday—a game in which Buzelis will be reunited with Coby White after his trade to Charlotte.

The post Exclusive: Matas Buzelis makes “harsh” admission about All-Star goals as Bulls rebuild roster appeared first on ClutchPoints.

On Tuesday, the Bulls announced a change in Simons’ status for the game against the Charlotte Hornets, per K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Sports Network. Though Simons will not be playing, he has a left wrist contusion, rather than a sprain.

Simons injured his wrist on Saturday during the game against the Detroit Pistons. He played 14 minutes and scored four points.

Meanwhile, Jalen Smith was listed as “questionable” with a left calf strain. Smith was taken out of the third quarter on Sunday against the New York Knicks.

Simons is averaging 15.2 points and 2.8 rebounds over the course of six games played with Chicago. He arrived in Chicago as part of a trade that sent Nikola Vucevic to the Boston Celtics. Before that trade, Simons had played in 49 games with Boston and averaged 14.2 points per game.

The Bulls are 24-34 and haven’t won a game this month. After Tuesday, Chicago will remain at home and close out the month against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday.

On Sunday, the Bulls will kick off March against the Milwaukee Bucks at home.

In addition, Jaden Ivey is out with right knee soreness. Furthermore, Zach Collins is out for the year after undergoing toe surgery.

The Bulls are once again dealing with a hobbled, depleted roster in the second half of the season.

The post Bulls changes Anfernee Simons’ injury desingation ahead of Hornets game appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Dillingham is halfway through the second season of his NBA career. He initially represented the Minnesota Timberwolves before they traded him to the Bulls in the middle of the 2025-26 campaign.

The young player has garnered more playing time, getting the opportunity to show off his skills in Chicago’s rotation. However, his inexperience tends to show on occasion, which definitely happened in the final minutes of the third quarter. He went on the fast break as he attempted a dunk, but he was unsuccessful in stunning fashion.

ROB DILLINGHAM OH NO

Dillingham blows a wide-open dunk on a fast break pic.twitter.com/t8aT4rnMh9

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 23, 2026

How Rob Dillingham, Bulls played against Knicks

It was a brutal miss for Rob Dillingham to sustain during the game. On top of that, the Bulls faltered in a close loss to the Knicks at home, seeing their losing streak continue as a result.

Shot selection, ball movement and turnovers made the difference in this matchup. The Knicks prevailed in all three categories after making 45% of their total shots, creating 27 assists and limiting their turnovers to just 13. It wasn’t the same for the Bulls as they only converted 40% of their total chances, dished out 24 assists and turned the ball over 17 times.

Five players scored in double-digits for Chicago in the loss. Matas Buzelis led the way with a stat line of 15 points and four rebounds. He shot 4-of-12 from the field, including 3-of-9 from beyond the arc, and 4-of-5 from the free-throw line. Jalen Smith came next with 12 points and five rebounds, Isaac Okoro had 12 points and six rebounds, Guerschon Yabusele put up 11 points and 13 rebounds, while Patrick Williams provided 10 points and eight assists.

Chicago fell to a 24-34 record on the season, holding the 12th spot in the Eastern Conference standings. They are above the Washington Wizards and the Brooklyn Nets while trailing the Milwaukee Bucks and the Charlotte Hornets.

Going through nine consecutive losses, the Bulls will look to end the streak in their next matchup. They remain at home when they host the Hornets on Feb. 24 at 8 p.m. ET.

The post Bulls’ Rob Dillingham has brutal wide-open dunk miss vs. Knicks appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Even in defeat, Okoro finished the game with 12 points and six rebounds. In the process, Okoro equaled his own career featwith his sixth straight 10+ point game, per Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. That stretch dates back to Feb. 5 against the Toronto Raptors, when he scored 10 points in a 123-107 loss.

Additionally, Okoro’s most recent streak of 10+ points dates back to May of 2021. From 5/7 to 5/16, he scored in double figures. So far, Okoro has played in 48 games and is averaging 9.1 points per game. Matas Buzelis led the way with 15 points for Chicago. Jalen Smith matched Okoro with 12 points. Guerschon Yabusele came away with 11 points, and Patrick Williams finished with 10 points.

On Saturday, he finished with 15 points in a 126-110 loss to the Detroit Pistons. Prior to that, Okoro scored 16 points in a 110-101 loss to the Raptors, in what was the Bulls’ first game back from the All-Star break.

In 2025, the Bulls acquired Okoro from the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for Lonzo Ball. A big reason Okoro was brought on was to bolster the Chicago defense, as he is known for his scrappiness and disruptive presence in the passing lanes.

The loss marks the first time in seven years that the Bulls have lost nine straight games. On Tuesday, they will play at home against the Charlotte Hornets. 

The post Isaac Okoro matches personal milestone in Knicks loss appeared first on ClutchPoints.

However, Smith was taken out of the game in the third quarter due to a lower-body injury, per The Chicago Bulls. He did not return for the rest of the game. Going into Sunday, the Bulls are 24-33. Plus, they haven’t won a game all month.

On Saturday, they lost to the Detroit Pistons 126-110. In that game, Smith came away with 15 points and seven rebounds in 25 minutes of play. Against the Knicks, he finished with 12 points, 5 rebounds, and played a total of 18 minutes.

Altogether, Smith is averaging 10.2 points and 7.0 rebounds per game. Prior to the game, head coach Billy Donovan applauded Smith for being a consistent player.

“I think that was a major challenge for us last year with him was the consistency part, and I give him a lot of credit,” Donovan said. “I mean, obviously, you can’t do anything when you have a soft tissue issue, but he’s really been a consistent player for us all year long.”

“He’s really had a great year,” Donovan added. “He’s given us good rim protection. I thought before the trade deadline we had a pretty good flow when we were playing big.”

Recently, Smith scored in double figures in 10 straight games. In 2024, Smith signed a three-year, $27 million contract with the Bulls. The Bulls lost their ninth straight game 105-99 to the Knicks. 

The post Jalen Smith leaves Knicks game with concerning lower-body injury appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Prior to the game, head coach Billy Donovan provided context as to what lies ahead for Simons this week, per Joel Lorenzi of The Athletic. Donovan said that Simons will undergo imaging on Monday. Additionally, he will meet with a team of professionals to get a full assessment of the severity of his injury.

“Just want to find out what’s going on,” Donovan said. “Maybe it’s just a sprain, that’s it, or maybe it’s more. He’s going to see a hand specialist”.

Simons came to the Bulls as part of the trade that sent Nikola Vucevic to the Boston Celtics. He is currently averaging 15.2 points per game over the course of six games with Chicago. Before, Simons averaged 14.2 points per game in 49 games with the Celtics.

Meanwhile, Chicago is 24-33 on the season and has not won a game in February. On Saturday, they lost to the Pistons 126-110. In total, Simons played 13 minutes and scored four points before being taken out in the third quarter.

Simons’ best game with the Bulls came on Feb.9 against the Brooklyn Nets. He scored 23 points, shot 10-f0r-17 from the field, and dished out seven assists.

On Tuesday, the Bulls will remain at home as they take on the Charlotte Hornets. Then, they will close out February on Thursday with a home game against the Portland Trail Blazers.

The post Billy Donovan gives Anfernee Simons update after concerning wrist injury appeared first on ClutchPoints.

And if rumors are to be believed, this will also be followed by considerable activity in the summer, with insider Jake Fischer claiming that they will have significant spending power alongside a chosen few teams in the NBA.

“The Clippers, Lakers, Nets and Bulls, however, all project to be in position to spend some major money. Sources say Chicago has already sent some signals that it will be looking at wings — restricted free agents included — while the Bulls are also clearly in need of a starting-caliber big man,” he said, per The Stein Line.

Fischer claimed that the Washington Wizards’ moves for Anthony Davis and Trae Young, as well as the Utah Jazz’s move for Jaren Jackson Jr. means that those two teams no longer have the financial means to make big moves in the summer.

Regardless, the moves before the previous deadline saw the Bulls primarily accumulate second-round picks. The situation worsened when medical findings on White’s calf injury reportedly led to the removal of a previously included 2029 second-round pick, shrinking Chicago’s return further.

At the same time, the plan appears simple. The Bulls are looking to build around the likes of Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis, even if they are not yet viewed as stars capable of bringing them back to playoff relevance.

The overall strategy almost encourages the current trajectory, with the Bulls’ recent skid improving their draft lottery chances considerably. After years of hovering around the .500 mark and searching for playoff relevance, there is little doubt that a reset was inevitable.

Whether it leads to success in the coming seasons remains to be seen.

The post Bulls rumors: The early free agent ‘signals’ coming from Chicago appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Anfernee Simons’ injury status vs. Knicks

The Bulls will be short-handed against the Knicks with Simons being ruled out due to injury. He sustained the wrist injury during the first half of the Bulls’ loss to the Pistons, and was ultimately ruled out for the remainder of that game. The Bulls are coming into their game against the Knicks looking to snap an eight-game losing streak.

As it stands, the Bulls are currently 12th place in the Eastern Conference standings and two games back of the Charlotte Hornets for the No. 10 seed and the final play-in spot.

Simons was one of the Bulls’ trade deadline moves, acquiring him in a deal with the Boston Celtics that sent longtime Bull Nikola Vuvecic to Boston. The Celtics also sent a second round pick to the Bulls as part of the deal.

Since the trade, Simons has appeared in six games for the Bulls, including five starts, at a little over 28 minutes per game. He’s averaged 15.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists with splits of 43.8 percent shooting from the field, 32 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 100 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Bulls injury report

-Zach Collins out (right toe sprain)
-Noa Essengue out (left shoulder surgery)
-Jaden Ivey out (left patellofemoral pain syndrome)
-Nick Richards questionable (right foot soreness)
-Anfernee Simons out (left wrist sprain)
-Patrick Williams probable (left hand contusion)

Knicks injury report

-Pacome Dadiet out (G League assignment)
-Miles McBride out (pelvic core muscle surgery)
-Kevin McCullar Jr. out (G League two-way)
-Mitchell Robinson out (left ankle injury management)

The post Anfernee Simons injury update vs. Knicks after leaving Pistons game appeared first on ClutchPoints.

In the process, Giddey joined the likes of Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic as one of eight players to accumulate 300+ rebounds and 300+ assists this season, per Alyssa Bergamini of 670 The Score. The other players include Doncic, Jokic, Jalen Johnson, Dyson Daniels, Deni Avdija, Scottie Barnes, and Julius Randle.

Altogether, Giddey finished his second full game back with 27 points and six rebounds in 27 minutes of play. Additionally, he shot 10 for 16 from the field. Plus, he recorded his seventh 25+ point game this year, tying his career best and leading the team in that category.

On Thursday, Giddey played 21 minutes against the Toronto Raptors. He came away with 5 points, five assists, and four rebounds. Giddey only shot 1 for 6 from the field as Chicago lost 110-101 to the Raptors.

Giddey has played in 35 games this season and is averaging 18.2 points, 8.7 assists, and 8.5 rebounds per game. As a result of the loss, Chicago is now 24-33. The Pistons are now 42-13 and have the best record in the East. On Sunday, the Bulls will remain at home to take on the New York Knicks.

Next Tuesday, they will play against the Charlotte Hornets at home. A game in which Giddey’s former teammate, Coby White, will return following his trade to Charlotte. After that, the Bulls will close out February with a home game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Thursday, Feb. 26.

The post Josh Giddey joins elite group in loss to Pistons appeared first on ClutchPoints.

In the first half, the Bulls kept pace with the mighty, and overall healthy Pistons. During the second quarter, Giddey, Jones, and Isaac Okoro worked together to execute quite the play, per the Chicago Bulls. With the Bulls trailing by four, 45-41, Giddey grabbed the ball at the other end. He chuckled it all the way to Jones. Then, Jones lightly dished out a no-look bouncer to Okoro, who finished with a layup.

This play by Giddey, Tre, and Isaac #SeeRed | @CHSN__ pic.twitter.com/5aHd13Y5mj

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) February 22, 2026

Chicago entered the game on Saturday on a seven-game losing streak. They have a record of 24-32, whereas the Pistons are 41-13. Giddey played in his second full game since returning from injury.

He is averaging 18.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Jones is averaging 12.4 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. He is also playing in his second full game back from injury. Also, Okoro is averaging 9.0 points per game and is shooting a respectable 46.7% from the field.

