For months, Alex Caruso had loomed as one of the top trade chips in the entire market. That Chicago wound up flipping him for only Josh Giddey highlights just how much the franchise thinks of the 2021 draft’s No. 6 pick.

Giddey could be looking at all the minutes he can handle, as his passing proficiency will allow Coby White to focus more on finding his own buckets. And remember, buckets could be at a premium with DeMar DeRozan gone and the chance for further subtractions among the remaining veterans.

Speaking of those vets, Chicago faces a delicate challenge of getting them enough floor time to maintain (or even improve) their trade value while also finding as many developmental minutes as possible for the young players. The 2024-25 season would be a massive disappointment if it ended without Chicago having a fairly good idea of what it has in Patrick Williams, Matas Buzelis, Dalen Terry and Julian Phillips.

Lastly, don’t be shocked if Jalen Smith nudges Nikola Vučević out of the starting lineup. Ideally, the Bulls would open a starting spot for Smith via a Vučević trade, but even if both stay in Chicago, Smith could get the nod for his more modern-friendly blend of shot-blocking and shot-making.