Bulls could make $52 million move no one has on their radar

The Chicago Bulls should be one of the more compelling NBA teams to watch this summer, as they are teeming with cap space and possess two top-15 picks in the draft. That includes the No. 4 overall selection thanks to some luck in the lottery.

The Bulls have a new top executive in Bryson Graham, who will surely want to mold the roster to his own style and standards. While that will certainly include perusing the free-agent market for answers, Graham may also want to look inward.

Chicago’s roster isn’t great, but it definitely has some pieces. We already know about Matas Buzelis, who appears to be a budding star in the Windy City. Josh Giddey is a trade candidate and could fetch something rather nice given his team-friendly contract.

Then, there is big man Leonard Miller, whom the Bulls acquired in the trade deadline deal that sent Ayo Dosunmu to the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Chicago has a $2.4 million club option on Miller for next season, but Morris Bankston of Pippen Ain’t Easy thinks a more long-term scenario is in play.

Chicago Bulls could extend Leonard Miller

Miller played very well during his time with the Bulls this past season, averaging 11.7 points and 5.8 rebounds over 23.1 minutes per game on 55.5/35.6/76.2 shooting splits.

The 22-year-old didn’t really get an opportunity to shine with the Timberwolves, but considerable playing time opened up for him during his 23 games with Chicago. He took advantage of it, and now, he may have established himself as a core piece for the Bulls moving forward.

“The Bulls could decline Miller’s team option and extend him on a contract upwards of $52.4 million for three years, per Keith Smith of Spotrac, which averages out to approximately $17.5 million per year,” Bankston wrote. “At a still relatively young age of 22 with only three NBA seasons logged, Miller’s contract extension at its maximum projected amount would be a manageable cap hit for the Bulls.”

A former second-round pick who opted to jump directly to the G-League rather than playing college basketball, Miller has clear potential as a floor spacer with the ability to defend multiple positions on the other end. He is still very raw and is an obvious work in progress, but he flashed considerable ability in 2025-26.

Graham loves long, wiry defenders, so the 6-foot-10 Miller — who possesses a 7-foot-2 wingspan — could be right up his alley.

At the very least, the Bulls will almost certainly exercise Miller’s option, but there is also significant value in extending him now to lock him in at an affordable price while also turning him into a very viable trade candidate.

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