Ever since the Bulls made seven trades, they have been oversaturated with guards. In addition to these three, there are Matas Buzelis, Rob Dillingham, Jaden Ivey, Anfernee Simons, and Collin Sexton. Therefore, playing time is few and far between amongst these guys.

On Sunday, the Bulls will play their second home game in a row against the New York Knicks.

The post Tre Jones connects with Isaac Okoro for unreal layup vs. Pistons appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Before the game, Huerter spoke out for the first time about the impact of the seven trades the Bulls made, per K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network.

“We were sitting at .500 all year,” Huerter said. “It could’ve gone either way. As players, you have to expect everything. But seven trades, I don’t know if I expected that.”

In a subsequent quote, Huerter described the transition of experiencing his second straight mid-season trade.

“The transition is always tough. But coming to a team that’s No. 1 in the East and competes their ass off, it definitely makes it easier on the court.”

Last season, Huerter came to Chicago as part of another three-way trade that sent Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings. Additionally, the Bulls got Huerter and Tre Jones from the San Antonio Spurs and Zach Collins from the Kings.

This year, Huerter is averaging 10.3 points and 3.7 rebounds per game. So far, he has played in four games for the Pistons and is averaging 4.3 points per game. Meanwhile, he is out with back tightness.

The Pistons entered Saturday with a 41-13 record, the best record in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the Bulls are 24-32 and in the midst of a seven-game losing streak.

The post Kevin Huerter reveals what made Bulls trade ‘easier’ appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Prior to the game against the Detroit Pistons, head coach Billy Donovan expressed a desire to have Collins return next season. He is playing out the final year of his contract, per the Chicago Bulls.

“I think there’s like two sides of it,” Donovan said. “When the guy’s in free agency, there’s a financial piece of it, and then there’s the player, the make-up, the character. It’s hard for me, just not being in conversation with a lot of people, to know exactly what a guy’s value is, so to speak, financially.”

“I know from my perspective, it [value] relates to winning. [When] he’s healthy and he’s out there, he’s a really good player for us, and I really like him. So, from that standpoint, I hope it would all work out for him to be back here next year, because I got a lot of respect for him as a teammate and a worker. Just his mentality, his toughness.”

Collins is playing out what is left of his two-year, $34.8 million contract. It was a deal he signed with the San Antonio Spurs. A deal that was later taken up by the Bulls.

Collins played ten games this season. He averaged 9.7 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. His last appearance was against the Milwaukee Bucks on Dec. 27. Collins came away with a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds in a 112-103 loss.

The post Why Billy Donovan really hopes Zach Collins will return next season appeared first on ClutchPoints.

But it goes beyond that.

On Saturday, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints confirmed that Ivey and Collins will be out for a prolonged period.

Ivey will be re-evaluated within two weeks. Meanwhile, Collins will undergo surgery, therefore ending his season.

The Bulls say Jaden Ivey will be re-evaluated in two weeks after being diagnosed with left knee soreness.

Zach Collins will undergo season-ending surgery on his right toe. pic.twitter.com/BICG5veNOq

— Brett Siegel (@BrettSiegelNBA) February 21, 2026

The Bulls are 24-32 and in the midst of a seven-game losing streak. On Thursday, they lost their first post-All-Star break game to the Toronto Raptors 110-101. Meanwhile, they will face a Pistons team that is 41-13, the best team in the Eastern Conference. Also, the Bulls will play the New York Knicks on Sunday.

Ivey came to Chicago as part of a three-way trade with the Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves. A deal that would send Kevin Huerter to Detroit. Ivey has played 4 games with the Bulls and is averaging 11.5 points and 4.8 rebounds.

Also, Ivey is recovering from a recent knee surgery that delayed his season debut with Detroit.

Meanwhile, Collins hasn’t played a game since Dec. 27 against the Milwaukee Bucks. In that game, he had a double-double of 10 points and 10 rebounds as Chicago lost 112-103.

Since then, Collins has missed a total of 26 games and a full month. Overall, he has played in 10 games this season and finishes averaging 9.7 points and 5.6 rebounds per game. He also finishes shooting 57.8% from the field.

The post Bulls provide disappointing updates on Zach Collins, Jaden Ivey appeared first on ClutchPoints.

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Jaden Ivey injury status vs. Pistons 

Given Jaden Ivey is questionable on the injury report, the assumption is he may or may not be suiting up against his former squad.

Thursday will be the first time Ivey will play against his former team since he came to Chicago in a three-way trade with the Minnesota Timberwolves. It was the deal that sent Kevin Huerter to the Pistons, who will be making his first return to Chicago.

So far, Ivey has played four games with the Bulls. He is averaging 11.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Overall, Ivey played 33 games with Detroit and averaged 8.2 points and 16.8 minutes per game.

Meanwhile, his minute totals have shot up, as he is averaging 28.8 minutes per game with the Bulls. Ivey is coming off a period in which his minutes went down due to recovery from a recent knee surgery.

On Feb. 7, Ivey made his first start with Chicago against the Denver Nuggets. He scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds in 30 minutes of play. The Bulls lost 136-120. On Feb. 11, Ivey scored 10 points and played 29 minutes against the Boston Celtics. Chicago lost 124-105.

So, when it comes to whether Jaden Ivey is playing tonight vs. the Pistons, the answer is probably.

Bulls injury report

Jaden Ivey (Left Patellofemoral; Pain Syndrome)-Questionable

Guerschon Yabusele (Left Calf; Contusion)-Probable

Pistons injury report

Isiah Stewart (League Suspension)-Out

Tolu Smith (Right Knee; Contusion)-Questionable

The post Is Jaden Ivey playing tonight? Bulls vs. Pistons injury report appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Comments from Bulls guard Jaden Ivey following his first career DNP have sparked worries about his health and future. His absence came during Thursday’s 110-101 loss to the Toronto Raptors, the team’s seventh consecutive defeat.

Opening up about his absence, Ivey was candid about the struggles he has been facing both physically and mentally.

“I’ve been dealing with knee soreness in my knee. I’m sure people can call it out — I’m not the same player I used to be. That’s why. I’m not the J.I. I used to be. The old J.I. is dead. I’m alive in Christ no matter what the basketball setting is. … no matter how many DNPs, how many points I score, those things are a temporary thing. Jesus is eternal.”

Acting head coach Wes Unseld addressed the reasons behind Jaden Ivey’s surprising DNP after the game.

Unseld described the choice as a “basketball decision,” per Joel Lorenzi.

“It’s really tough to play six guards,” he added, noting that the team’s recent roster changes have made the rotation more crowded.

When questioned about whether Ivey’s upcoming restricted free agency influenced the decision, Unseld chose not to comment.

“That conversation is probably above my pay grade,” he said.

Ivey missed Thursday night’s game but handled it with poise. He recognized his physical limits without making excuses, reflected on the situation through his faith, and emphasized that he will be ready when the chance comes.

Now the Bulls have to determine when that opportunity will come. Unseld said the bigger decisions are not his to make, leaving it to the front office to ensure Ivey’s role matches his value to the team’s rebuild.

Ivey acknowledged the reality of the NBA and his place on the roster, explaining his perspective on sitting out.

“Going into it, you gotta look at who’s on the roster. … getting traded, that’s what happens in the NBA.”

Loaded postgame from Jaden Ivey, who thinks tonight was his first DNP of his career. Said it doesn’t change his character and that he’s here to “do his job, glorify God.” Asked if he thought this was a possibility, he says “going into it, you gotta look at who’s on the roster.… pic.twitter.com/nz8BfC3PYy

— Joel Lorenzi (@JoelXLorenzi) February 20, 2026

Across 37 games this season with Detroit and Chicago, Ivey is averaging 8.5 points in 18.1 minutes per game. In his four outings with the Bulls, he has put up 11.5 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists in 28.8 minutes.

The loss dropped Chicago to 24-32, leaving them 12th in the Eastern Conference. Toronto improved to 33-23, led by Brandon Ingram’s 31 points, eight rebounds, and six assists.

The post Bulls’ Jaden Ivey revealing ‘old J.I. is dead’ over injury issues is concerning appeared first on ClutchPoints.

He didn’t play the entire game. Afterward, interim head coach Wes Unseld Jr. explained why that was the case, per Gavin Dorsey of The Roundtable Network. All in all, it came down to basketball and the fact that the Bulls are overloaded with guards. Plus, they had Josh Giddey and Tre Jones both returning after being out with hamstring injuries.

“Strictly a basketball decision,” Unseld said. “It’s really hard to play six guards. I wanted to push to see if I could get Josh and Tre’s minutes up. I think we were comfortable, given where they’ve been.”

He later added, “I just felt those guys gave us the best chance. We had some pretty good stretches, pretty good combinations. He was just the odd man out tonight.”

Ivey arrived in Chicago from the Detroit Pistons as part of the three-way trade that sent Kevin Huerter to Detroit. He has played in four games with Chicago and is averaging 11.5 points per game.

As a result, the Bulls are now 24-32. This weekend, they have back-to-back home games against the Detroit Pistons on Saturday and the New York Knicks on Sunday.

Anfernee Simons led the way with 20 points. Additionally, Isaac Okoro finished with 16 points and five rebounds. Jones had 12 points and six assists. Collin Sexton came away with 11 points.

Meanwhile, Giddey finished with 5 points and was 1-for-7 from the field. Also, Matas Buzelis had only four points but finished with six rebounds.

The post Wes Unseld Jr. reveals reason for Jaden Ivey benching in loss to Raptors appeared first on ClutchPoints.

However, he didn’t play a single minute in the first half of the Bulls’ post-All-Star break game on Thursday against the Toronto Raptors, per Elias Schuster of Sports Illustrated. A decision that has left some fans puzzled.

“And yet not surprising because, what makes sense in this franchise ?”@FrenchBullsFan_ posted on X, formerly Twitter.

Another user felt that it wasn’t necessarily surprising, considering the overload of guards.

“It’s a tough lineup to crack.” @BabooBott678 posted on social media.

Ivey has averaged 28.5 minutes per game with the Bulls so far. He is also averaging 11.5 points and 4.8 rebounds per game. Ivey’s last game was against the Boston Celtics on Feb. 11. He played 29 minutes and scored 10 points as the Bulls lost 124-105.

He was in the starting rotation in his first game with the Bulls on Feb. 5 against the Denver Nuggets. In that game, he scored 10 points, grabbed six rebounds, and played 30 minutes as Chicago lost 136-120.

Ivey is coming off four seasons with the Detroit Pistons. He arrived in Chicago just when he was starting to progress. After all, he was coming off a recent knee surgery and seeing his minutes dwindle.

After this season, Ivey is slated to become a restricted free agent. Altogether, he has a chance to prove his worthiness. Plus, Chicago has the power to match any offer another team may have or offer him a deal of its own.

The post Bulls leave fans scratching their heads over Jaden Ivey decision vs. Raptors appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Before the game, the Bulls issued a tribute to Donovan Sr., per ClutchPoints.

The Bulls honored the passing of Billy Donovan Sr, father of head coach Billy Donovan, before tonight's game vs. the Raptors.

(via @DravesZachary) pic.twitter.com/ui1abaibg3

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 20, 2026

Billy Donovan Sr. was a standout player at Boston College, where he finished with 1,102 career points, the No.3 top scorer in program history. He was a first lieutenant in the Army.

Billy Jr. later took up basketball and played at Providence in college. In 1987, he was part of the team that reached the Final Four. Eventually, Billy Jr. would become the head coach at Florida and lead them to two consecutive NCAA championships in 2006 and 2007.

After his father’s passing, colleagues such as Rick Pitino sent out their well-wishes. Meanwhile, the Bulls are 24-31 and are in the midst of a six-game losing streak.

Donovan has been the Bulls’ head coach since the 2020-21 season. So far, he has compiled a record of 195-205. Additionally, Donovan led the Bulls to the 2022 NBA Playoffs, in which they were eliminated in the first round by the Milwaukee Bucks in five games.

Previously, Donovan was the head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder from 2015 to 2020. He compiled a record of 243-157. His current overall coaching record in the NBA is 438-362. In 2025, Donovan was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.

In the meantime, Wes Unseld Jr. has taken over as the interim head coach.

The post Bulls honor Billy Donovan’s late father before Raptors game appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Furthermore, Dillingham is virtually celebrating the Bulls’ playing style, per Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times. He contrasted the approaches of Billy Donovan and Chris Finch. Essentially, Dillingham likes getting the ball more and doing something with it.

