RealGM Basketball Wiretap

04 October 2025

• Bulls Exercise 26-27 Team Option For Matas Buzelis

  The Chicago Bulls picked up their 2026-27 rookie scale team option for forward Matas Buzelis. This is the third-year option for Buzelis. He'll be under contract for $5.7 million for next season.

  As a rookie, Buzelis averaged 8.6 points and 3.5 rebounds in 18.9 minutes per game. The 6-foot-10 forward started in the Bulls final 31 games. During that 31-game stretch, Buzelis averaged 13 points, 4.5 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game. He shot 47% from the field, including 35% on 4.9 three-point attempts per game.

• Bulls Sign-And-Waive RJ Nembhard

  The Chicago Bulls signed-and-waived RJ Nembhard on Tuesday, reported Keith Smith of Spotrac.

  Nembhard, who signed an Exhibit 10 deal, is likely to end up with the Windy City Bulls.

  Nembhard averaged 17.0 points and 6.3 assists for the Capital City Go-Go last year.

• Coby White Has Informed Bulls He Doesn't Plan To Extend This Season

  Coby White is in the final season of his contract with the Chicago Bulls. Despite being extension-eligible, White has informed the Bulls that he won't extend his contract before it expires at the end of the season.

  White makes $12.8 million this season. Under the NBA's veteran extension rules, he'd be limited to signing a projected four-year, $86.9 million extension. That would come with a projected first-year salary of $19.4 million.

  White is limited to extending for the greater of 140% of his current salary or 140% of the estimate average player salary. Either salary would put White at less than $20 million in first-year salary. He's expected to exceed that amount as a free agent in 2026.

  Despite the challenges with extending, White's time in Chicago may not be wrapping up. The veteran guard told Andscape's Marc Spears that he'd be happy to re-sign with the Bulls.

  "I love being in Chicago. I love the front office. I love my teammates. I love the staff," White told Spears. "I built a great relationship with coach Billy Donovan. And for me, if it is meant to be (to) stay a Chicago Bull, then I can't ask for nothing else."

• Bulls Waive Caleb Grill

  The Chicago Bulls have waived guard Caleb Grill. Chicago signed Grill to a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contract earlier this offseason.

  The 6-foot-3 guard is expected to play for the Windy City Bulls to start the G League season. Grill went undrafted out of Missouri at the 2025 NBA Draft.

• Bulls Waive Wooga Poplar

  The Chicago Bulls waived wing Wooga Poplar. The Bulls had signed Poplar to a non-guaranteed Exhibit 10 contract.

  Poplar is expected to join the Windy City Bulls for the upcoming G League season.

• Bulls Sign Mouhamadou Gueye To Exhibit 10 Contract

  The Chicago Bulls signed Mouhamadou Gueye to an Exhibit 10 deal on Tuesday, reported Keith Smith of Spotrac.

  Gueye has appeared in a total of 11 NBA games, all during the 2023-24 season with the Raptors.

  Gueye averaged 10 points and 5.4 rebounds with the Capital City Go-Go last season.

  The Bulls now have a maximum of 21 players on their training camp roster.

• Josh Giddey, Bulls Agree To Four-Year, $100M Deal

  Josh Giddey and the Chicago Bulls have agreed to a four-year, $100 million deal. Giddey and the Bulls had a prolonged contract negotiations as he was a restricted free agent. Giddey's four-year contract will range from 13.8 percent of the salary cap to 14.5 percent, while his available max was 25 percent of the cap.

  The Bulls recently improved their four-year, $80 million offer to Giddey to $88 million over four seasons. It has yet to be reported how much of the contract is guaranteed.

  Giddey averaged 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists in his first season with the Bulls. Giddey was acquired by the Bulls in June 2024 from the Oklahoma City Thunder for Alex Caruso.

  Giddey, who was the No. 6 pick in the 2021 NBA draft by the Thunder, is represented by Daniel Moldovan.

• Bulls Offering Josh Giddey $88M Over Four Years

  The Chicago Bulls initial offer to restricted free agent Josh Giddey was reportedly $80 million over four seasons. The Bulls have upped that offer to $88 million over four years, according to ESPN's Bobby Marks. That's still off from what Giddey has been looking for on a new contract.

  Giddey has reportedly been looking for a contract that averages closer to $30 million per season. The 22-year-old guard has also been looking at five-year deals.

  Giddey has until October 1 to sign his $11.1 million qualifying offer. After that, Giddey would be subject an extension of the qualifying offer from the Bulls, or to agree to another form of contract. If Giddey signs the qualifying offer, he'll get a one-year no-trade clause, because he would lose his Bird rights if traded.

• RealGM Radio: Danny Cunningham, Haize On The Central Division

  The NBA's Central Division is one of the most competitive in the NBA. Wes Goldberg and guests Danny Cunningham and Haize dissect offseason moves, potential lineups, and bold predictions for the Cavaliers, Pacers, Bucks, Bulls and Pistons.

  From Tyrese Haliburton's season-ending Achilles injury and the Cavaliers battling their playoff demons, the guys break down every angle. They also discuss Giannis Antetokounmpo's future in Milwaukee, the Bulls' longview and why the Pistons could win 50 games.

  Time Stamps
  0:00 Intro: Central Division preview
  5:21 Debate on teams' offseason improvements
  10:39 Most intriguing offseason move: Lonzo Ball trade
  16:52 Myles Turner's impact on Bucks' future
  23:05 Josh Giddey contract situation with Bulls
  29:49 Predictions for Central Division standings
  35:56 Central teams making playoffs
  40:10 Players with changing perceptions next year
  46:51 Bold predictions for the division

  Subscribe to RealGM Radio on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or via the RSS feed. Watch on YouTube.

• 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.