Earlier this month, the Chicago Bulls seismically shifted the direction of their franchise. Instead of continuing to be anchored by Zach LaVine's lucrative contract and lackluster play, they opted to move on from their two-time All-Star guard and guarantee themselves a first-round draft pick this summer. The haul included three mid-level players on expiring contracts, each presumably auditioning for their next role, whether with the Bulls or elsewhere. Tre Jones, Zach Collins, and Kevin Huerter are all three mid-20s age, unproven talents with contracts that will release them to unrestricted free agency this summer or next. What has each asset brought to the Bulls roster, and will any of them stick with the organization in the long term?
Tre Jones
First on the list is the 25-year-old Tre Jones, a former second-round draft pick from 2020. After starting much of his third and fourth seasons with the Spurs and putting up increasingly promising numbers, he returned to the bench to begin the 2024-25 campaign, and his performance has plummeted. He's also coming off the pine for Chicago and has not yet found his footing. His field goal and three-point percentages have dipped to career lows through six appearances, and his rebounding and assist numbers have decreased. With too many similarly skilled guards within the organization, it's unlikely that the Bulls bring him back beyond this year.
The Bulls are receiving Kevin Huerter, Zach Collins, Tre Jones and keeping their 2025 first round pick that was owed to the Spurs with top-10 protection in the Zach LaVine trade.
— Bulls on CHSN (@CHSN_Bulls) February 3, 2025
(Confirmed by @KCJHoop) pic.twitter.com/Wlht6kunWB
Zach Collins
Since arriving in Chicago, Zach Collins has continued the trend of inconsistency. The seven-year veteran has been a mediocre stretch-five at his previous two stops and has done the same with the Bulls. His three-point numbers haven't found stabilization yet, but the rebounding has filled a much-needed void in the bench unit. Without Nikola Vucevic earlier this week, he was thrust into the starting five and had his best game thus far in the blowout win over Philadelphia.
Zach Collins on the strange uncertainty of his first three days in Chicago, when it was unclear if the Bulls would trade any of the three new guys:
— Julia Poe (@byjuliapoe) February 7, 2025
"You're sitting there, you don't know what's going on, then you see an Instagram post and you call your agent three times." pic.twitter.com/vSEDSiIgG9
Collins is under contract through next season and slated to make $18 million in the 2025-26 campaign. Chicago hopes that for the remainder of this season and next, he can play his way into a tradeable asset before next year or at the 2026 trade deadline before hitting unrestricted free agency. He's headed for his age-28 season next year, meaning there's no place for him in a rebuilding roster.
Kevin Huerter
The last of the trio added at this year's trade deadline is a three-point sniping 26-year-old guard drafted by the Atlanta Hawks in 2018. Huerter has made a career from his danger beyond the arc, a career 37.5% three-point clip on nearly six attempts per contest. His contract expires next summer, putting him in a similar bucket as Collins. The Bulls will have more of a decision with Huerter than the former two because of their new three-point-centric mindset and him only being 25 years old. Don't be surprised if he's inked to stay with the franchise longer than his two-year deal.
Kevin Huerter was cooking on the road 🔥@KevinHuerter | #SeeRed pic.twitter.com/XODvhVXrnF
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) February 25, 2025
Playing on a fast-paced, high-volume three-point shooting team will fit Huerter's style much better than his previous team. As evidenced by the last game, Josh Giddey and Lonzo Ball can unlock the newcomer's maximum potential.
Band Of Misfits
Whether this trio of additions stays or leaves when their respective contracts have expired, there's no dodging that Arturas Karnisovas has again added mediocrity to a franchise stuck in the middle since his arrival. They represent precisely what the majority of the Bulls roster does: an inability to significantly impact the organization's future.
