The NBA is built on two currencies: talent and future picks. Most teams chase stars by trading away draft assets. But the Chicago Bulls? They’ve quietly kept theirs—a deep stash of first-rounders stretching well into the early 2030s. That’s not hoarding—that’s optionality. And with the current roster at a crossroads, that optionality might be precisely what Chicago needs to stop flirting with mediocrity.
Other franchises package picks plus players to chase immediate upgrades, the Bulls have repeatedly favoured lesser assets or held firm—ensuring control over their future choices. That preservation gives them leverage: when teams panic-trade or overpay with picks, Chicago can offer bodies, salaries, and a clear path to minutes—no first-round collateral dumped.