Bulls Wheel and Deal at Trade Deadline, Leaving Fans Scratching Heads

Chicago's flurry of moves brings in more guards, but fails to set them up for long-term success.

Published on Feb. 18, 2026

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The Chicago Bulls were one of the most active teams at the 2026 NBA trade deadline, making six deals that saw them trade away several key players like Nikola Vucevic, Coby White, and Ayo Dosunmu. However, the returns they received, which were mostly more guards, have left many questioning the direction of the franchise. The Bulls' roster is now a "mishmash of players" without a clear long-term plan, and they failed to acquire any first-round picks in the process.

Why it matters

The Bulls have been stuck in mediocrity for years, unable to build a true contender. Their trade deadline moves suggest they are still struggling to chart a clear path forward, potentially wasting the prime years of their young core players like Patrick Williams. Fans are frustrated that the team couldn't capitalize on expiring contracts to acquire more valuable assets and set themselves up better for the future.

The details

The Bulls made a series of head-scratching trades, including trading Vucevic to the Celtics for Anfernee Simons and a 2026 second-round pick (while also attaching a 2027 second-rounder), trading Coby White to the Hornets for Collin Sexton and others, and flipping Ousmane Dieng (acquired in the White trade) to the Bucks. They also traded Kevin Huerter to the Pistons for Jaden Ivey, and Ayo Dosunmu to the Clippers for Rob Dillingham and four second-round picks. These moves have left the Bulls with a logjam of guards on their roster, with players like Simons, Sexton, Ivey, and Dillingham all needing minutes.

  • The Bulls made the majority of their trades in the days leading up to the 2026 NBA trade deadline on February 17, 2026.

The players

Nikola Vucevic

A veteran center who the Bulls traded away to the Boston Celtics.

Coby White

A guard the Bulls traded to the Charlotte Hornets after holding onto him for too long.

Ayo Dosunmu

A guard the Bulls traded to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Patrick Williams

A young core player for the Bulls whose long-term future with the team is uncertain after these trades.

Billy Donovan

The head coach of the Chicago Bulls who will have his work cut out for him managing the team's crowded backcourt.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Jedd Pagaduan, Author (clutchpoints.com)

“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.”

— Jedd Pagaduan, Author (clutchpoints.com)

What’s next

The Bulls will need to make difficult decisions in the offseason about which of their many guards to keep and which to move on from in order to build a more coherent roster.

The takeaway

The Bulls' trade deadline moves have left their roster in disarray, with an overabundance of guards and a lack of clear long-term direction. The team's inability to capitalize on expiring contracts and acquire valuable assets like first-round picks is a concerning sign that they are still struggling to chart a path back to contention.