“Just two different styles of offense — not as much holding the ball [with the Bulls],” Dillingham, 21, said of the difference between Finch and Donovan. “Just, like, get off the ball. And, really, in Minnesota, it was, like, every possession.

“I mean, every possession matters here, but you’re going to mess up. Over there, not everyone could mess up and keep playing. So [it was] just the opportunity and the pace of the game, just the playing styles.”

What Billy Donovan expects from Rob Dillingham

Donovan recognizes the potential Dillingham has; he wants him to embrace it, particularly given his ability to score.

“He’s the one guy who, off the dribble, can really get by people and get into the teeth of the defense,” Donovan said. “That’s a real great positive. But the decision-making, the shots he’s taking, are not sustainable, and I told him that.”

“His job and responsibility is to generate shots for guys when he gets [inside], and to understand the shots where he has angles and can shoot a high percentage on and the shots he can’t,” Donovan said. “It’s not like I’m giving him free rein. We need him downhill, but he also can’t be jumping off two feet, getting caught in the air, trying to shoot over guys [or] trying to throw passes that aren’t there. He’s got to clean that up, and we’ve got to help him do it.

“What I don’t want him to do is not be aggressive or be afraid to attack. He has to attack. He just has to make better decisions, and I think that will come in time.”

Dillingham cited his performance against the Boston Celtics on Feb.11. He scored 16 points and dished out seven assists in a 124-105 loss. He said it was his first time playing against Boston, and now he knows what it takes to excel against them.

“[Last week] was my first time playing against the Celtics and actually having the ball in my hand,” he said. “If I play against the Celtics three, four more times, [then] by the time I play them the fifth time, I’ve already played them so many times that I know how to play against them. It comes with experience, studying film and taking that into the next game.”

Currently, the Bulls are 24-31 and are in the midst of a six-game losing streak before the All-Star break. On Thursday, Chicago will play their first post-All-Star break game against the Toronto Raptors.

The post Rob Dillingham reveals why the Bulls are a much better situation for him than Timberwolves appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Hornets also have Coby White around this time, but he hasn’t played since being traded from the Chicago Bulls. White is dealing with a left calf strain, and he’s still listed on the injury report with the ailment.

Here is his status for tonight’s game.

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Coby White’s injury status vs. Rockets

White is listed as out against the Rockets, and the Hornets will have to wait a little longer for his debut. Acquiring White was big for the Hornets, as they have a guard who can come off the bench and score in bunches, and that will be important for them as they try to continue to climb the standings for the next two months of the season.

The Hornets have started to figure things out on both sides of the floor after a slow start to the season. Some were questioning head coach Charles Lee and his decisions, but it looks like the things that he was doing are paying off.

LaMelo Ball and Kon Knueppel have become a great backcourt duo, and the frontcourt of Bridges and Brandon Miller has played well.

It will be interesting to see how things go for the team when White is able to finally play, and it should only make things better. For now, they’ll have to continue to ride out the season without him.

The post Is Hornets’ Coby White finally making Charlotte debut vs. Rockets after Bulls trade? appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Josh Giddey has been in and out of the lineup in recent weeks as he continues to work his way back from a hamstring injury, and on Wednesday, the team got a positive update on his status for their game vs Toronto Raptors on Thursday, which is their first game back from the All-Star break.

“Josh Giddey said he practiced fully and expects to play Thursday,” reported KC Johnson of the Chicago Sports Network on X, formerly Twitter.

Johnson also provided an update on head coach Billy Donovan, who is mourning the recent passing of his father.

“Wes Unseld Jr., who is coaching in Billy Donovan’s absence after the passing of Donovan’s father, said Jalen Smith is back as well. Unseld Jr. will coach Thursday vs. Raptors,” reported Johnson, who added that Donovan will be back with the team on Friday.

“We wish the best for his family and offer our condolences,” Unseld Jr. said.

The Bulls have been on a roller coaster ride throughout this season, racing out of the gates to a 5-0 start before crashlanding back on Earth, and teetering around the .500 mark ever since.

Giddey is one of the primary building blocks for the Bulls, turning himself into a nightly triple double threat with his unique skillset, and also improving his three-point shooting this year, an area that was largely viewed as a weakness for the former lottery pick.

The Bulls will hope that new trade acquisitions like Anfernee Simons will continue to establish themselves as reliable contributors in the Windy City moving forward.

Chicago will tip off their game against the Raptors on Thursday at 8:00 pm ET.

The post Bulls’ Josh Giddey back from injury vs. Raptors, but Billy Donovan will miss game after dad’s death appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Over the past few seasons, the Bulls have been part of the honorary four-team, play-in tournament club consisting of them, the Miami Heat, Atlanta Hawks, and Orlando Magic. They do not have much in the way of young prospects who can lead the next contending iteration of the team, and their veteran players aren’t good enough to lead a deep playoff run.

However, as is the case for the Bulls, they couldn’t seem to pull the trigger when they needed to and as a result, their roster is now a mishmash of players who don’t look as though they have a long-term future there in the Windy City.

To that end, here is a review of how the Bulls did prior to the trade deadline and the grade they are deserving of for their maneuvers.

Bulls trade their guards to bring in more guards, Hydra style

The Bulls were at a crossroads; they had plenty of players on expiring deals whom they could conceivably get some value for instead of letting them go in free agency for nothing. And it’s not like those players wouldn’t make any sort of impact for winning teams. But again, the problem was that the Bulls have waited too long and have been content for far too long to stay as a mediocre team, limiting their returns on the trade market.

Chicago had pulled off a comedy of moves prior to the trade deadline that it wasn’t quite clear what the end goal is for their front office. For starters, they brought in so many guards. And this is not being overblown in any capacity. They indeed traded for so many combo guards that it’s difficult to envision most of them staying on the roster for next season.

To begin with, the Bulls finally traded Nikola Vucevic away in a deal that was honestly a long time coming. It always hurt that the Bulls gave up Wendell Carter Jr., another starting-caliber big man in the NBA, and the first-round pick that became Franz Wagner to bring in Vucevic, but there was no reason for Chicago to hold on to Vucevic for too long.

For Vucevic, the Bulls got Anfernee Simons and a 2026 second-round pick from the Boston Celtics. That would have been a meh return as it was. But Chicago made it even worse for themselves by attaching a 2027 second-round pick to Vucevic.

Chicago also held on to Coby White for far too long. All the Bulls could trade White for was a package from the Charlotte Hornets headlined by Collin Sexton, another guard, along with Ousmane Dieng and three second-round picks. Due to a failed medical from White that showed some seriousness regarding the calf injury he’s currently experiencing, the Bulls had to settle for one fewer second-round pick as a result.

Instead of trading White when his value was higher during the offseason, the Bulls had to settle for that return for one of their best players.

And then Chicago made it worse for themselves; due to their dire big man situation, they had to flip Dieng, a 22-year-old big man who could have promise, to the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for Nick Richards. Dieng has shone thus far in his brief time with the Bucks, while Richards is a known commodity — he’s a backup big man who can only be utilized as a starter in case of emergency.

The Bulls’ guard wheeling and dealing did not stop there. They flipped Kevin Huerter, who was on an expiring contract too, to the Detroit Pistons for a return headlined by Jaden Ivey. While it’s hard to rag on the Bulls for betting on another former lottery pick, especially considering that Ivey has shown promise in the past, he’s yet another guard who joins the team’s logjam at the positions he’s supposed to be playing in.

Ivey also continues the Bulls’ trend of gambling on former lottery picks who’ve lost their luster; Chicago has brought in Ivey, Isaac Okoro, and Jalen Smith in recent years, and yet their original teams gave up on them for reasons that were pretty clear.

Speaking of gambling on former lottery picks, Rob Dillingham was somehow the primary piece the Bulls got in exchange for Ayo Dosunmu, whose pace, shooting, and ballhandling would be such boons for a contending team.

Sure, Chicago got four second-round picks for Dosunmu, who himself was drafted in the second round in the past, but Dillingham further complicates the sticky web that is the Bulls’ backcourt picture.

For those not counting at home, the Bulls now have the following players who are in need of minutes at the guard position: Josh Giddey, Simons, Sexton, Ivey, Dillingham, and Tre Jones. The situation is tenable at the moment since Giddey and Jones are on the mend, but when those players return, head coach Billy Donovan is about to have his work cut out for him.

The Dalen Terry for Guerschon Yabusele swap at least appears to be working in the Bulls’ favor, with Yabusele being hell-bent on reviving his career in the Windy City.

Chicago got a total of eight second-round picks, which is nothing to scoff at. That at least should help them grease the wheels for future trades.

But the fact that they failed to get at least one first-round pick for the likes of Vucevic, White, and Dosunmu is an utter failure. Chicago will have to pay Ivey big money for his next contract. Simons and Sexton are on expiring contracts. Patrick Williams’ albatross of a deal is still on their books.

The Bulls front office may have been cooking prior to the trade deadline, but sadly, the dish they came up with is going straight to the waste bin.

Bulls’ trade deadline grade: D

The post Bulls 2026 NBA trade deadline grade after 6 deals appeared first on ClutchPoints.

And while he is not an All-Star yet, the Bulls’ main man got some high praise from none other than LeBron James.

“I think Josh Giddey continues to get better and better… I think Chicago has a really good player in him."

LeBron James with HIGH praise for Josh Giddey

(via @NBATV)pic.twitter.com/ZQHT7hRTbF

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 15, 2026

“I think Josh Giddey continues to get better and better. I think his development since he got to Chicago. What he was not (known for) when he left OKC was his ability to shoot the ball,” James said, pointing out an obvious area of improvement in Giddey’s game.

And while there may not be a huge improvement in his overall shooting percentage, Giddey has increased his volume and has shown an increased willingness to take on defenders and shoot. That is something even James can see.

“Now he’s shooting the ball, you can’t just sag off him, you can’t just lay off of him and dare him to shoot. He is actually shooting the ball at a high clip. Obviously he is a big guard, he pushes the pace with a lot of steam. I think Chicago has a really good player in him,” he said, per a clip posted on X by ClutchPoints.

The Lakers star pointed out that Giddey has added a reliable jumper to a game that was already built around passing, pace, and size. The change has altered how defenses treat him, turning what used to be a weakness into a viable scoring threat.

After trading Alex Caruso for Giddey in 2024 and later signing him to a four-year, $100 million extension, the Bulls made it clear they viewed him as a foundational piece. His string of triple-doubles, franchise-level statistical milestones, and improved scoring have begun to validate that belief.

Even with the shooting leap, Giddey’s biggest strengths still come from his size as a lead guard and his ability to push the tempo. At over 6-foot-8, he creates matchup problems, rebounds like a forward, and initiates offense with regular ease.

The post Bulls’ Josh Giddey gets massive shoutout from LeBron James at All-Star Weekend appeared first on ClutchPoints.

“They didn’t come any better than Billy Donovan Sr. A Special Man in every sense of the word. RIP my friend! You’re already in heaven,” Pitino wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Pitino coached Donovan Jr. when he was a player at Providence, and he later joined Pitino’s coaching staff at Kentucky.

Donovan’s father was a key part of his life and supported his basketball dreams through and through. He also would take him to New York Knicks games when he was a kid.

“These last 15, 16 years for me — oh my gosh! — have been phenomenal,” Donovan Sr. said in a story written in 2011 by GatorZone. “I played basketball growing up. When Billy was young, we’d watch games on television and I’d take him to see the Knicks. And now, to be able to be around the team and go to all the games and knowing Billy wants me to be a part of it all, I’m just so blessed I can’t even tell you.”

Donovan Sr. played college basketball at Boston College and scored more than 1,000 career points.

There’s no doubt that Donovan Sr. played a big part in his son’s life, and he’s still living it out as the coach of the Bulls.

There will probably be more people sending their prayers and condolences to the family in the coming days.

The post Rick Pitino sends heartfelt message after death of Billy Donovan’s dad appeared first on ClutchPoints.

McClung has won the last three Slam Dunk Contests, and although he has not been able to carve out a consistent spot on an NBA team for himself, he has been with the Bulls for a couple of weeks now, meaning he had every reason to be out there on Saturday in Los Angeles.

Recently, McClung showed off some of the dunks he would have gone with had he been selected to defend his title in the event, per Chaz NBA on YouTube.

