Blockbuster 3-team Bulls trade idea sees Chicago ditch fan favorite star
A surprise multi-team Chicago Bulls trade pitch by an NBA expert would see the team part ways with a fan favorite star.
Would the juice be worth the squeeze?
For the third-biggest market in the country, Chicago has been shockingly irrelevant since trading away future Hall of Fame small forward Jimmy Butler in his absolute prime. The Bulls have made just one playoff appearance in the eight ensuing seasons.
Chicago's new regime has led to... the same old story
During their past three seasons under team president Arturas Karnisovas and head coach Billy Donovan, the Bulls have been perpetual play-in tournament squads: decent enough in the Eastern Conference to finish between the Nos. 7-10 seeds, but too bad to actually advance to the playoffs proper.
Butler's Miami Heat handed the Bulls a pair of play-in defeats in 2023 and '24.
One of the young players to truly make an impression on Bulls fans is Chicago native Ayo Dosunmu, a 6-foot-5 shooting guard out of the University of Illinois.
Dan Favale of Bleacher Report proposes a three-team blockbuster deal with the Denver Nuggets and Washington Wizards that would finally send Dosunmu to a contender, while bringing Chicago some draft equity.
Bulls Receive: Zeke Nnaji, Peyton Watson, 2026 second-round pick (least favorable of Dallas, Oklahoma City and Philadelphia, via Washington), 2028 first-round swap (top-10 protection, via Denver)
Nuggets Receive: Ayo Dosunmu, Justin Champagnie
Wizards Receive: 2032 second-round pick (via Denver)
A 6-foot-9 big man out of Arizona, Nnaji has been something of a bust on a championship hopeful that could definitely have used him. He'd be a pricey addition relative to his on-court value, but Chicago isn't exactly trying to contend any time soon.
"Stomaching the three years and $23.2 million remaining on Nnaji's deal is a tall order. However, it's also not the back-busting task many make it out to be," Favale writes. "Nnaji tops out at 5.3 percent of the salary cap, and Chicago could have rotation minutes for him to play depending on its plans for the expiring contracts of Zach Collins and Nikola Vucevic."
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Watson, an athletic guard out of UCLA, has shown more intriguing flashes than Nnaji. During his third pro season with Denver in 2024-25, the 22-year-old averaged 8.1 points on .477/.353/.693 shooting splits, 3.4 boards, 1.4 assists, 1.4 blocks and 0.7 steals a night.
"Getting a flier [on] Watson is worth the financial trouble. He could be their perimeter-defensive anchor of the future and more on-ball offense to plumb. Having to pay him next summer adds a wrinkle to the equation, but the Bulls are seeing firsthand with Josh Giddey how restricted free agency favors incumbent teams."
Favale observes that Dosunmu seems to be on his way out of town anyway, given Chicago's apparent interest in retaining restricted free agent Giddey this offseason and possibly holding onto starting shooting guard Coby White in 2026.
Eagles Make Shocking Deal For ‘Underrated, Underused’ AFC South RB
For much of the offseason we’ve wondered what Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman was going to do with a war chest of draft picks accumulated over the last few years.
The answer has been — pretty much anything he wants.
Roseman’s wheeling and dealing stayed at an electric pace following Philadelphia’s Week 1 win over the Dallas Cowboys, with the Eagles sending a 2025 fifth round pick and 2025 sixth round pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for third year running back Tank Bigsby.
“Trade: Jaguars are sending RB Tank Bigsby to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for 2026 fifth- and sixth-round picks, per sources,” ESPN’s Adam Schefter wrote on September 8.
Bigsby creates a crowded running backs room in Philadelphia with reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year Saquon Barkley, A.J. Dillon and Will Shipley already on the roster.
Bigsby was a grossly underrated and underused weapon last season in Jacksonville with 820 yards of total offense and 7 touchdowns in 16 games with just 1 start while playing behind Travis Etienne.
‘Underrated’ RB Shined During SEC Days
Bigsby, 5-foot-11 and 215 pounds, was the SEC Freshman of the Year in 2020 with 918 yards of total offense and 5 touchdowns for Auburn. He earned All-SEC honors each of the next 2 seasons as he racked up over 1,100 yards of offense each year and 10 touchdowns in both 2021 and 2022.
Bigsby finished his college career with an impressive 3,354 yards of total offense and 25 touchdowns in 3 seasons before leaving school early for the NFL. He ran the 40-yard dash in 4.45 seconds at the NFL scouting combine and the Jaguars selected him in the third round (No. 88 overall) in the 2023 NFL draft.
NFL draft analyst Lance Zierlein actually predicted Bigsby might shine in a “Dynamic Duo” sort of backfield in the NFL in his pre-draft evaluation.
“Fumbling has been a concern in the past, and he might not be much help on third downs or special teams,” Zierlein wrote in 2023. “His size, creativity and quickness could create an opportunity for teams to pair Bigsby with another back to form an effective tandem in a zone-scheme rushing attack.”
Eagles Backfield Could Be Moveable Object
Shipley was effective in a backup role to Barkley against the Cowboys with 3 carries for 26 yards but was forced to leave the game with a rib injury — he might not be right physically to play in Week 2 against the Chiefs.
Dillon, a free agent signee, wasn’t effective awhen he had the ball with 3 carries for 10 yards — he just might not be the right fight.
Enter Bigsby, who could thrive in his first chance playing for a competent NFL franchise. The Jaguars were 13-21 over his first 2 seasons, including a 4-13 record in 2024.
“The eagles running back room has to be the best in the league right?” X user Malibu wrote on his official account following the trade.
“To those who don’t know… Tank Bigsby is legit,” X user Rob Hodge wrote. “Only 24 years old… Rushed for 766 yards and 7 TD’s last season. Perfect RB2…”
“Tank Bigsby is a legit good running back” SB Nation’s Will Rucker wrote on his official account. “Howie is always going to strike when he feels he can get value. This is your RB2a
