Cash Considerations: A Chicago Bulls Pod

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Bulls stack Ls heading into All-Star break Feb 13, 2026

Show notes

The Bulls have lost six straight games heading into the 2026 NBA All-Star break, with a total blowout in Boston to cap things off. The Bulls have been working in a bunch of new players after the trade deadline while also dealing with injuries to Josh Giddey, Tre Jones and Jalen Smith, so things have been a mess. While the team should look a bit better once healthy, how long will that good health last and just how many more wins are left on the schedule?

Racking up losses isn't a problem, though, as the priority should be winding up in the lottery while developing the young prospects acquired at the trade deadline. Namely, Rob Dillingham and Jaden Ivey should get a lot of burn. Will Billy Donovan actually play those guys big minutes when the roster is healthy? Or will he push hard to win every game and ride the more veteran players? If it's the latter, is he even the right coach for this team at this point?

As the Bulls navigate the post-All-Star break schedule, the tanking discourse is kicking into full gear. Is there a fix? Ricky also breaks down some draft prospects for where Chicago is currently projected to land.

Finally, the Bulls deserve more scorn for the Coby White situation, which saw them losing out on one of their second-round picks because of his nagging calf injury. White played 30 minutes in a blowout loss the day before he was traded, so there's another good reason for ownership to clean house (which won't happen).

NOTES:

The Bulls signing Jeremy Sochan was discussed on the show, but he was then signed by the Knicks after recording.
The Bucks beat the Thunder on Thursday night, pulling them into a tie with the Bulls in the standings.
There was talk about North Carolina star Caleb Wilson, but news broke after recording that he has a broken hand and will miss time.
The Jazz and Pacers were fined for tanking measures on Thursday night after recording.

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Bulls 2026 NBA trade deadline recap Feb 06, 2026

Show notes

The Bulls made seven trades ahead of the 2026 NBA trade deadline, a shocking amount of activity as Arturas Karnisovas totally overhauled the roster. Ricky and Jason recap the entire deadline and discuss the first game afterward, a 16-point loss to the Raptors that saw newcomers Anfernee Simons, Jaden Ivey and Guerschon Yabusele play pretty well.

The guys then go back and discuss the trades made on Wednesday night and Thursday, starting with the Dalen Terry-for-Yabusele trade and highlighted by Ayo Dosunmu going to the Timberwolves. The Bulls also got Nick Richards in a three-team deal.

Did Chicago get good value on these trades? And how about the trade deadline overall? While the Bulls were active and did some good things by acquiring some young players and a boatload of second-round draft capital, it still felt a bit messy and incomplete. The Dosunmu and Coby White trades also felt underwhelming, with the issue there stemming from waiting too long to take action.

But Arturas Karnisovas doesn't regret his delayed actions, and he spoke about his plan in a press conference after the deadline. It was mostly a waste of time, and Ricky once again not only points at AK but ownership for the Bulls' current predicament.

There are some interesting things to watch for the rest of the season, though, and we'll be watching the standings and whether Chicago will secure a spot in the lottery.

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The Coby White era is over Feb 05, 2026

Show notes

The Coby White era in Chicago is over, with the longest-tenured Bull getting traded to the Hornets along with Mike Conley Jr for Collin Sexton, Ousmane Dieng and three second-round picks. It's an unwhelming draft haul for a player who easily could've fetched more last season, but Arturas Karnisovas has made a habit of holding onto players too long. But even with White's low trade value, it felt like it was time to say goodbye as AK retools the team. It's also a good spot for White as he heads into free agency, and he has a chance to help push the surging Hornets past the Bulls in the standings.

What comes next? The Bulls have a mess of a roster and are looking to make more moves before Thursday's trade deadline. But even besides that, the focus should be maximizing draft position for a loaded 2026 draft and setting up for a push in free agency for young players on the restricted free agent market.

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Nikola Vucevic is gone! Bulls also get Jaden Ivey Feb 04, 2026

Show notes

After years and years of calls for it, the Bulls finally traded Nikola Vucevic, sending him to the Celtics for Anfernee Simons. Second-round picks changed hands in the trade, with Chicago set to get a pretty juicy one from the Pelicans. Will the Bulls keep that pick or flip it elsewhere? Jason and Ricky celebrate the Vucevic era finally coming to an end so the franchise can move on, and the veteran big man can play for a contender in Boston.

Before the Vucevic trade went down, the Bulls got in on another three-team deal, acquiring Jaden Ivey from the Pistons and Mike Conley Jr. from the Timberwolves. Kevin Huerter and Dario Saric are off to Detroit, with Minnesota making the move to maneuver for its Giannis Antetokounmpo pursuit. Conley isn't expected to remain in Chicago.

What did the Bulls get in Ivey? He's another talented young player who didn't work out with his first team after getting drafted in the lottery, which continues a theme for Arturas Karnisovas acquisitions. While Ivey has untapped potential, there are concerns about his recent injuries. Chicago will also be faced with his restricted free agency this summer.

What comes next for the Bulls? Are Coby White and/or Ayo Dosunmu next? Will Simons be flipped? Is tanking the rest of the season in order with the Hornets on the rise? There should be more action to come leading up to Thursday's deadline, and the rest of the NBA is already getting crazy with the Jaren Jackson Jr. trade and the James Harden-Darius Garland swap.