Clearly, McClung still has every bit of the athleticism needed to win the event, but fans in Los Angeles instead had to settle for a bizarre array of dunks from Johnson, Jace Richardson, Jaxson Hayes, and Carter Bryant throughout the night.

The dunk contest, and the NBA All-Star weekend as a whole, has received some immense criticism in recent years for a perceived decline in quality, with many fans lamenting the fact that big-name players often decline to take part in the event these days.

Two years ago, Boston Celtics forward Jaylen Brown changed that by competing in the contest, but that still didn’t stop more criticism from coming the NBA’s way.

Meanwhile, on Sunday, the league will desperately be hoping that the players in the All-Star game itself will put forth some kind of effort after years of boring play resembling a game at a middle school recess, as opposed to a showcase of the best basketball players on the planet.

Tipoff is set for 5:00 pm ET from Los Angeles.

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That desire to go far could be attributed to seeing Derrick Rose getting his jersey retired by the Bulls. During All-Star weekend, Buzelis reflected upon the ceremony and what it meant to him, per SiriusXM NBA Radio.

“It really put more motivation into my mind,” Buzelis said.

"It really put more motivation into my mind."

Bulls forward Matas Buzelis shares what seeing Derrick Rose's jersey retirement meant to him.

For more NBA All-Star Weekend coverage: https://t.co/j3RPgmlH7e pic.twitter.com/pbmW5bmRXu

— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) February 14, 2026

Rose had his jersey retired after the Bulls’ game against the Boston Celtics on Jan. 24. He is one of four other Chicago players to have the honor. The others were Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Jerry Sloan, and Bob Love.

Currently, Buzelis is at a point where he is cultivating his own identity. Certainly, he is still adjusting to a new dynamic after the Bulls traded away seven players during the Trade Deadline. Those players included Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, and Nikola Vucevic, all of whom were instrumental in mentoring Buzelis in his rookie year.

Right now, the Bulls are 24-31 and are in the middle of a six-game losing streak. Also, they have lost 9 out of their last 10 games.

Currently, Buzelis is averaging 15.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. Buzelis had attended Hinsdale Central High School in the Chicago suburb of Hinsdale for his first and second years.

Rose is a native of Englewood. The NBA All-Star Weekend concludes with the All-Star Game on Sunday.

Afterward, the Bulls will be back in action on Thursday, Feb. 19, against the Toronto Raptors.

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On Friday, Buzelis walked away in triumph as Team Vince defeated Team Melo 25-24, per Greg Beacham of The Chicago Tribune. The head coaches were former NBA players Vince Carter and Carmelo Anthony. During the game, Buzelis finished with six points in the semifinal and four in the final.

It culminated in Buzelis’ third consecutive appearance in the Rising Stars game. Ultimately, the MVP honors went to V.J. Edgecombe of the Philadelphia 76ers, who scored 17 points in the semifinal and hit two free throws in the final.

Buzelis forsaken the dunk contest after accepting an invitation to play in the Rising Stars game. Last season, Buzelis competed in the dunk contest, where he lost in the first round.

Presently, Buzelis is in his second full season with the Bulls. He is averaging 15.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. In the same breath, he is still adjusting to an entirely new dynamic after seven trades that sent many of the core players away.

Those included Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, and Nikola Vucevic, who were instrumental in nurturing Buzelis during his rookie season.

Also, the Bulls are in the midst of a six-game losing streak and are 24-31. Plus, they have lost 9 of their last 10 games.

The NBA All-Star Game is scheduled for Sunday in Los Angeles. Afterward, the Bulls will play their first post-All-Star break game on Thursday, Feb.19, against the Toronto Raptors.

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In other words, the Bulls cannot afford to forsake games to secure higher picks in the 2026 NBA Draft. At this point, Chicago is in a battle with the Memphis Grizzlies, who currently have the 8th-highest odds for the Draft Lottery. Meanwhile, Chicago is 10th and trailing the Milwaukee Bucks.

The theoretical endgame would be that Chicago would lose more games, thereby increasing their lottery chances. But it seems that if there is one thing about this organization, the last thing they want is to pay a fine.

After all, this leadership, led by Arturas Karnisovas, is reluctant to rock the boat. After all, Chicago recently traded away many of their core players in exchange for 14 second-round draft picks. All to rebuild and free up cap space.

A cautious approach, if there ever was one.

The NBA Draft Lottery is scheduled for May 10.

The hard fact about the Bulls is that they don’t have to tank

Now that the season is at the All-Star break, the Bulls are in a dismal state. Following the trades, the Bulls are in the midst of a six-game losing streak. Currently, they are 24-31 on the year and have lost 9 of their last 10 games.

Plus, they are a roster still adjusting to one another. A roster that is disproportionately skewed toward the newbies. Those include Collin Sexton, Anfernee Simons, Jaden Ivey, Nick Richards, Guerschon Yabusele, and Leonard Miller.

Therefore, tanking wouldn’t be necessary because the struggle will still be real with this dynamic in place.

That being said, the Bulls have consistently been an organization that has avoided tanking altogether. They have shown flashes of competitiveness even when their backs are against the wall.

So in the grand scheme of things, they are just in keeping with how they have always operated, for better or worse.

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However, Buzelis is very much wanting to do more going forward. He said that he wants his shot at playing in the All-Star Game, per Joe Cowely of the Chicago Sun-Times.

“Everything is exciting for me still,” Buzelis said of his trip to Los Angeles for All-Star Weekend. “Anything you get to participate in is an honor and exciting, but I’m not going to lie, yeah, I want to be in that Sunday game for sure.”

Altogether, Buzelis stressed that he has the capability.

“I’m fully capable of becoming a great player and this is just the process it is going to be for me,” he said. “But I know for a fact that every year I’m going to get better as a player. I know that will happen.

“I’m going to work extremely hard, push myself until exhaustion to become that player.”

Nevertheless, Buzelis stressed that the team comes first.

“I’m more worried about this team and as a collective group what can we achieve,” he said. “I’m all up for the challenge of becoming whatever people say or believe — All-Star, yada, yada.”

Meanwhile, Buzelis is averaging 15.2 points and 5.4 rebounds per game. The Bulls are in the midst of a six-game losing streak following their 124-105 loss to the Boston Celtics on Wednesday.

At the same time, Buzelis is still adjusting to an entirely new roster following the departure of his core teammates. That includes Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Nikola Vucevic, Dalen Terry, Jevon Carter, and Kevin Huerter.

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McClung captured the Dunk Contest crown in 2023, 2024, and 2025, putting himself on the brink of history. A fourth consecutive victory would have secured a rare four-peat and further cemented his legacy as one of the contest’s most electrifying performers. Instead, the 27-year-old opted to step aside.

After signing with Chicago, McClung remained active for Rising Stars festivities, but uncertainty surrounded his Dunk Contest status. Speculation intensified in January when reports suggested he might withdraw. Clarity arrived in an article published Thursday by HoopsHype’s Cyro Asseo, who shared a revealing statement from the reigning champion.

“I think there was just back and forth of us being like this, and then they were calling me, being like ‘People didn’t want to do it if I was doing it,’ and I thought it’s best if I just sit out this year and let it be, no matter what.”

His comments confirmed what many around the league suspected. Several potential participants were reportedly reluctant to enter the competition if the guard committed. Rather than create tension or complicate the field, he voluntarily removed himself from consideration.

The decision carries significance for both Chicago and the league. McClung forfeits an opportunity to become the first player to win four consecutive NBA Dunk Contest titles. His absence also underscores the balance between star dominance and maintaining broad participation in All-Star Weekend events.

League sources indicated his participation had quietly impacted other players’ willingness to enter the annual showcase event.

The Bulls still retained McClung on a two-way deal, and he remains part of the weekend’s festivities. Yet his choice speaks volumes. When competitors hesitate to challenge the reigning champion, it reinforces just how thoroughly McClung has reshaped the modern Dunk Contest stage.

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Unfortunately for the team and the 26-year-old guard, he was a casualty of the Celtics’ cap problems. As a result of being in the final year of his contract, Simons ended up being moved by Boston at the trade deadline to the Chicago Bulls for veteran center Nikola Vucevic.

Not only did such a move lessen the Celtics’ tax burden, but it also addressed a key need in their frontcourt, making a real championship push this season possible. Simons will now finish out the 2025-26 season on a team with no direction or path to the playoffs before becoming an unrestricted free agent.

Could that mean that Simons will seriously entertain the thought of returning to Boston in the near future?

“For sure. Obviously got to finish our season here first and then see what happens there. But, you know, for sure down the line,” Simons told reporters before the Celtics defeated the Bulls 124-105 on Wednesday night, via CLNS Media. “Like I said, I enjoyed my time here and built great relationships here. And so, yeah, I see it for sure.”

In his return to Boston since being traded to the Bulls, Simons scored just seven points on 3-of-9 shooting from the floor in 28 minutes. He has started in all four games he’s played for Chicago since the trade deadline deal.

What the future holds for Simons this upcoming offseason is uncertain. In a weaker free agent market, Simons will stand out as one of the better, established young backcourt talents, but many teams won’t have the ability to offer him a long-term, high-paying contract in the summer.

That is why it’s realistic to believe Simons could opt to return to the Celtics on a team-friendly deal, especially since he was valued by the organization and embraced his role as their sixth man off the bench.

It will be interesting to see what level of interest Simons can generate across the league entering the offseason.

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According to ClutchPoints NBA insider Brett Siegel, Chicago held strong interest in the 21-year-old center and attempted to structure a deal on deadline day using multiple second-round picks it had previously acquired. However, New Orleans was unwilling to move Missi without receiving a first-round pick in return.

“Missi was another heavily discussed center this trade cycle, with the Chicago Bulls holding strong interest in him,” Siegel wrote. “Although Chicago attempted to trade for Missi on the day of the trade deadline, utilizing several second-round picks they had acquired, the Pelicans were not open to trading the young center unless they were to receive a first-round pick, sources said.”

Pelicans hold firm on first-round price as Yves Missi remains future trade target

As a result, no deal materialized. Siegel added that Missi is expected to remain a prominent trade target closer to the 2026 NBA Draft, as the Pelicans are seeking to recoup a first-round selection in this year’s draft cycle.

Missi is in his second NBA season and has seen a shift in role. He is averaging 5.6 points, 5.6 rebounds, 1.4 blocks and 1.2 assists per game while shooting 53.8% from the field across 47 appearances, including seven starts. He is logging 19.3 minutes per contest after averaging 26.8 minutes and starting 67 games during his rookie campaign.

Chicago enters Wednesday at 24-30 and sits 11th in the Eastern Conference standings. The Bulls are looking to snap a five-game losing streak when they visit the Boston Celtics at 7:30 p.m. ET before the league pauses for All-Star Weekend at Intuit Dome in Los Angeles.

New Orleans, 15-40 and 14th in the Western Conference, carries a two-game winning streak into Wednesday’s home matchup against the Miami Heat at 8 p.m. ET.

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Josh Giddey injury status vs. Celtics

Given that Josh Giddey is listed as doubtful on the injury list, the assumption is he will not be suiting up against the Celtics. Lately, Giddey has been a fixture on the NBA Injury Report. He has missed the last seven games due to his hamstring injury.

Giddey’s last apperance was on Jan. 28 against the Indiana Pacers. Altogether, he scored 10 points and dished out seven assists as the Bulls lost 113-110. Giddey has played in 34 games and is averaging 18.6 points, 8.8 assists, and 8.6 rebounds per game.

Meanwhile, the Bulls are in the midst of a six game losiong streak. They are currently 24-30 and lost on Monday to the Brooklyn Nets 123-115.

So when it comes to the question if Josh Giddey is playing tonight vs. the Celtics, the answer is likely no.

Bulls injury report

Josh Giddey (left hamstring strain)-Doubtful

Tre Jones (left hamstring strain)-Doubtful

Jalen Smith (right calf strain)-Doubtful

Zach Collins (right 1st toe strain)-Out

Noa Essengue (left shoulder surgery)-Out

Celtics injury report

Sam Houser (low back spasms)-Probable

Neemias Queta (right ankle sprain)-Probable

Jayson Tatum (right achilles repair)-Out

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Collins has been sidelined since Dec. 27 by a right big toe sprain, but took a noteworthy step in his recovery over the last week.

“Zach actually did some altered-gravity running. He felt just tight, but no pain, which was encouraging,” Billy Donovan said on Monday. “I think it was probably half his bodyweight. So I think they’re gonna see how that progresses. He hasn’t necessarily done it a lot. The foot doctor wanted him to see if he could come out of the boot and start to do that. So that was a positive sign.”

