RealGM Basketball Wiretap

22 August 2025

• Bulls To Retire Derrick Rose No. 1 Jersey In January 24 Ceremony

  The Chicago Bulls will retire Derrick Rose's No. 1 jersey in a ceremony on January 24, 2026.

  The ceremony will take place following the Bulls game against the Celtics.

  Rose joins Jerry Sloan (4), Bob Love (10), Michael Jordan (23) and Scottie Pippen (33) as the fifth player in team history to get their jersey retired.

  Rose, who was the No. 1 pick by the Bulls, played eight seasons in Chicago. He won the Rookie of the Year in 2009 and was named MVP in 2011.

  Rose also lead the Bulls to the Eastern Conference finals in 2011.

  Rose played 15 seasons in the NBA, making three All-Star teams.

• Josh Giddey, Bulls Remain Far Apart On Contract With Qualifying Offer Resolution Possible

  Josh Giddey and the Chicago Bulls haven't made any progress on contract talks since the team presented a four-year, $80 million offer to the restricted free agent at the start of the offseason on June 30th. Giddey's camp continues to seek a deal with an annual average closer to $30 million.

  "Will Giddey sign the qualifying offer?" said Jake Fischer. "That is his threat. That is his leverage right now over the Chicago Bulls."

  The Bulls remain adamant they will not entertain sign-and-trade scenarios for Giddey. Some teams do have interest in Giddey, but the Bulls are not engaging them at this time.

  "Chicago doesn't want to lose Josh Giddey at all," said Fischer. "They've been telling other teams, they've been telling agents since the combine, that they are not interested in having any discussion whatsoever with Josh Giddy. They value Josh Giddey. They traded Alex Caruso straight up for Josh Giddey when they had offers from various teams over the years for multiple first-round picks for Alex Caruso. That's how much they value Josh Giddey. They see him as a major focal point of their roster moving forward. But they are not going to engage in any sign-and-trade scenario, and they're not really going to move off their offer. So this is a holding pattern."

  Giddey appeared in 70 games with the Bulls last season, averaging 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists.

• Nikola Vucevic Not Worried About Trade Rumors

  Chicago Bulls center Nikola Vucevic knows that rumors are part of life in the NBA. However, Vucevic doesn't spend much time worrying about them, even when trade and buyout rumors swirled around him this offseason.

  "The Bulls' GM (Marc Eversley), who had contacted me after all the rumors about me, confirmed that nothing was true and that everything we had said to each other after the season was still relevant," Vucevic said. "I knew it but it's always nice when your GM contacts you to tell you."

  When asked if he expects to start the season with Chicago, Vucevic said "Yes, I have almost no doubt about it" but acknowledged he doesn't know where the season will take him. As for speculation about a potential buyout, Vucevic said he doesn't get caught up in rumors.

  "There are always rumors. Most of them are false. It's a bit of nonsense. For example, the buy-out was misinterpreted in Europe: the journalist wrote that if there was no 'trade' during the season, there might be a 'buy-out' option before the 'deadline'," Vucevic said. "I know how the business works: in the last year of a contract, there is always speculation. Since I can't control anything, I try not to worry about it."

  Vucevic said he's not setting a timetable on how much longer he wants to play. The veteran center did say that his goal is to win an NBA title, while saying he doesn't know what the future will hold beyond this season.

  "I haven't set myself an age limit. As long as I'm physically well, motivated and have a role on the pitch that suits me, I hope to continue playing. I feel very good physically and mentally. I'm coming off a very good season," Vucevic said. "I'm entering the last year of my contract with Chicago. After that, we'll see what opportunities and roles are offered. I know that sooner or later my role will evolve, and I am ready to accept that. I think I still have a few good years ahead of me."

• Nine Teams Could Have Significant Cap Space During 2026 NBA Offseason

  There are nine teams who project to have significant cap space during the 2026 offseason. Cap space will be more readily available next offseason than it was in 2025 after a 10 percent increase in the cap for this season and a projected seven percent increase for 2026-27, combined with fewer veteran extensions this year.

  The Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets, Chicago Bulls, Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Clippers, Los Angeles Lakers, Portland Trail Blazers, Utah Jazz and Washington Wizards.

  There were only three teams with salary cap space in 2025 in the Nets, Memphis Grizzlies and Milwaukee Bucks. The Nets used their cap space to take on Michael Porter Jr. via trade, while the Grizzlies used theirs to sign a renegotiate-and-extend contract with Jaren Jackson Jr. The Bucks unexpectedly created cap space by using the stretch-and-waive on Damian Lillard to sign Myles Turner.

  From 2013-14 to 2019-20, the league went through a period with an average of 17 teams per year with cap space. Since then, the average has decreased to 5.1 teams.

  The 2026 free agent class is expected to include Trae Young and LeBron James.

