The Chicago Bulls‘ retooling process seems to be headed in the right direction. With the return of Josh Giddey, who recently agreed to a four-year, $100 million deal, the Bulls have secured a key player for their roster and starting lineup.
Giddey’s signing has a significant impact on the Bulls’ roster-building approach. At 22, the Australian guard is young enough to be considered a part of Chicago’s foundation for the future. Paired with players such as Matas Buzelis and Coby White, the Bulls have essentially put together a talented young core that they can build around moving forward.
Heading into the 2025-26 season, the Bulls possess a solid blend of young talent and veteran experience. Although they saw a poor end to their campaign in their previous outing, Giddey’s form to end the season, paired with Buzelis’ development, could be key factors in dictating their performance next year.
Given that a majority of the roster has remained unchanged, we reveal the potential starting lineup the Bulls will feature in the regular season.
Projected Starting Lineup
PG – Josh Giddey
SG – Coby White
SF – Matas Buzelis
PF – Patrick Williams
C – Nikola Vucevic
With Giddey’s return and the Bulls’ decision to retain White, Chicago will see no changes to its starting backcourt.
Although there were several trade rumors involving Giddey this offseason, the Bulls were sure to clarify their decision to bring him back. While agreement upon contract terms took a significant amount of time, both parties seem to have found a common ground.
Bringing the 22-year-old guard back should benefit Chicago. When considering his playmaking ability, his offensive versatility, and his positional flexibility, Giddey presents upside in a variety of scenarios.
Both Bulls guards have shown talent as playmakers, but given his natural ability to conduct an offense, Giddey may emerge as the primary playmaking option. This would also make the most of his abilities, considering his averages of 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.1 assists per game last season.
Giddey saw a significant uptick in scoring output following the All-Star break, as he averaged 21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 9.3 assists per game. Should an increased role in the offense act as a barometer for his performance, the 22-year-old could emerge as one of the team’s leading scorers and performers in the upcoming season.
White is a capable secondary playmaker, but it is evident that his talents lie in his versatile scoring ability. After taking on more responsibilities on the offensive end, the 25-year-old saw significant development, showcasing multi-level scoring talent.
Last season, White was among the most vital contributors in Chicago’s offensive endeavors. With an average of 20.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 4.5 assists per game, he also displayed efficiency in scoring, by recording shooting averages of 45.3% from the field and 37.0% from beyond the arc.
With its guard duo in place again, Chicago will look to increased productivity from the pair in the upcoming season.
The Bulls frontcourt will remain largely unchanged, as Nikola Vucevic and Patrick Williams will continue in their roles as starters. However, the growth and development of Matas Buzelis over the summer could see the young forward cement himself as a starter next season.
Buzelis is likely to join the starting rotation in the small forward position. The Chicago native has shown much promise, with internal sources claiming that the forward possesses superstar potential.
Although his overall averages of 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds per game don’t depict much promise at first glance, the 20-year-old displayed flashes of brilliance, which could be worth cultivating.
Buzelis’ athleticism, versatile offensive skill set, and two-way potential make him an immensely promising candidate to build the team around. With a more relevant role on offense and more playing time, the 20-year-old could be due to have a breakout season.
Joining Buzelis in the frontcourt are Williams and Vucevic. Patrick Williams has been viewed as an immensely promising forward prospect by the Bulls’ organization. Having invested a significant amount in the 24-year-old’s development, Chicago will hope to see the young forward remain healthy.
Williams’ growth has plateaued over the last few seasons. Although he appeared in 63 games last season, showcasing some semblance of consistency, he averaged 9.0 points and 3.8 rebounds, while shooting 39.7% from the field and 35.3% from three-point range.
The forward is capable of being more productive. Given the presence of some depth in the frontcourt next season, Williams may find himself motivated to display better performance to retain his place in the starting lineup.
In the center position, the Bulls will continue to feature veteran big man Nikola Vucevic. After a long summer marked by trade and buyout rumors, the two-time All-Star dispelled all doubt himself, displaying a commitment to being with the Bulls in the upcoming season.
Vucevic is one of the most productive big men in the league. Aside from his experience as a veteran, the 34-year-old is a versatile scoring option, showcasing ability as an inside presence and a perimeter shooting threat.
Last season, the Bulls’ center averaged 18.5 points, 10.1 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game, while shooting 53.0% overall and 40.2% from the field. When considering his offensive efficiency, Chicago is likely to rely on him to get the scoring momentum going again in a pinch.
Can The Bulls Secure A Playoff Berth?
The Eastern Conference has the potential to be very interesting next season. With several top teams falling out of favor due to injury issues, the lower-tier teams have an opportunity to make a dramatic rise through the ranks of the East to secure a playoff spot.
The Bulls finished ninth in the East last season, only missing out on a playoff spot after being knocked out of the Play-In tournament.
Given the team’s potential to secure a Play-In position last season, there is enough talent on this team to help them climb up a few spots in the upcoming season as well.
The Bulls’ overall rotation is likely to remain largely unchanged heading into the new campaign. But the minor tweaks and the development of the young players could lead to a significant improvement in the team’s performance next season, presenting the possibility of a playoff charge as well.