After trading Vucevic to the Boston Celtics for Anfernee Simons, the Bulls have been left without a starting-caliber center amid Collins and Jalen Smith’s absence. Smith has been sidelined after straining his calf during Thursday’s loss to the Toronto Raptors.

Zach Collins takes encouraging step in injury recovery amid multi-month absence

Chicago has started trade acquisition Guerschon Yabusele, who is not a center and struggled during the first half of the season with the New York Knicks, during its last two games. Nick Richards, also acquired at the deadline, has filled the center minutes off the bench.

Chicago was torched by opposing centers during losses to the Denver Nuggets and Brooklyn Nets. Nikola Jokic posted 22 points, 14 rebounds and 17 assists on 7-of-12 shooting during Denver’s 136-120 win over the Bulls on Saturday. Nic Claxton scored a career-high 28 points on 12-of-15 shooting with 10 rebounds and four assists during Brooklyn’s win over Chicago on Monday.

Collins’ return would provide some stability to the Bulls’ center rotation. The 28-year-old averaged 9.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 1.5 assists on .578/.429/.700 shooting splits in 18.4 minutes per game across 10 appearances earlier this season.

Smith’s return would also boost the Bulls’ frontcourt. The 25-year-old has been labeled doubtful on Chicago’s last two status reports, indicating he should be in line to return following the All-Star break. Smith has averaged 10.2 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1.3 assists on .488/.379/.718 shooting splits in 20.2 minutes per game across 43 appearances this season.

The Bulls are one game behind the Charlotte Hornets for the Eastern Conference’s final play-in spot.

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That move for the Hawks followed a highly publicized period of frustration, where the young forward found himself out of the rotation under Steve Kerr and eventually requested a trade to salvage his career.

While Kuminga focuses on his recovery, his departure signifies the end of a lengthy internal struggle within the Warriors organization regarding his development and trade value.

That departure from the Warriors organization brings to light the underlying conflict between coaching and ownership that delayed such a move for years, as detailed in a recent report from ESPN.

The report suggests that team owner Joe Lacob was a primary obstacle in potential trades, including a much-discussed deal for Alex Caruso at the 2024 deadline, because he wanted to be proved correct in his original assessment of the lottery pick.

While some within the franchise viewed the Caruso deal as a missed opportunity, others suggested the situation was more nuanced.

One source mentioned by ESPN noted, “Joe gets outsized blame,” and characterized the standoff as a “complex situation” involving a “ton of indecision” from several people.

While Kuminga works his way back to health in Atlanta, Caruso has reinforced his value as a defensive star for the Oklahoma City Thunder, recently helping them secure a victory over the Lakers.

Following a brief shouting match with LeBron James during that game, Caruso joked that they “were about to fight” before clarifying that they were merely clearing the air.

Caruso’s elite defense and veteran poise remain the exact traits Golden State was rumored to be targeting, yet Lacob’s persistent belief in Kuminga’s upside kept the young player in San Francisco until the relationship finally reached a breaking point this winter.

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The following day, the NBA hit him with a $35,000 fine, per ClutchPoints. Nevertheless, Sexton finished the game with 21 points along with five rebounds. At the free throw line, he was 6-for-8.

The NBA has fined Collin Sexton $35,000 for giving the middle finger to the hoop after a free-throw attempt during Bulls-Nets last night. https://t.co/Yo3OGt8HMB

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 11, 2026

With the loss, the Bulls are now 24-30 with one more game against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday before the All-Star weekend. The Bulls are still adjusting to a new roster following the seven trades they made last week during the NBA Trade Deadline.

Sexton came to the Bulls via the Charlotte Hornets as part of a trade that sent Coby White to Charlotte. At this point, Sexton is averaging 14.4 points per game and shooting 48.2% from the field.

In his first game with Chicago, Sexton scored 17 points, dished out four assists, and grabbed three rebounds in Chicago’s 136-120 loss to the Denver Nuggets. Also, he was a perfect 4-for-4 from the free-throw line.

Sexton also went viral inadvertently during the Nets game, courtesy of teammate Matas Buzelis. Buzelis leaped over Sexton going up for a block during the first quarter. Sexton is just one of the now too many guards that Chicago has at their disposal post-Trade Deadline.

Additionally, Sexton, 27, was brought on to primarily score. The Bulls will be back at home on February 19 to take on the Toronto Raptors.

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However, head coach Billy Donovan made sure to quell speculation that players are “auditioning”, per Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times.

“I can see people on the outside, ‘Are they really trying to win? What’s with this group? . . . Who is going to be back? Who isn’t going to be back? Maybe these guys are auditioning, [or] they really don’t care.’ I still think, inside that locker room, these guys are professionals, and they don’t want to come in every day, work, try and buy in and [say], ‘OK, we’re just going to experiment with all this stuff.’ ”

Last week, the Bulls made significant roster changes. They traded away Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Nikola Vucevic, Dalen Terry, Kevin Huerter, and Jevon Carter. Therefore, adding further uncertainty to the team’s direction.

The Bulls have a rude awakening ahead of them.

Donovan recognizes that the Bulls have an uphill battle ahead. They have fewer than 30 games after the All-Star weekend.

“I do think this group is going to hit the wall,” Donovan said. “Coming out of the All-Star break, what those last 27 games are going to look like for us physically is going to be a big factor.”

“There are guys with expiring contracts, some guys that want to play, so we’ve got to help each other, go out there and compete,” Donovan said.

“All that kind of stuff is important, so I’ve tried to redirect their focus onto that: ‘What do we got to do to get better as a team?’

On Monday, the Bulls sustained their 5th straight loss to the Brooklyn Nets 123-115.

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“I don’t anticipate Josh or Tre [Jones] playing Wednesday against Boston, but both guys are ramping up,” Donovan said before Monday’s 123-115 loss to the Brooklyn Nets. “They’re playing three-on-three, and they’re running up the court. I think the medical guys just want them to be in a place where there’s at least enough of a buildup and all that tightness has kind of subsided.”

Giddey missed three weeks in January due to a hamstring strain. He reaggravated the injury during a Jan. 28 loss to the Indiana Pacers.

Josh Giddey progressing toward return after All-Star break for Bulls

The Bulls star has averaged a career-high 18.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.8 assists on .462/.366/.775 shooting splits. He, Nikola Jokic and Jalen Johnson are the NBA’s only players averaging 18-8-8 or higher this season.

Chicago’s offense has struggled to stay afloat during Giddey’s absences. Donovan’s squad is 17-17 when Giddey plays and 7-13 when he sits.

A hamstring ailment has also sidelined Jones since Jan. 22. The sixth-year guard has averaged 12.4 points, 3.0 rebounds and 5.8 assists on .550/.328/.848 shooting splits across 38 appearances with 20 starts.

The Bulls have been integrating several new guard additions following the trade deadline, with Giddey and Jones sidelined. Anfernee Simons, Jaden Ivey and Colin Sexton have all seen featured roles in Chicago’s backcourt over the last two games, a 136-120 loss to the Denver Nuggets and Monday’s loss to the Nets.

Giddey and Jones should be ready to return after the All-Star break, leaving Donovan to find minutes for five rotation-level guards.

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Began with belief

The Bulls’ 2025-26 campaign opened with a surge of optimism that briefly revived echoes of the franchise’s championship past. Chicago stormed out to a 5-0 start, which was its best opening since the 1996-97 title season. They were fueled by the all-around brilliance of Josh Giddey.

Newly empowered as the offense’s lead orchestrator, Giddey blossomed into a nightly triple-double threat. He is averaging nearly 19 points, nine rebounds, and nine assists. His size, tempo control, and playmaking vision unlocked a faster, more creative offensive identity that energized both teammates and fans.

Early momentum, though, masked deeper flaws. Defensive breakdowns surfaced quickly as the schedule hardened. Chicago’s inability to protect the rim or contain dribble penetration sent them spiraling into a seven-game losing streak spanning November and December. Rotational instability and inconsistent point-of-attack defense also pushed the Bulls near the bottom tier of the league in points allowed.

By the time February arrived, the early glow had faded into familiar mediocrity.

Deadline positioning

Entering the trade deadline, the Bulls sat at 24-27 and drifting further from Play-In viability. The front office faced a defining choice: chase short-term competitiveness or pivot toward a youth-driven rebuild.

They chose the latter and quite decisively, too. In a whirlwind stretch of transactions, Chicago dismantled its veteran core. Leading scorer Coby White was moved. Veteran center Nikola Vucevic was dealt. Homegrown guard Ayo Dosunmu was also shipped out.

In return, the Bulls assembled a youth-heavy haul headlined by Jaden Ivey, Anfernee Simons, and Collin Sexton. That’s along with an eye-popping stockpile of nine second-round picks. The messaging was clear: development over immediate wins.

Yet as the new-look roster stumbled into a three-game skid, which has been compounded by hamstring injuries to Giddey and Tre Jones, questions emerged about whether Chicago had truly reset or simply reshuffled imbalance.

Clearings and questions

The 2026 deadline will be remembered as the moment Chicago finally embraced change. Of course, change alone does not equal direction. Chicago’s biggest mistake wasn’t choosing to rebuild but how they structured the teardown. That’s particularly true in relation to timing, positional value, and asset optimization.

Waiting too long to sell high

The most glaring misstep was that Chicago waited too long to move its most valuable trade chips. Eighteen months earlier, both White and Dosunmu were outperforming team-friendly contracts. Their production-to-salary ratios made them premium assets capable of commanding first-round picks or blue-chip prospects.

By delaying action until the 2026 deadline, which is when contract leverage had diminished and free agency loomed, Chicago negotiated from a position of reduced strength. Instead of netting cornerstone draft capital, they settled for a surplus of second-round selections. Useful, yes. Transformational, no. The difference between first-round equity and second-round volume is seismic.

Point guard logjam

If the timing error was strategic, the roster construction that followed bordered on chaotic. In the span of a week, Chicago acquired Ivey, Simons, Sexton, and Rob Dillingham. Those are four high-usage guards who require on-ball reps to maximize development.

Now layer that influx onto a backcourt already featuring Giddey and Jones. The result is now a historic positional logjam. At one point, Chicago rostered ten guards on standard deals while carrying only one healthy center above 6-foot-10 in Nick Richards.

Developmental rebuilds require clarity of roles. Instead, Chicago created competition for minutes without complementary frontcourt infrastructure to support lineup balance. The result risks stunting growth rather than accelerating it.

The Coby White medical snafu

As if the structural concerns weren’t enough, Chicago’s handling of the Coby White trade introduced an avoidable public relations stumble.

White’s deal to the Charlotte Hornets was amended post-deadline after medical evaluations revealed a left calf issue that Charlotte believed had not been fully disclosed during negotiations.

Chicago was forced to return one of the three second-round picks it had acquired in the transaction. That was a minor asset loss on paper but symbolically damaging.

Positional value versus asset volume

The cumulative effect of Chicago’s deadline strategy highlights a tension between asset accumulation and roster functionality. Stockpiling second-round picks provides trade flexibility and developmental darts to throw. However without positional equilibrium — particularly size and rim protection — those assets risk orbiting an imbalanced core.

Modern rebuilds are less about quantity and more about strategic fit. Chicago may have gathered pieces without fully mapping how they coexist.

Rebuild begins, questions linger

The 2026 trade deadline ended one era of Bulls basketball. It handed the keys to youth, pace, and developmental upside. Yet, the foundation remains uneven. Chicago must consolidate its guard surplus into frontcourt reinforcements and future first-round equity. With that, this deadline can age gracefully.

If not, the “Great Clearing of the Ranks” may be remembered not as the day the rebuild began-but as the day it lost structural balance before it even took shape.

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Sexton is so fired up that he’s not cutting himself any slack when he’s making mistakes. This manifested in such a hilarious exchange with the rim in a moment that the video cameras caught. With 1:31 remaining in the third quarter, Sexton found himself on the foul line. He proceeded to split a pair of freebies, missing the first before making the second.

The Bulls guard was then so angry that he missed a free throw to begin with and he wildly flipped off the rim with his middle finger in a hilarious moment.

Collin Sexton flipped off the rim after making the free throw pic.twitter.com/61IB5NWK1k

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 10, 2026

Sexton went 6-8 from the foul line on the night, and he wasn’t very efficient from the field either, making just six of his 17 field-goal attempts. He ended up with 21 points on the night, which was the second-highest tally on the Bulls on the night, behind only the 23 points that Anfernee Simons scored.