• Bulls Anchored To $20M Per Year For Josh Giddey

  Restricted free agent Josh Giddey and the Chicago Bulls remain apart in negotiations on a new deal. Giddey is seeking a contract that averages $30 million per season. The Bulls haven't moved past deals that average $20 million per season.

  Chicago's initial offer to Giddey was for $80 million over four years. The Bulls remain anchored to that $20 million average annual figure.

  Rival NBA teams have had interest in Giddey, but only the Brooklyn Nets currently have the cap space to make him a significant offer. Other teams have interest in sign-and-trade deals, but the Bulls have been reluctant to engage in those trade talks. Other NBA teams have indicated that it's difficult to talk trades with Chicago, because it's unclear if the Bulls are looking to move veteran players or to add to their team.

• Warriors Interested In Potential Sign-And-Trade Deal Involving Josh Giddey, Jonathan Kuminga

  The Golden State Warriors are interested in a potential sign-and-trade deal involving Josh Giddey and Jonathan Kuminga, sources told Jake Fischer.

  "I can report that there have been multiple teams who have reached out to Josh Giddey's representation about having interest in Josh Giddey. Golden State is one of them.

  "Golden State would be interested depending how the machinations go in some type of Josh Giddey-Jonathan Kuminga sign-and-trade, to my understanding," said Fischer.

  The Warriors' interest in Giddey goes back to the 2021 draft.

  "The Warriors were prepared on draft night, way back when in 2021, for Jonathan Kuminga to go #6 to Oklahoma City. And they were ready to take Josh Giddey #7," added Fischer.

  Giddey and Kuminga are both in negotiation stalemates with their respective teams. The Bulls are currently offering Giddey a deal around $20 million per year, with Giddey looking for $30 million per season.

  Kuminga, who continues to decline the Warriors' two-year, $45 million offer, is expected to be with the team for the start of training camp.

  Fischer then states that a roadblock for any team to acquire Giddey is a reluctance to reach out to the Bulls as they have been telling rivals that they want to keep the guard.

  "There is not a lot of enthusiasm from these rival teams about calling the Bulls front office and working out a sign-and-trade," said Fischer.

• Bulls To Bring Back Black Uniforms With Red Pinstripes

  The Chicago Bulls are bringing back their black uniforms with red pinstripes that originated during the Michael Jordan era after his return from baseball. The Bulls wore the uniforms initially during the 1995-96 season.

  Chicago also donned the look during the 1996-97, 2007-08 and 2012-13 seasons, but hasn't worn the design since 2013.

  Chicago will wear the uniforms during select Statement Edition game nights in the upcoming season.

• Josh Giddey, Bulls Approximately $10M Per Year Apart On Negotiations

  Josh Giddey and the Chicago Bulls remain in a stalemate in his restricted free agency. Giddey could ultimately take the $11 million qualifying offer and then become an unrestricted free agent next offseason when more teams have cap space and he is no longer hindered by match rights.

  The Bulls are approximately $8 million to $10 million per year apart in negotiations. Giddey entered training camp looking for a contract worth $30 million per season, similar to what Jalen Suggs signed for with the Orlando Magic.

  After the break, Giddey averaged 21.2 points, 10.7 rebounds and 9.3 assists, shot 45.7% from long range and improved defensively.

  "I think from the 50 games at the start of the season, it was two completely different players, and not only talking statistically,'' Giddey said. ''It was a confidence level, aggression level, effort level. You asked me to sell myself, I'd say the second half of the year is the player who I am. The first half was a completely different guy. Confidence was down, aggression down. Probably was down trying to fit in too much."

  Last offseason, the Bulls signed Patrick Williams to a five-year, $90 million contract before he could test the market. The contract almost instantly became one of the most problematic in the NBA.

  "It's a negotiation," a source with the Bulls said.

• Billy Donovan, Bulls Agree To Multiyear extension

  Billy Donovan and the Chicago Bulls have agreed to a multiyear contract extension. A deal had been expected for several weeks as Donovan's future came into focus amid interest from the New York Knicks.

  Donovan and the Bulls began negotiations at the end of their season with a deal being finalized this week.

  The Bulls have reached the play-in tournament in each of the past three seasons. Chicago has reached the playoffs just once during Donovan's five-year tenure.

  Donovan left the Oklahoma City Thunder to become head coach of the Bulls in 2020.

• Yuki Kawamura, Bulls Agree To Two-Way Deal

  Yuki Kawamura and the Chicago Bulls have agreed to a Two-Way deal.

  Kawamura appeared in 22 games last season with the Memphis Grizzlies, averaging 1.6 points and 0.9 assists in 4.2 minutes.

  Kawamura also appeared in 31 G League games, averaging 12.7 points, 3.0 rebounds and 8.4 assists in 31.7 minutes.