Bulls Preview Player Chapter: Boozeris may break out, Paway may fade out of rotation, Gidey will evolve again?

As time enters late September, the pace of the new season is getting closer and closer, and the annual new season preview has also set sail. It is slightly different from previous years. In addition to the team chapter, there is also a player chapter, focusing on analyzing the key players of each team and players worthy of attention.

Today, we look forward to the new season for some Bulls players.

Last season review

The Bulls' main players last season are Gidedy, Vucevic, Dosum, Buzzellis, and Kobe White.

In the 2024-25 season, Giddy scored a total of 1,022 points, 566 rebounds and 503 assists, making him one of only three NBA players to reach this data last season (the other two are James and Jokic). Giddy played 70 games in her first season with the Bulls (69 starts), averaging 30.2 minutes per game, contributing 14.6 points, a career-high 8.1 rebounds, a team-high 7.2 assists and a career-best 1.2 steals.

The 22-year-old Australian player set a record high in a single season - 30 double-double and 7 triple-double, setting the Bulls' record for the most double-doubles since the 1988-89 season (Jordan), and ranked second in the number of triple-doubles for any position player in Bulls history (first was Jordan).

Gidey's highlights this season also include performances in many historical games: he became the first player in NBA history to score 15 points, 10 rebounds, 17 assists and 8 steals in a single game (distance against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 22, 2025). He has at least 20 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in two games, becoming one of the two guards to reach this stat (the other is Hart); in addition, he is the only NBA guard who scored more than 25 points (3 games) in a single season and had more than 15 rebounds.

Vucevic still maintained good output ability last season. He played in 73 games, averaged 18.5 points, 10.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game, shooting percentage of 53.0%, three-point shooting percentage of 40.2%, and free throw shooting percentage of 80.5%. In the 2024-25 season, Kobe White's data rose further. He played 74 games for the Bulls, averaging 33.1 minutes per game, scoring 20.4 points, 3.7 rebounds, 4.5 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.2 blocks.

First-year rookie Boozeris was definitely the Bulls' surprise last season. He got a lot of playing time and also performed amazingly. Boozelis played in a total of 80 games, averaging 18.9 minutes per game, scoring 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.9 blocks, with a shooting percentage of 45.4/36.1/81.5% in three events.

Since picking Patrick Williams in the fourth pick in 2020, the Bulls have been hoping that he can make further progress. But unfortunately, Paway still did not play a satisfactory performance. Paway played 63 games last season, averaging 9.0 points, 3.8 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.

In the 2024-25 season, Noah Essange played a total of 57 games, averaging 11.1 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.9 steals, 0.6 blocks and 1.1 turnovers, with a shooting percentage of 52.4%, a three-point shooting percentage of 27.6%, and a free throw shooting percentage of 71.3%. In this summer league, Esanger was injured in the game. He suffered a right quadriceps contusion and withdrew from the game early, but in the end it was not serious.

Items that can be improved

The Bulls ranked 23rd in the league in defensive efficiency last season, and ranked last in the penalty area. Defense requires talent, communication, high IQ, versatility, physical fitness, chemistry and teamwork. Nowadays, good defense often requires good offense to support it. The Bulls have at least taken some attention in this regard.

From the perspective of staffing, an excellent defensive team requires multiple types of players. A player who can block or change opponents' shots should be at the top of the Bulls' list of signings; you need a defensive spoiler, preferably a winger, who can both defend and create offensive opportunities; and a defender who can take on the toughest tasks, but this type of player is even harder to find. In addition, you need at least two players who can adapt to different positions, that is, able to defend opponents who are smaller or larger than you. However, not all defensive systems are the same, and some systems will be adjusted according to the characteristics of core players.

Player contract status review

Josh Gidey reached a four-year, $100 million contract renewal agreement with the Bulls this summer, with a starting salary of 22.32 million and 27.67 million in the last year. Gidey is currently the player with the highest salary in the Bulls in the new season.

Kobe White has one year left in his contract, and his salary in the 2025-26 season is $12.89 million. He can renew his contract with the Bulls in advance until June 30 next year. But the Bulls can only give him a four-year, $89 million contract at most. If he enters the free market tomorrow summer, he has a chance to sign a bigger contract. Kobe White is not expected to renew his contract with the Bulls in advance, and he can get more money in the free market. Kobe White expects to seek contracts with an average annual salary of more than $30 million in the free market next summer.

34-year-old Vucevic has one year left in his contract and his salary in the 2025-26 season is about $21.4 million. The Bulls tried to trade him before the trade deadline in February this year, but the team management failed to reach a satisfactory deal.

Patrick Williams has four seasons left on his contract and earns $18 million annually. He is the fourth highest salary in the team in the new season.

Trey Jones and the Bulls renewed their contract for 3 years and $24 million. In this new contract with Trey Jones, the third year is the team option. Last season, Trey Jones played 18 games for the Bulls, averaging 11.5 points, 3.2 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.1 steals and 0.3 blocks per game.

Players worth paying attention to in the new season

Bozzellis ushered in an explosion in the new season?

Last season, Boozelis played in a total of 80 games, averaging 18.9 minutes per game, scoring 8.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.0 assists, 0.4 steals, and 0.9 blocks, with a shooting percentage of 45.4/36.1/81.5% in three events. As last year's No. 11 pick, Boozelis' performance is pretty good. If the team is determined to rebuild, he may get more playing time in the new season, and there will be a certain room for improvement in various data.

Introduced Okoro to increase the team's stability and bench thickness?

This summer, the Bulls sent Lonzo Ball to the Cavaliers to exchange for Isaac Ocorro. This move intends to increase the team's stability, and Lonzo Ball's attendance rate is not high due to injury. Isaac Okoro can increase the team's bench thickness while keeping the team's rotation stable throughout the season. Okoro was selected by the Cavaliers with the fifth pick in the first round of 2020. He played for the Cavaliers for 5 seasons, playing in a total of 334 regular season games, averaging 8 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.6 assists per game; he made 26 appearances in the playoffs, and averaged 5.5 points and 1.5 rebounds per game.

Gidey hits the All-Star in the new season?

Gidey reached a four-year, $100 million contract renewal agreement with the Bulls this summer, and the Bulls also made it clear that the core of the team is Gidey. In the new season, Gidey will have a lot of playing time and ball rights, and the data may rise further.