Bulls’ Collin Sexton is auditioning for a new contract 

Sexton is in the final year of his contract, which made him quite an easy trade candidate for his original team this season, the Charlotte Hornets.

He’s averaging 14.4 points and 3.7 assists this season, and he definitely has a place on a winning team as a spark plug off the bench. He also provides a ton of intensity whenever he’s on the court, if his flipping off of the rim is any indication. Considering the Bulls’ backcourt logjam, it’d be a surprise if they bring him back next season.

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In the first quarter, Buzelis showcased his extraordinary hops, per ClutchPoints. While pushing the ball in transition, Terance Mann of the Nets went up for the shot, but Matas leaped over teammate Collin Sexton to block the shot.

Matas Buzelis jumped OVER Colin Sexton for the block

pic.twitter.com/bOIpl8pGQA

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 10, 2026

Throughout this season, Buzelis has risen, no pun intended, to the occasion when it comes to his jumping abilities. That is especially true of his captivating dunks, which have gone viral. However, Buzelis decided not to take part in the NBA Slam Dunk Contest this weekend in Los Angeles. Instead, Buzelis will be playing in the NBA Rising Stars game featuring rookie and sophomore players.

Currently, the Bulls are in the middle of a four-game losing streak and are 24-29. On Saturday, they lost to the Denver Nuggets 136-120 at home. Buzelis is in his sophomore season in Chicago. At this point, he is still adjusting to the departures of his former teammates due to trades. They include Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Nikola Vucevic, Dalen Terry, Jevon Carter, and Kevin Huerter.

Sexton is one of the newbies in Chicago who came from the Charlotte Hornets as part of the trade that sent away Coby White to Charlotte. He, along with Anfernee Simons, Jaden Ivey, Nick Richards, Rob Dillingham, Guerschon Yabusele, and Leonard Miller, make up the new players.

This year, Buzelis is averaging 15.1 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.

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Brooklyn labeled Porter’s status as right knee tendinitis, while Demin was given the night off for rest.

Porter suffered what he called “a little” MCL sprain during a Jan. 7 win over the Orlando Magic. However, he did not miss any time due to the injury. Meanwhile, Demin has gotten several nights off for injury management, most of which have come during back-to-backs, after missing most of the offseason due to a plantar fascia tear.

Porter and Demin’s rest night comes after the Nets snapped a three-game losing streak with a 127-113 blowout win over the Wizards on Saturday.

Michael Porter Jr., Egor Demin sidelined vs. Bulls after Nets win

After entering the game tied with Brooklyn for fourth in the draft lottery standings, Washington rested nearly its entire rotation on Saturday. The Wizards had only eight available players, three of whom were on two-way contracts and one of whom was a recent 10-day signing.

Saturday’s win dropped Brooklyn to fifth in the lottery standings, a game behind the Wizards. Meanwhile, the Utah Jazz’s 120-117 loss to the Magic pulled them within one game of the Nets. The Jazz led by seven points entering the fourth quarter, but did not play their two top players, Lauri Markkanen and Jaren Jackson Jr., for the entire final period.

Whether they like it or not, the Nets will have to take similar measures to maintain their position in the tank race during the second half of the season. With Porter and Demin sidelined, Brooklyn will enter as a heavy underdog vs. Chicago.

The Nets will return to Barclays Center on Wednesday for a critical tank matchup with the Indiana Pacers. Brooklyn is two games behind Indiana for second place in the lottery standings.

The post Nets rule Michael Porter Jr., Egor Demin out vs. Bulls after win over Wizards appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Both Josh Giddey and Tre Jones were upgraded on the Bulls’ injury report to doubtful as per K.C. Johnson of Chicago Sports Network. Giddey has missed the last six games as he is dealing with a hamstring injury. Jones has missed the last nine games as he is also dealing with a hamstring injury.

Giddey was one of the Bulls’ prized offseason acquisitions in 2024 when they traded Alex Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Before the start of this season, the Bulls signed Giddey to a four-year contract extensions worth around $100 million.

He’s appeared in 34 games, including 31 starts, at a little over 32 minutes per game. He’s been averaging 18.6 points, 8.6 rebounds and 8.8 assists with splits of 46.2 percent shooting from the field, 36.6 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 77.5 percent shooting from the free-throw line.

Jones was acquired as part of a multi-team trade at last year’s trade deadline in the deal that sent Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings and De’Aaron Fox to the San Antonio Spurs. This is Jones’ first full season with the Bulls after he played the first four and half seasons of his career with the Spurs.

He’s appeared in 38 games, including 20 starts, at a little over 26 minutes per game He’s been averaging 12.4 points, 3.0 rebounds, 5.8 assists and 1.3 steals with splits of 55 percent shooting from the field, 32.8 percent shooting from the 3-point line and 84.8 percent shooting.

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Certainly, the Bulls are adjusting to this new dynamic. One of those players is second-year guard Matas Buzelis. After the game, head coach Billy Donovan made it clear that Buzelis is still coming to terms with the loss of his former teammates. Those include Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Nikola Vucevic, Kevin Huerter, Jevon Carter, Julian Phillips, and Dalen Terry.

“I still think he’s processing those guys that he probably looks at as being helpful to him as a rookie and being helpful to him in his second year,” Donovan said. “As much as he understands the business side of it, I still think it’s different for him, and he’s still processing some of that stuff.”

“I think it speaks to the relationship he’s had with all those guys.”

Billy Donovan speaks to how Matas Buzelis is adjusting to losing his teammates following the trades and the Bulls losing to the Nuggets 136-120 pic.twitter.com/s5bkk4jXOr

— Zachary Draves (@DravesZachary) February 8, 2026

In the end, Buzelis finished the game with a team-high 21 points. He also came away with 8 defensive rebounds and four 3-pointers. This year, Buzelis is averaging 15.0 points and 5.3 rebounds per game. Altogether, he has played in 52 games.

Meanwhile, the Bulls are now 24-29. Four of the newbies scored in double figures. Collin Sexton, who played in his first game, led the way with 17 points and four assists. Anfernee Simons finished with 15 points and six assists. Guerschon Yabusele came away with 12 points and four 3-pointers. Nick Richards finished with 15 points and seven rebounds. Jaden Ivey had 10 points and six rebounds.

Rob Dillingham scored his first basket as a Bull and finished with 9 points.

The post Why Matas Buzelis is ‘still processing’ 2026 NBA trade deadline appeared first on ClutchPoints.

His first basket as a Chicago Bull came in the second quarter. With the Bulls trailing 44-43 to the Denver Nuggets, Dillingham hit a 3-pointer to give Chicago the lead.

Rob Dillingham scores his first basket as a Bull pic.twitter.com/GnbEEERdMD

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 8, 2026

In essence, Dillingham showcased his ability to score from virtually all spots on the floor.

Altogether, Dillingham came to Chicago by way of the Minnesota Timberwolves. In exchange, the Timberwolves received Ayo Dosunmu and, originally, Mike Conley. Meanwhile. Dillingham is in his second full season in the NBA.

In 2024, Dillingham was drafted by the Timberwolves coming out of the University of Kentucky. While in Minnesota, Dillingham was largely overshadowed by the play of Anthony Edwards and fellow 2024 draftee Terrence Shannon Jr.

Overall, Dillingham has played in 35 games this year. He is averaging 9.3 minutes per game. Last year, he averaged 10.5 minutes per game and shot 44.8% from the field. In total, Dillingham played in 49 games.

Dillingham is just one of seven trades the Bulls made before and during the NBA Trade Deadline. In the process, Chicago acquired 14 second draft picks.

In all, the Bulls traded away the likes of Dosunmu, Coby White, Nikola Vucevic, Kevin Huerter, Jevon Carter, and Dalen Terry. Dosunmu, White, Vucevic, Huerter, and Carter were all playing on expiring contracts.

The Bulls are 24-28 on the year and are in the midst of a three-game losing streak.

The post Rob Dillingham shows off limitless range with 1st Bulls bucket appeared first on ClutchPoints.

On Saturday, Sexton not only scored his first basket as a Bull, but he really had to work for it, per ClutchPoints. It came at the 3:39 mark of the first quarter with the Bulls trailing 29-18. On a double team, Sexton scored on a floater off the glass and drew the foul.

Collin Sexton gets the AND-1 for his first bucket as a Bull pic.twitter.com/OId2i64y4B

— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) February 8, 2026

Sexton, 27, is averaging 14.2 points and shooting 48.8% from the field. In 2018, he was drafted by the Cleveland Cavaliers out of the University of Alabama. Sexton would go on to play for the Cavs from 2018 to 2022. Afterwards, he was traded to the Utah Jazz, where he would play from 2022 to 2025.

Then he was traded to the Hornets. Overall, Sexton brings additional depth to the Chicago backcourt. Plus, being on an expiring contract gives him some wiggle room for the organization.

The original deal included the Bulls acquiring Ousmane Dieng from the OKC Thunder. Additionally, the Bulls sent Mike Conley to Charlotte after he initially came via the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Ayo Dosunmu trade. However, Dieng was sent to the Milwaukee Bucks in a three-way exchange with the Phoenix Suns. In the process, Chicago got Nick Richards from Phoenix.

Chicago is 24-28 and is in the midst of a three-game losing streak. On Thursday, they lost their first post-Trade Deadline game to the Toronto Raptors 123-107 on the road.

The post Watch Collin Sexton score his tough 1st bucket for Bulls appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Despite the trade, Dosunmu hasn’t forgotten where he came from. On Saturday, Dosunmu posted a touching love letter to his hometown of Chicago on X (formerly Twitter).

“Dear Chicago, You’ll always be my first love,” Dosunmu said. “From the halls of Beasley and MPHS to the tunnels of the United Center, you’ve been with me every step of the way.”

“Thanks to my teammates, #BullsNation, the coaching staff and admin team, media and UC staff for an unforgettable five years!” he said. “Although my time in a Bulls uniform may have come to an end, that’s not the story; the story (and blessing) is that it happened. My heartfelt thanks to the Bulls front office for making it so.”

“As I walk confidently through this new door God has opened, rest assured that I’ll never forget where I came from-you can take the kid out of Chicago, but never Chicago out of the kid!”

From Chicago, to Chicago pic.twitter.com/TwANZzhJTF

— Dos (@AyoDos_11) February 7, 2026

Reflecting on his journey, in 2021, Dosunmu was drafted out of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He played for the Bulls for five seasons, cultivating a persona as a feisty, offensive, and defensive presence. He can score from all spots on the floor, attack the basket, and be disruptive on defense.

As his impact continued this season, Dosunmu is averaging 15.0 points and 3.6 assists per game. He was playing out the final year of his contract.

The post Ayo Dosunmu pens farewell letter to Bulls appeared first on ClutchPoints.

In exchange, the Bulls received Anfernee Simons, Jaden Ivey, Collin Sexton, Rob Dillingham, Nick Richards, and picking up 14 second-round picks. Because the NBA Trade Deadline is in the season’s second half, the team has little time to adjust.

Chicago head coach Billy Donovan highlighted two immediate obstacles.

“We have several challenges we have to work through as a group,” he said. “One is these guys have never played together. So you got to build some kind of chemistry and cohesiveness together in a very short period of time because there is no training camp. I think the second part is and I don’t say this critically because it is the way we play, but none of them are in good enough shape. And it is for a multitude of reasons. One, some of them the minutes they got and received where they were at. Some of them were in the rotation, some of them were out of the rotation. Some are gonna get more of an opportunity to play now.”

Because of these factors, Donovan emphasized that conditioning will be a major factor moving forward.

Bulls coach Billy Donovan speaks to the challenges the new roster faces with a limited schedule and time to adjust pic.twitter.com/b40gYPL8pT

— Zachary Draves (@DravesZachary) February 7, 2026

The Bulls’ roster remains depleted.

The Bulls are 24-28 entering Saturday. On Thursday, they lost 123-107 to the Toronto Raptors, marking a three-game losing streak.

Jalen Smith will be out due to a calf injury. Josh Giddey and Tre Jones are also still out with left hamstring strains. Zach Collins remains sidelined with a toe injury. Yuki Kawamura and Mac McClung are still out on two-way contracts.

The Bulls acquired McClung from the Orlando Magic.