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Bulls lose Heat mini-series but make a smart trade Feb 02, 2026

Show notes

Jason and Ricky discuss the Bulls going 1-2 in their three-game mini-series against the Heat, which featured a close loss at the United Center, a truly improbable win in Miami with a skeleton crew and a 43-point loss in Miami to cap it all off. The Bulls won the middle game behind 20 3-pointers and a star showing by Ayo Dosunmu in the second half, including a number of clutch baskets down the stretch. However, the final game wasn't even close from the very start, even with Coby White and Nikola Vucevic back in the lineup after missing the win.

Right after the surprise victory, the Bulls got in on a three-team trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers and Sacramento Kings. Chicago took on Dario Saric and got two second-round picks for the trouble, with Jevon Carter getting waived in the process. While not a big deal in the grand scheme of things, it was a smart piece of business with little cost. Is it a sign of things to come for the rest of the trade deadline action?

The guys then talk about the rest of the trade market and explore the Giannis Antetokounmpo possibility. Could the Bulls make a competitive offer? Should they make an all-in offer with where they're at while considering Giannis' age and injury history?

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Jason joins Miami Heat Beat to start mini-series before trade deadline Jan 30, 2026

Show notes

Jason joins the guys over at Miami Heat Beat to discuss the first of a three-game mini-series between the Bulls and Heat. Miami took the first game of the set 116-113 at the United Center, barely squeaking out a road victory after nearly blowing a double-digit fourth-quarter lead. Ayo Dosunmu almost single-handedly brought the Bulls back late in the fourth quarter, but Coby White's game-tying 3-point attempt missed badly.

After breaking down the game from every angle, Jason gives his thoughts on Derrick Rose's jersey retirement. While Rose is a hero to Chicago, there are still some conflicting feelings about his legacy.

The Bulls have two more games coming up against the Heat, with both of them coming in Miami just days before the NBA trade deadline.

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Bulls get Luka'd after D-Rose Night thriller Jan 28, 2026

Show notes

The Bulls entered their United Center showdown against the Lakers on a four-game winning streak after Kevin Huerter's game-winning 3-pointer against the Celtics on Derrick Rose Jersey Retirement Night. Luka Doncic put a stop to that with a 46-point masterpiece in a Lakers victory. Ricky was in the building to see Luka's show, which featured an ugly second quarter with 10 Bulls turnovers. Matas Buzelis also only played 22 minutes in a disappointing showing as the winning streak came to an end.

Ricky and Jason address the latest trade rumors and try to figure out which direction the Bulls will go now that they're close to a top-six seed. Three upcoming games against the Heat could prove pivotal with the NBA trade deadline in just over a week. Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu's names continue to pop up in trade rumors, but it feels like Arturas Karnisovas may look to buy given the Bulls' place in the standings.

Ricky has other ideas, though, and he presents a plan for the Bulls for this trade deadline and an offseason in which they should have a boatload of cap space. The Bulls need to get younger and better on the wing and at center, and Ricky presents some options.

Finally, the guys talk Derrick Rose Night and the feelings surrounding all of it before wrapping up with a shoutout to Illinois star freshman Keaton Wagler for his 46-point masterclass at Purdue.

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The Bulls are back ... to .500! Jan 24, 2026

Show notes

The Bulls got back to .500 with a clutch road win over the Timberwolves to move their winning streak to three games, with Tre Jones making clutch play after clutch play and Anthony Edwards folding in crunch time. Jones has been playing at a ridiculous level, making his hamstring injury that was announced after the recording of this episode a tough blow. Josh Giddey also returned to the fold against the Wolves and had a big game off the bench.

With the Bulls at 22-22 and playing better with just under two weeks left until the trade deadline, what will they do? Ricky and Jason discuss a number of trade scenarios, including ones with the Wolves due to their need for a guard. Could Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu or Jones (more unlikely now after this injury) head to Minnesota? The guys also talk about the idea of a Jonathan Kuminga-Nikola Vucevic swap and the Zion Williamson rumors, plus more.

Finally, Derrick Rose Jersey Retirement Night is here!

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Are Bulls actually ready to make trades? Jan 16, 2026

Show notes

The Bulls are at the halfway point of the 2025-26 NBA season, and they're right in the same place as the last three seasons. Is Arturas Karnisovas actually feeling the heat to pull the trigger on some trades? The Bulls are in position to make moves with three weeks to go before the trade deadline, but it's unclear just what the strategy will be even as buzz builds about them being sellers. Plus, bonus Bears playoff talk after Ricky witnessed Bulls-Mavericks at the UC while the Bears were playing the Packers, with a Bill Wennington surprise.

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Matas Buzelis shines amid Bulls injuries Jan 07, 2026

Show notes

As the Bulls battle more injuries, including to Josh Giddey and Coby White, Matas Buzelis has taken a clear step forward and is a beacon of hope for the franchise. Plus, the latest on the trade front and what the Bulls should be looking to do. White is at the center of it all, but the front office should be as active as anybody ahead of the deadline. And how about those playoff Bears?!

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