As the 2025 NBA Draft approaches, the Chicago Bulls are in a promising yet delicate position, holding the 12th overall pick and a roster with young talent like Josh Giddey and Coby White. While ESPN’s Chris Herring recently floated a trade idea that would bring Toronto Raptors guard RJ Barrett to Chicago, the Bulls should steer clear of this deal. Instead, they should take a page out of the Oklahoma City Thunder’s playbook, prioritizing draft picks, cap flexibility, and long-term development over a flashy but flawed trade for a proven scorer.
The Proposed Trade
Herring’s mock trade, suggests the following:
Chicago Bulls receive: RJ Barrett
Toronto Raptors receive: Patrick Williams, Jevon Carter, and the 12th overall pick
The idea is to pair Barrett’s scoring with Giddey’s playmaking to boost Chicago’s offense. However, this move fails to address the Bulls deeper issues and risks stunting their rebuild.
Why the Bulls Should Pass on RJ Barrett
While Barrett, only 25, is a talented scorer, he’s not the transformative star Chicago needs to contend for a title. His $107 million contract over four years is a hefty commitment for a player who, despite solid production, hasn’t proven he can elevate a team to championship contention. His efficiency and defensive limitations don’t justify the cost, especially when the trade surrenders the 12th pick—a valuable asset in a deep draft. Moving Patrick Williams would be the only upside as Williams will likely never pan out.
Adding Barrett might improve Chicago’s offense marginally, but it won’t push them past Eastern Conference powerhouses. The Bulls 2024-25 season showed they’re far from contending, and a mid-tier star like Barrett doesn’t bridge that gap. Instead, it locks them into a costly roster with limited upside, reminiscent of their past mistakes.
Don’t Overpay Josh Giddey
Giddey’s late-season surge has sparked talk of a multi-year extension, but Chicago should proceed with caution. At 22, Giddey is a gifted passer and playmaker, averaging 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.1 assists last season. Paying Giddey big money now could hamstring the Bulls cap space, limiting their ability to add elite talent later.
Build Like OKC: Patience and Draft Capital
The Oklahoma City Thunder offer an ideal blueprint for success. OKC built a contender by amassing draft picks, making the right trades, developing young talent like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Chet Holmgren, and maintaining cap flexibility to strike when the time was right. Chicago should follow suit by:
Keeping the 12th pick: Use it to draft a high-upside center or wing, addressing a roster need without sacrificing flexibility.
Avoiding big contracts: Steer clear of deals like Barrett’s or an overpay for Giddey, preserving cap space for a true star via trade or free agency down the road.
The Thunder’s patient approach took a couple years but they are a team that’s now NBA champs and a Western Conference powerhouse. Chicago, with its young core and draft assets, can emulate this by resisting the urge for a quick fix. It will likely just take more time.
A Smarter Path Forward
The RJ Barrett trade might sound exciting, but it’s a trap that keeps the Bulls in mediocrity. By saying no to this deal and adopting OKC’s patient, draft-driven model, Chicago can lay the foundation for a true title contender in the years to come.