The post Billy Donovan highlights challenges new roster faces appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Chicago Bulls recently signed him to a two-way contract earlier this week, but the former Georgetown and Texas Tech talent will have another opportunity to showcase his skills in front of a large audience. McClung will participate in All-Star Weekend as a member of Austin Rivers’ Rising Stars squad, which is comprised of G League players, per the NBA Communications X account. He is replacing San Antonio Spurs guard David Jones Garcia.

The slam dunk legend will look to entertain the masses once more, but this time, he aims to display the full scope of his abilities. And he will do so in Los Angeles. Through four NBA games this season (first three were with the Indiana Pacers), McClung is averaging 5.8 points in 11.8 minutes per contest. Although his playing time in The Association is limited, he should be one of the standouts on Rivers’ team.

Mac McClung earned G League MVP honors during the 2023-24 campaign, so he could be a go-to option in the 2026 Rising Stars event. But it will be much harder to excel against the best rookies and sophomores the NBA has to offer.

The Gate City, Virginia native will try to remind people that he can do more than dunk a basketball. If nothing else, McClung should be able to put on a solid show. This is his weekend, after all.

The post Mac McClung headed to NBA All-Star Weekend, but not for Dunk Contest appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Looking to end a three-game skid, the Denver Nuggets head east to take on the Chicago Bulls on Saturday night. Denver is praying Nikola Jokic will remain in the lineup, with the three-time MVP remaining on the injury report five games after returning from a month-long hiatus. Here is everything we know about Nikola Jokic’s injury and his playing status against the Bulls.

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Nikola Jokic injury status vs. Bulls

While Jokic missed 16 games in January with a knee injury, he is listed on Saturday’s injury report with an ankle sprain. Another injury is certainly concerning, but it is a good sign for the Nuggets that Jokic’s knee does not appear to be bothering him anymore.

Jokic has not missed a game since returning on Jan. 30, and he has had three days of rest since the Nuggets’ last outing, giving him a solid chance to remain in the lineup. Denver needs him to remain in the lineup, with Aaron Gordon, Peyton Watson and Spencer Jones already ruled out. Christian Braun is also listed on the injury report with a minor ankle sprain, though he is likely to play.

If Jokic suffers a setback, Jonas Valanciunas will return to the starting lineup. Valanciunas has two double-doubles in his last six games, including one with Jokic, but he played just 13 minutes in the Nuggets’ last outing against the New York Knicks on Wednesday.

As full as the Nuggets’ injury report is, the Bulls are dealing with even more punishing absences. Leading guards Josh Giddey and Tre Jones remain out, both dealing with hamstring strains. Starting forward Jalen Smith is questionable to play with a calf strain.

The Bulls’ injury woes have led to a 1-6 drought in their last seven games. Chicago’s lack of guard depth led it to start Anfernee Simons in his first game with the team on Thursday. Simons went 6-of-13 from behind the arc to lead the team with 22 points in a loss to the Toronto Raptors.

However, when it comes to Jokic’s injury status, expect him to play on Saturday, barring a setback in warmups.

Nuggets injury report

Tamar Bates, OUT — Left foot surgery

Christian Braun, Probable — Left ankle sprain

Aaron Gordon, OUT — Right hamstring strain

Cameron Johnson, Questionable — Right knee bone bruise

Nikola Jokic, Questionable — Left ankle sprain

Curtis Jones, OUT — G League

Spencer Jones, OUT — Concussion

Peyton Watson, OUT — Right hamstring strain

Bulls injury report

Zach Collins, OUT — Right toe sprain

Noa Essengue, OUT — Left shoulder surgery

Josh Giddey, OUT — Left hamstring strain

Tre Jones, OUT — Left hamstring strain

Jalen Smith, Questionable — Right calf strain

The post Nikola Jokic is available for Nuggets clash vs. Bulls appeared first on ClutchPoints.

All of which raises questions about the Bulls’ endgame. Continue to rebuild with a younger team and expand their draft capital? Or just be on the same underperformance cycle?

One fan went viral for calling the Bulls’ front office to explicitly call out the team’s decision-making, per BrickCenter.

Naturally, the fan reached out to customer service, as the front office was too busy to take his call. By the time he had a chance to leave a voicemail, his voice might be recognized.

A fan called the Bulls front office to complain about their trades pic.twitter.com/sI4xAKpWpU

— BrickCenter (@BrickCenter_) February 7, 2026

At one point during his rant, the fan mentioned the Bulls started off the season at 6-1, one of their best starts in years. Afterward, injuries, losing streaks, and inconsistencies took over. Now, Chicago stands at 24-28, and they are on a three-game losing streak. On Thursday, Chicago lost to the Toronto Raptors in their first game after the series of trades. On Saturday, they will be back home to take on the Denver Nuggets.

In all, the Bulls made seven trades and received 14 second-round draft picks. White was sent to the Charlotte Hornets for Collin Sexton. Vucevic is with the Boston Celtics in return for Anfernee Simons. Dosumnu is with the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for Rob Dillingham. Kevin Huerter is with the Detroit Pistons in exchange for Jaden Ivey.

The post Bulls fan calls Chicago with NSFW rant about team’s trade deadline appeared first on ClutchPoints.

However, one of their remaining familiar faces, Josh Giddey, won’t be in the lineup, per the NBA Injury Report. He will be out for the sixth consecutive game due to a left hamstring strain. At this point, Giddey is stuck on 18.6 points, 8.8 assists, and 8.6 rebounds per game. Altogether, Giddey has played in 34 games.

The last time he played was on January 28 against the Indiana Pacers on the road. Giddey scored 10 points, dished out seven assists, and played in 34 minutes as the Bulls lost 113-110.

Meanwhile, the Bulls are 24-28, 11th in the Eastern Conference, and are on a three-game losing streak. On Thursday, they lost to the Toronto Raptors 123-107 on the road in their first game since making some notable trades.

In addition to Giddey, Tre Jones is also out with a left hamstring strain. Jones last played on January 22 against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Furthermore, Zach Collins is out again with a toe injury. Collins hasn’t played since Dec. 27 against the Milwaukee Bucks. Plus, Jalen Smith is listed as questionable due to a right calf strain.

Giddey is in his second full season with the Bulls. Last September, he signed a four-year, $100 million contract. Although he was touted as a potential All-Star, Giddey will not be taking part in the All-Star festivities the weekend of Feb. 13 due to his recent absences.

The post Josh Giddey highlights stacked Bulls injury report for Nuggets clash appeared first on ClutchPoints.

Since 2019, White has been a fan favorite, and his void will be hard to fill. One of those who recognizes that reality is Patrick Williams.

On Thursday, Williams sent out well wishes to his now former teammate, per K.C. Johnson of The Chicago Sports Network.

“I’m excited for him to get a new opportunity in Charlotte, obviously, him being from North Carolina,” Williams said. “I know he’ll make the most of it. It’s a team that can use him and what he can do on the ball and challenge him to grow into a new role that he deserves.”

Furthermore, Williams is still coming to grips with how things will look and feel different.

“It’s always tough. You never get used to it,” Williams said to Johnson. “My rookie year, we made a lot of trades. This kind of feels like that. It’s a completely new dynamic. You’re always going to have the memories of the guys who were here.”

Williams has been with the Bulls since 2020. This year, he has played in 47 games and is averaging 6.7 points per game. Meanwhile, Chicago is 24-27 and will play the Toronto Raptors on the road on Thursday.

It will be their first game since the trades. On Saturday, they will head back home to play the Denver Nuggets.

In 2024, he signed a five-year, $90 million contract.

The post Why Patrick Williams is bummed but ‘excited’ for Coby White trade to Hornets appeared first on ClutchPoints.

On Thursday, it was reported that Ousmane Dieng will be sent to the Bucks and that Nick Richards is coming from the Suns to the Bulls, per Shams Charania of ESPN on X, formerly Twitter. Originally, Dieng came to Chicago as part of the three-team exchange with the Charlotte Hornets and OKC Thunder. A deal that sent Coby White and Mike Conley Jr. to Charlotte.

This move is part of the Bulls’ effort to acquire a big man after trading away Nikola Vucevic to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Anfernee Simons and a second-round draft pick.

The Bucks made this move with the Suns in part to refute any speculation that they were looking to trade Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Richards, 28, is a 6-foot-11 center who’s in his sixth NBA season. In 2020, he was drafted by the New Orleans Pelicans out of Kentucky. Ultimately, he was traded to the Charlotte Hornets and played five seasons.

Last January, Richards was sent to the Suns. In his first game, he scored 21 points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and shot 7-for-8 from the field.

This year, he’s played in 28 games and is shooting 49.3% from the field. Overall, Richards is known for being an effective rim runner, rebounder, and shot blocker.

Meanwhile, the Bulls are now lacking in size and presence in the paint. Aside from Vucevic, Zach Collins is still out with a lingering toe injury.

The post Bulls hope in Bucks-Suns trade to land a center appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Bulls traded Coby White to the Charlotte Hornets, and that was one of the plethora of trades the team made over the last 72 hours, as they reshuffled their team. Currently, the team sits at 24-27, holding onto the 10th-place spot in the Eastern Conference. But this team that suits up tonight will look vastly different from the squad that started the season.

The Raptors are having a strong season, at 30-22 and sixth in the Eastern Conference. Additionally, they have been relatively healthy as they approach this game. Toronto has a chance to move up in the standings as they face a Chicago team that has struggled this season.

NBA odds courtesy of DraftKings

Bulls vs. Raptors odds

Chicago Bulls: +8.5 (-110)

Toronto Raptors: -8.5 (-110)

Over: +270

Under: -340

Bulls vs. Raptors Key Injuries

The post Bulls vs. Raptors NBA trade deadline day prediction, odds, pick – 2/5/2026 appeared first on ClutchPoints.

As a result, the names on the NBA Injury Report are piling up. In total, 10 players are listed in the report. Among them are Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Nikola Vucevic, Julian Phillips, and Mike Conley Jr., who were all traded this week.

They are listed as “not with team”. Meanwhile, Josh Giddey is out with an ongoing left hamstring strain. Also, Tre Jones remains out with the same injury. Plus, Zach Collins is still out with a toe injury.

Additionally, Jaden Ivey, who is arriving from the Detroit Pistons, is listed as questionable due to a trade pending.

Therefore, the Bulls’ roster will not just look unfamiliar; it will look depleted. Going into Thursday, Chicago has a record of 24-27. They are ranked 10th in the Eastern Conference. On Tuesday, the Chicago Bulls lost to the Milwaukee Bucks 131-115, marking the final game for White, Dosunmu, Vucevic, Phillips, and Kevin Huerter.

Meanwhile, the Raptors have a 30-22 record, sixth in the Eastern Conference. Their injury numbers have not yet been submitted at the time this story was published.

To sum up, the Bulls have 14 total second-round picks as a consequence of their recent trades.

They traded Huerter and Dario Saric to the Pistons. Vucevic was sent to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Anfernee Simons and a second-round draft pick. White and Conley were traded to the Charlotte Hornets in exchange for Collin Sexton from Charlotte and Ousmane Dieng from the OKC Thunder.

Finally, Dosunmu and Phillips were traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves for Rob Dillingham, Leonard Miller, and four second-round draft picks.

The post Bulls’ injury report vs. Raptors after trade frenzy is extremly long appeared first on ClutchPoints.

In return, the Bulls receive guard Rob Dillingham and forward Leonard Miller as well as four second-round draft picks.

Dosunmu, a Chicago native, was drafted by the Bulls in 2021 out of the University of Illinois-Urbana/Champaign. Since then, he emerged as a genuine talent. A player who can score from all spots on the floor, fearless in going to the rim, and an effective defender.

This season, Dosunmu has played in 45 games. Altogether, he is averaging 15.0 points per game. In his final game with the Bulls, Dosunmu scored 17 points and handed out eight assists in a 131-115 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, there were rumblings that the Bulls were looking to trade Dosunmu to the Indiana Pacers. Dosunmu is playing on an expiring contract, as was the case with other Chicago players.

Earlier in the week, the Bulls made some noteworthy trades. First, they traded Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric to the Detroit Pistons as part of a three-way deal. In return, Chicago got Jaden Ivey from Detroit and Mike Conley Jr. from the Timberwolves.

Then, the Bulls traded veteran big man Nikola Vucevic to the Boston Celtics for Anfernee Simons and a second-round draft pick.

