With star guard Coby White not yet making his season debut, the Chicago Bulls are off to a surprising start to the 2025-26 season. A significant reason for the Bulls’ success in the early going has been the play of their bench, particularly that of Kevin Huerter.
Sharpshooting Guard “Loves” Chicago, But Is He Part Of The Bulls Future?
Chicago is 6-3 on the campaign, but the Bulls lost their second straight contest with a 128-122 setback to Cleveland last night. Isaac Okoro led seven Bulls in double-figures with 19 points. However, their defense once again let them down in the fourth quarter. The Bulls have allowed at least 125 points in four of their last five games and have been outscored 73-54 in the last stanza of the past two contests.
On a positive note, Chicago’s bench outscored Cleveland’s reserves 48-18 and was a cumulative +44. The Bulls have the sixth-best bench in the NBA, according to Hoopsstats.com, as they contribute 43.0 points, 14.6 rebounds, and 8.6 assists. Their reserves also compile 2.8 steals and 2.2 blocks while shooting a combined 47.7% from the field and 35.4% from the 3-point line.
Ayo Dosunmu leads the way with 14.6 points on 55.1% shooting from the field and 1.7 threes at a 46.1% clip. Huerter has also been a key part of the team’s second unit. The 6-7 wing tops the Bulls bench with 25.1 minutes a game and a +3.6 plus/minus rating.
Kevin Huerter Wants To Stay In Chicago
Huerter has scored in double-figures in eight of his nine games, topping the 15-point mark four times. Overall, he averages 13.1 points, 4.0 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 1.0 steals. While Huerter is shooting a career-best 48.9% from the field, he has struggled a bit from deep, draining 1.4 threes at a 31.7% clip.
Huerter has revitalized his career with the Bulls after struggling his last one and a half seasons in Sacramento. Huerter, who told Joe Crowley of The Chicago Sun-Times that he feels at home in Chicago and hopes to remain in the Windy City for years to come, came to the Bulls as part of the deal that sent Zach LaVine to the Kings and De’Aaron Fox to San Antonio at last February’s trade deadline.
‘‘I just want to be a part of winning basketball at this point of my career,’’ Huerter said Friday. ‘‘Whether fans have liked it or not, Billy [Donovan] has preached since I got here. He wants to win. I want to be in an organization that wants to do that, and we as players all have a piece in that. I love the way we play here. It’s a fun brand.”
Staying with the Bulls may not be completely Huerter’s choice. Huerter is on an expiring $18 million deal, so he is likely headed to free agency. Additionally, given his current performance, he is likely to draw interest from teams at the trade deadline, should the Bulls fall out of contention.
Bulls Have Other Free Agents
Here is the thing: Huerter is one of six Bulls who are slated to hit free agency. Nikola Vucevic, Jevon Carter, Zach Collins, White, and Dosunmu are also projected to hit the open market this summer. White and Dosunmu will likely be the Bulls’ top priorities this offseason. Additionally, Dalen Terry appears to be headed to restricted free agency, although there is a very good chance the Bulls will not extend a qualifying offer to him.
Vucevic, Carter, and Collins join Huerter as trade candidates, if the Bulls decide to be sellers this year or perhaps buyers, as expiring contracts are always valuable. Speaking of Collins (left wrist fracture), who has yet to make his season debut, he is slated to to a CT scan, per The Athletic’s Joe Lorenzi yesterday.
“Billy Donovan says Zach Collins has a CT scan this week, which should be “pretty telling,” Lorenzi tweeted. “Says they’ve been aggressive with his recovery. He’s been working out and form shooting, given his off-hand is the one casted. Still not passing/catching with casted hand.”
What Will The Bulls Do This Summer?
With those pending free agents, Chicago only has eight players under contract for next season, given a salary cap of $86 million. Thus, they project to have $85 million in salary cap space. The Bulls hold the rights to all their free agents. So, they are theoretically able to keep everyone that they want. Who they keep will likely depend on how this season plays out.
Chicago has the chance to have two first-round picks in 2 26 or none at all. The Bulls sent their first-round selection (top-8 protected) to the Spurs as part of the LaVine and Fox deal. Additionally, the Bulls could receive Portland’s (top-14 protected first-round pick. The Bulls got the protected first-round pick as part of a three-team deal that saw the Bulls send Lauri Markkanen to Cleveland.
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