The Chicago Bulls are stuck. Honestly, if you’ve spent any time at the United Center lately, you’ve felt that weird, familiar tension in the air. It is January 16, 2026, and the Bulls just pulled off a wild 128-126 win over the Utah Jazz thanks to a vintage, 35-point masterclass from Nikola Vucevic. But let’s be real. Winning a nail-biter against a rebuilding Jazz team doesn't hide the fact that this roster is basically a collection of "what-ifs" and expiring contracts.
Right now, the team sits at 19-21. It’s the definition of "mid." They are 10th in the East, clinging to a Play-In spot while the defense allows nearly 121 points per game. That is, frankly, embarrassing.
Chicago Bulls News Today: The Coby White Trade Dilemma
The phone lines at the Advocate Center have to be buzzing. With the February 5 trade deadline looming, Chicago Bulls news today is dominated by one name: Coby White. It’s a messy situation. Coby has been dealing with a "balky" right calf—his third calf injury of the season—which has limited him to just 16 games.
When he’s on, he’s a flamethrower. But he’s heading toward free agency, and Arturas Karnisovas is reportedly asking for an unprotected first-round pick. Is he going to get it? Probably not if Coby can’t stay on the floor. The Minnesota Timberwolves are lurking, and you can see why. Pairing White with Anthony Edwards would be electric, but the Bulls are playing a high-stakes game of chicken with his health.
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If they don’t move him, they risk losing him for nothing. If they do move him, they’re effectively waving the white flag on a season that is already on life support.
Vucevic and the "Old Guard" Problem
While everyone is obsessed with Coby, Bobby Marks from ESPN pointed out something interesting: Nikola Vucevic might actually be the most tradable asset. The guy is 35, but he’s still averaging a double-double (16.9 points and 9.2 rebounds). He’s reliable. In a league where everyone is chasing "potential," Vooch is the rare veteran who actually shows up and does his job.
His $21.5 million salary isn't the hurdle it used to be. For a contender needing a big who can stretch the floor and grab boards, he's a plug-and-play solution. But if you trade Vucevic, who starts at center? Jalen Smith? He’s fine, but he’s not the anchor you need if you're trying to actually win games.
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The Giddey and Matas "Future"
Josh Giddey is currently sidelined with a left hamstring strain, and man, does this team look lost without his vision. It’s kinda crazy how quickly he became the heartbeat of the offense. Before the injury, he was putting up near triple-doubles and even dropped a career-high 32 points earlier this season.
Then there’s Matas Buzelis.
Fans are screaming for Billy Donovan to "take the training wheels off," and they aren't wrong. Matas is the closest thing this franchise has to a future superstar, yet he’s averaging only about 27 minutes a night. With Giddey out, this should be the Matas Show. We need to see if he can actually be a primary creator or if he's just a high-level role player.
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What the Front Office Won't Admit
The Zach LaVine trade to Sacramento—which finally happened after what felt like a decade of rumors—looks like a win in hindsight. Not because the Bulls got a haul, but because they escaped that massive contract. LaVine is currently struggling with an ankle sprain in Cali, and the Kings are already reportedly looking to move him again.
But clearing cap space doesn't matter if you don't have a plan for it. The Bulls have eight expiring contracts this year. Eight! That’s basically an entire rotation of guys who might be checking their Zillow apps for a new city in three weeks.
Actionable Reality for Bulls Fans
If you're following the Chicago Bulls news today hoping for a blockbuster that turns them into a contender, you're going to be disappointed. This is a transition year disguised as a competitive one.
- Watch the Brooklyn game tonight: This is a back-to-back. Coby White is expected to play about 28-30 minutes after sitting out for "injury management" against Houston earlier this week. Keep a close eye on his burst; if that calf is still bothering him, his trade value drops by the minute.
- Monitor the "Kuminga" Rumors: There is growing noise that the Bulls are interested in Jonathan Kuminga if the Warriors decide to move him. This would be a massive swing for a young core.
- Temper Vooch expectations: Enjoy the 30-point nights while they last. If a contender offers a decent young player and a pick, the Bulls should—and likely will—take it.
The next three weeks will define the next three years of Chicago basketball. It’s not about winning a Play-In game in April; it’s about deciding whether to finally, actually, rebuild from the ground up or keep treadmill-ing in the middle of the pack. Honestly, we all know which one they usually choose, but with Giddey and Matas in the fold, there’s at least a sliver of a reason to be hopeful.