Shortly after, Chicago sent Coby White and Conley to the Charlotte Hornets in a three-way exchange. In return, the Bulls got Collin Sexton from the Hornets, Ousmane Dieng from the OKC Thunder, and three second-round draft picks.

Grading the Bulls trade with the Timberwolves

For starters, the Timberwolves have been looking more depth at the guard postion. They get the total package in Dosunmu. A perfect match alongside Anthony Edwards and Donte DiVincenzo. Dosunmu plays with sheer rentlessness that can provide an additional to a playoff contending team.

Meanwhile, the Bulls are continuing in their efforts to bolster their draft captial. They have nine second round draft picks, which can help move them up in the draft, package them in going after first round picks, and/or develop if proven worthy.

Dillingham, 21, is somewhat of a reflection of Dosunmu with the ball in his hands. He is an effective scorer who can shoot from all spots on the floor. Dillingham also has the same willigness to do whatever it takes to score.

Nevertheless, he will have to fight for minutes as part of a crowded backcourt that includes Josh Giddey, Matas Buzelis, Collin Sexton, Anfernee Simons, and Jaden Ivey. At the same time, he will now have more ample opportunity to showcase his skills through means of development.

Something he didn’t have with the Timberwolves.

In the same breath, Miller is another young prospect on a young team with flashes of potential. While in the NBA G League, Miller averaged 24.4 points and 11.8 rebounds per game during the 2024-25 season with the Iowa Wolves.

At 6-foot-10, he brings size to the wing position.

Bulls trade grade: B

The post Ayo Dosunmu trade grades for Bulls-Timberwolves deal that features 4 players, 4 picks appeared first on ClutchPoints.

One common theme throughout all of these moves is that the Bulls have been bringing back significant draft assets in the second round for future years.

“The Bulls have added 9 second round picks in the last week, 14 total,” reported NBA insider Bobby Marks of ESPN on X, formerly Twitter.

With this being the case, many are wondering whether the Chicago brass might be stockpiling these picks in an effort to go after another player before the deadline.

One name whom the Bulls have been linked to heavily in recent weeks has been New Orleans Pelicans big man Yves Missi.

“The New Orleans Pelicans have been holding a firm asking price of a first-round pick for the recent All-Rookie big man, but no team has been willing to reach said price,” CluchPoints’ NBA insider Brett Siegel reported recently.

However, Chicago could be hoping that their collection of second round picks will be enough to get the Pelicans to budge from that stance.

The Bulls currently have a gaping hole at the center position after their trade of Vucevic, and although they did move Dosunmu, Dillingham’s arrival means that there is still a huge logjam of backcourt players on the roster, one that fans will likely want to see eradicated before Thursday’s deadline.

In any case, the NBA trade deadline is set for Thursday at 3:00 pm ET. The Bulls will next hit the floor on Thursday evening on the road vs the Toronto Raptors.

Use code CLUTCHPOINTS to get $5 of free coins when you sign up at Novig, America’s #1 Sports Prediction market.

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Just in: The Chicago Bulls have traded Ayo Dosunmu to the Minnesota Timberwolves, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/DOzVoArBsL

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 5, 2026

In exchange, the Bulls get guard Rob Dillingham and forward Leonard Miller, along with four second-round draft picks. Along with Dosunmu, Julian Phillips will head to Minnesota.

Additionally, this move comes at a time when the Wolves, as well as the Miami Heat, are apparently gunning for Giannis Antetokounmpo, per Jake Fisher of The Stein Line. Although it is very unlikely that the Milwaukee Bucks would want to let go of their franchise player.

According to Fisher, the Bucks are keeping an eye on Ja Morant.

This is the third trade the Bulls made this week. They engaged in a three-way deal with the Timberwolves and Detroit Pistons that sent Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric to Detroit. In exchange, the Bulls got Jaden Ivey from the Pistons and Mike Conley Jr. from the Wolves.

Then, Chicago traded away center Nikola Vucevic to the Boston Celtics in exchange for Anfernee Simons and a second-round pick. On Wednesday, the Chicago Bulls traded Coby White and Conley to the Charlotte Hornets. In return, they get Collin Sexton from Charlotte Ousmane Dieng from the OKC Thunder, and three second-round picks.

Dosunmu, a native Chicagoan, completes five years with the Bulls. In 2021, he was drafted by his hometown team out of the University of Illinois. This season, he is averaging 15.0 points per game and played in 45.

In his last game, Dosunmu scored 17 points and dished out eight assists in a 131-115 loss to the Bucks.

The post Bulls continue overhaul with Ayo Dosunmu trade to Timberwolves amid last-ditch Giannis efforts appeared first on ClutchPoints.

The Bulls aren’t quite done making moves this deadline. A day after their bevy of moves, Chicago is signing high-flying guard Mac McClung. Most known for his exploits in the NBA Dunk Contest, McClung continues to hang around the league.

“The Chicago Bulls are signing three-time NBA Dunk Contest champion Mac McClung to a two-way contract, per source,” Jake Fischer reports. “He’s in Toronto with the team, where Chicago plays the Raptors tonight.”

McClung came into the league as an undrafted free agent in 2021. Before entering the NBA, McClung became popular on the internet due to his highlight reels. The high-flying guard dazzled fans with his insane athleticism and his creativity on dunks. However, his athleticism wasn’t enough to keep him in the league consistently. He spent time in different G League teams, showing occasional flashes when he was called up but never sticking with one team for long.

Where the new Bulls guard made his name, though, is in the Dunk Contest. McClung became a staple of the Dunk Contest over the last few years. His athleticism and his unique dunk ideas have consistently earned him top marks among judges, winning the contest three times now despite not being a full-time NBA player.

McClung’s last stint in the NBA before signing with the Bulls was this season, when he started the year on the Indiana Pacers. McClung played in three games before being released by Indy. He averaged 6.3 points during the game. Shortly after being released, McClung signed with the Bulls’ G League affiliate.

The post Bulls signing Mac McClung after flurry of trades appeared first on ClutchPoints.

As a result, Coby White and Mike Conley Jr. are heading to Charlotte. Meanwhile, Collin Sexton and Ousmane Dieng are making their way to Chicago, as well as three second-round draft picks.

White is returning home to North Carolina and playing for his hometown team. Currently, White is averaging 18.6 points and 4.7 assists per game. Altogether, he played in 29 games with the Bulls. White’s last game with Chicago was on Tuesday against the Milwaukee Bucks.

He finished with a double-double of 21 points and 10 rebounds as the Bulls lost 131-115. In the end, White completed seven seasons with the Bulls. He was drafted in 2019 out of the University of North Carolina.

Conley Jr. was traded to the Bulls as part of a trifecta deal with the Detroit Pistons and Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday. A deal that brought Jaden Ivey to Chicago and sent Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric to the Pistons.

However, the buzz was that the Bulls would ultimately trade Conley. Conely is an 18-year NBA veteran with strong veteran leadership and a good standing at the point guard position.

Sexton is arriving in Chicago from Charlotte. He is averaging 13.9 points per game and shooting 48.8% from the field. Dieng is coming from the Thunder and is shooting 41.8% from the field.

Given the uncertainty about what this means for two young teams, here is the grading as seen fit.

Bulls trade grade

In terms of scoring, the Bulls get two young, consistent players. Each is shooting nearly 50% from the field.

Sexton adds greater depth to the backcourt. Dieng is a strong perimeter player as a center/forward.

But from a financial standpoint, both are playing on expiring deals, which adds flexibility. Plus, the Bulls are now up to 10 second-round draft picks.

If anything, the additions of Sexton and Dieng are all about creating more cap space. While they are more affordable than White, they aren’t the total package White is. Plus, they don’t have the cache White has with the fans.

Furthermore, this calls into question what the real motivations are in Chicago? What is Arturas Karnisovas looking to build? Is there any real intention to build a winning team or create a feeder system for contending teams?

Given how conservative the Bulls are, this seems like the same old same old. And any hope at the play-in tournament is uncertain, and the playoffs are totally out of the question, objectively speaking.

Bulls trade grade: D+

Hornets trade grade

White people, in particular, are free from the never-ending cycle of underperformance in Chicago. A dynamic playmaker and scorer, he is in a prime position to elevate his game.

Clearly, the signing of Josh Giddey to a four-year, $100 million deal showed who Chicago wanted to build their team around. And after White declined an extension, the writing was on the wall all along.

In Charlotte, he will likely come off the bench. But he can provide three-point shooting, depth to the backcourt, and playmaking to a team that could make a run for the playoffs.

His style can naturally complement a solid core in LaMelo Ball, Kon Knueppel, and Brandon Miller.

Conley brings that veteran leadership and postseason experience. He played in over 100 playoff games during his career. Plus, he is affordable playing out the final year of his $10.8 million contract.

Hornets trade grade: B

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“Just in: The Chicago Bulls are trading Coby White and Mike Conley Jr. to the Charlotte Hornets for Collin Sexton, Ousmane Dieng and three second-round picks, sources tell ESPN,” Charania wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

Ousmane Dieng was a part of the trade that sent Jared McCain to the Oklahoma City Thunder, and NBA insider Jake Fischer was the first to report that there was momentum on a deal to send him to the Hornets.

The Bulls have been in trade rumors for the past few weeks surrounding Vucevic and White, and they were able to offload both of them before the deadline. It’s obvious that they’re trying to create financial flexibility for the future, while also allowing Vucevic and White to compete elsewhere. They were also able to land a young player in Jaden Ivey, who should be a good player for the Bulls.

For White, he joins a Hornets team that is the hottest in the league right now, as they’re riding a seven-game winning streak. They’re starting to figure things out at the right time, and adding a scorer like White will do nothing but improve their unit.

It’s uncertain if Conley will stay with the Hornets, and Fischer also reported that since he was traded to a second team, that could leave the door open for him to return to the Minnesota Timberwolves following a buyout.

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The Bulls are adamant about Eason, but the Rockets continue to say no, per Marc Stein of the Stein Report.

Furthermore, Brett Siegel of ClutchPoints wrote about this premise. He says that the Rockets are sticking to their guns. In essence, they are only interested in acquiring players on limited contracts.

“Amid rumored interest in Bulls guard Coby White and potentially looking to move Dorian Finney-Smith before the trade deadline, the Houston Rockets are said to be content with their roster as is,” Siegel said.

“Even though this team needs another frontcourt talent in the wake of Steven Adams’ season-ending injury, the Rockets will only be looking to make moves with players involving minimum-like contracts.”

“Tari Eason has come up in countless trade rumors, with several teams showing interest in him, but league sources have been adamant that he will not be traded before Thursday.”

Also, the word is out that the Bulls are looking to trade Coby White. The Rockets are mentioned as a potential trade partner. Meanwhile, Eason is averaging 12.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game. Also, the Rockets are currently 31-17, fourth in the Western Conference.

After Steven Adams went out with an ankle injury, a void has been left. Houston is relying more on Kevin Durant and Alperen Şengün to score and handle the ball. However, they lack floor spacing and consistency.

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Ayo Dosunmu has emerged as the Bulls’ most movable piece. His contract carries real value. He is efficient and steady. This season, he is averaging 15.0 points while shooting over 51 percent from the field and 45 percent from three. His game fits cleanly into playoff systems. Bennedict Mathurin brings a different edge. He is scoring 17.8 points per night with strong free throw shooting and growing confidence as a primary option. Indiana’s earlier playoff surge suggested stability. That belief now wavers.

Why Bulls and Pacers now stand at a crossroads

The Pacers’ outlook has shifted fast. First, Tyrese Haliburton’s season-ending injury changed the timeline. Then, Myles Turner’s earlier departure altered the core. Now, financial questions hover over the front office. As a result, Mathurin’s name floats in real conversations. At the same time, the Pacers have explored frontcourt upgrades and even checked on Cleveland’s Jarrett Allen. Every call, in turn, reveals urgency.

Meanwhile, the Bulls live in a familiar gray zone. They compete nightly but cannot separate from the middle. As a result, Feb. 5 feels impossible to ignore. Dosunmu’s appeal comes from his mix of youth, efficiency, and control. He does not demand the ball. Instead, he makes the right reads. That profile travels well.

In the end, this is not noise. It is strategy. One side wants clarity. The other wants traction. Under the stadium lights, futures pivot with each phone call. So will Chicago bet on upside or safety? Will Indiana protect potential or cash it in? The NBA Trade Deadline does not wait. When the clock runs out, which direction will these franchises choose?

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