Many NBA offseason headlines were dominated by moves from superstars like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jaylen Brown, who were involved in big trades.
However, the Chicago Bulls may be the sleeping giants of the Eastern Conference in the upcoming 2026-27 season. They made some underrated moves, adding key pieces to their already solid lineup.
The historic franchise may be done waiting in basketball purgatory. It will feature a new potential starting lineup of Josh Giddey, Norman Powell, Matas Buzelis, Caleb Wilson and Nic Claxton.
Powell was acquired through free agency, while Claxton arrived via a four-team trade involving the Brooklyn Nets, Minnesota Timberwolves and the Charlotte Hornets. Wilson, on the other hand, was drafted fourth overall in the 2026 NBA Draft out of North Carolina.
The new-look starting unit gives the team a more balanced mix of youth and veterans, with a lot of athleticism.
Powell’s veteran presence provides the Bulls with a lot of scoring, as he’s a solid three-level scorer who can space the floor. He averaged 21.7 points on 38.0% shooting from beyond the arc in 58 games with the Miami Heat last season. The one-time All-Star’s offensive arsenal should improve Chicago’s 116.3 points-per-game output.
Wilson, Chicago’s prized pick, brings a lot of versatility and energy the team has desperately needed in recent years. He beefs up the team’s frontcourt significantly with his ability to play either as a wing or even a stretch four.
Meanwhile, Claxton’s addition gives them an elite rim protector and a lob threat. He averaged 11.7 rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.1 blocks per game for the Nets over 69 games in 2025-26. The Bulls ranked seventh in the league in rebounding without the 6-foot-11 center, so imagine the impact he’ll have in the department.
Both Giddey and Buzelis will benefit from their new teammates, as the Australian guard will have Powell waiting in the wings for kickout threes, and in Claxton, a constant lob threat off the pick-and-roll.
Buzelis, conversely, will be relieved of his heavy load down low as Wilson can slide into the four spot and play his natural position as a small forward. It can lead to mismatches against other teams, especially when they are both on the floor.
The Bulls added important pieces to their roster, but the reality is they still need to compete with true championship contenders. The New York Knicks, Philadelphia 76ers, Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers all have stacked lineups. They have their sights set on emerging in the loaded Eastern Conference and play for the title in the finals.
However, barring any major injury, combined with the perfect fit of each player on the team and the hiring of Tiago Splitter as head coach, the future looks bright. Chicago could still end up as high as the No. 6 seed, avoiding the play-in tournament for the first time since 2022.
