RealGM Basketball Wiretap

27 June 2026

• Bulls Exercise $2.4M Team Option For Leonard Miller

  The Chicago Bulls have picked up their $2.4 million team option for Leonard Miller for the 2026-27 season. Miller's contract will now become briefly non-guaranteed before becoming fully guaranteed on June 30.

  Miller broke out after a midseason trade sent him to Chicago. In 27 games (12 starts) with the Bulls, the 6-foot-10 forward averaged 11.7 points and 5.8 rebounds in 23.1 minutes per game. Miller shot 55% from the floor, including 36% on 3.2 three-point attempts per game.

  The Bulls also picked up their $2.4 million team option for Mouhamadou Gueye. His contract is now non-guaranteed until the league-wide guarantee date on January 7. Gueye is reportedly being included in the agreed-to trade between the Bulls, Brooklyn Nets, Charlotte Hornets and Minnesota Timberwolves. Gueye is headed to Minnesota to satisfy touch rules as part of a multi-team trade.

• Wolves Discussed Josh Giddey Trade With Bulls

  The Minnesota Timberwolves held trade talks with the Chicago Bulls for Josh Giddey in their attempts to improve the point guard position before moving forward with their deal for LaMelo Ball.

  The Wolves wanted to alleviate the burden Anthony Edwards faces against opposing defenses by adding another playmaker.

  Minnesota also discussed a Jaylen Brown trade with the Boston Celtics. The Celtics were seeking a trade package back from the Wolves that was similar to what they sent to the Charlotte Hornets plus Rudy Gobert. While Brown is considered a better player than Ball, his fit wasn't as ideal.

  Giddey averaged 17.0 points, 8.3 rebounds and 9.1 assists in 32.1 minutes across 54 games last season for the Bulls.

  Giddey signed a four-year, $100 million contract with the Bulls during the 2025 offseason as a restricted free agent and has three seasons remaining on the deal.

• Tobe Awaka Agrees To Two-Way Deal With Bulls

  Tobe Awaka has agreed to sign a two-way contract with the Chicago Bulls after going undrafted out of Arizona.

  Awaka averaged 9.3 points and 9.1 rebounds in 20.8 minutes last season.

• Wolves Trade Julius Randle To Nets; Bulls Acquire Nic Claxton

  The Minnesota Timberwolves have traded Julius Randle to the Brooklyn Nets as part of a three-team trade with the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls will acquire Nic Claxton from the Nets as part of the deal.

  Minnesota will also send the No. 28 pick to the Nets while getting the No. 33 pick back in return.

  The Wolves re-signed Randle during the 2025 offseason on a three-year, $100 million contract as they prioritized retaining him over Nickeil Alexander-Walker. Minnesota is now unloading Randle as they look to re-sign Ayo Dosunmu and open up the use of their exceptions. The Wolves will also create a $33.3 million trade exception as part of the move.

  Randle appeared in 79 games last season, averaging 21.1 points, 6.7 rebounds and 5.0 assists in 33.0 minutes. Randle's 18.2 PER in the regular season dropped to 10.9 during the playoffs.

  Naz Reid will move into the starting power forward role with the decision to move on from Randle. Jaden McDaniels, meanwhile, will continue his emergence as a co-star for Anthony Edwards on offense.

  Claxton is on a $23.3 million contract for the 2026-27 season that the Bulls will use their cap space to take on. Claxton averaged 11.7 points, 6.9 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 1.1 blocks in 27.8 minutes over 69 games last season with the Nets.

• Wizards Giving 'Increased Consideration' To Drafting Darryn Peterson First Overall

  The Washington Wizards are said to be giving "increased consideration" to drafting Darryn Peterson with the first overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft. It was recently reported that Peterson is working out only for the Wizards ahead of the draft.

  The choice at No. 1 seems to be down to the Kansas product Peterson and A.J. Dybantsa of BYU. Dybantsa had been the favorite for a while, but as the draft has drawn closer, Peterson's case as the first pick has picked up momentum.

  If the Wizards select Peterson, the Utah Jazz are expected to be more than happy to snag Dybantsa with the No. 2 pick. The Jazz have a great relationship with Dybantsa through owner Ryan Smith's connection to BYU.

  Despite speculation that Cameron Boozer could also be in line for the first overall pick, he seems more likely to land with the Memphis Grizzlies at No. 3. That would then put the Chicago Bulls in position to select Caleb Wilson with the fourth overall pick.

• Tiago Splitter Hired By Bulls As Head Coach

  The Chicago Bulls have hired Tiago Splitter as their next head coach. Splitter spent last season as interim head coach of the Portland Trail Blazers following the arrest of Chauncey Billups after the first game of the season.

  Splitter will replace Billy Donovan, who decided to move on from the Bulls at the end of the season.

  Splitter led the Blazers to a 42-40 record and the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference.

  Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori, Atlanta Hawks assistant Ryan Schmidt and current Bulls assistant Wes Unseld Jr. were the other three finalists for the job.

  Splitter is the first head coaching hire of Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Bryson Graham.

  With Splitter moving on to become head coach of the Bulls, the Blazers are expected to decide between Micah Nori and Tyler Lashbrook for their head coaching vacancy.

• Bulls Could Hire New Coach By Monday

  With the 2026 NBA Draft looming just over a week away, the Chicago Bulls are closing in on hiring a new coach. The Bulls have identified four finalists and could make a decision as soon as Monday.

  The four finalists for Chicago's opening are Portland Trail Blazers interim head coach Tiago Splitter, Bulls assistant Wes Unseld Jr., Atlanta Hawks assistant Ryan Schmidt and Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori.

  The Blazers and Dallas Mavericks have the other two current head coach openings in the NBA.

  Chicago is searching for a replacement for Billy Donovan, who had been with the franchise since 2020 and remains a coaching free agent.

  The Bulls are hiring their first head coach under the new leadership of Bryson Graham.

• Tiago Splitter, Ryan Schmidt, Micah Nori Finalists For Bulls Head Coach Job

  Portland Trail Blazers acting coach Tiago Splitter, Atlanta Hawks assistant Ryan Schmidt, and Minnesota Timberwolves assistant Micah Nori are among the finalists for the Chicago Bulls head coach position, sources told Jake Fischer and Marc Stein of The Stein Line.

  Candidates are meeting the Bulls for in-person interviews this week.

  Current Bulls assistant Wes Unseld Jr. is also a finalist, with Unseld possibly remaining on the staff should they hire an outside candidate.

  Nori and Splitter are also finalists for the Blazers head coach job.

• Stacey King Passes Away At 59 Years Old

  Former three-time NBA champion Stacey King passed away at the age of 59, reported the Chicago Bulls on Sunday.

  No cause of death was given.

  "Stacey King was a cherished member of the Bulls family and one of the truly unique personalities in our organization's history," Bulls owner and chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement. "His connection to Chicago, the Bulls and our fans spanned more than three decades -- first as a player and later as the unmistakable voice that helped bring Bulls basketball into the homes of generations of fans."

  After his playing career, King spent over two decades as a commentator for Bulls games and was known for his memorable calls and nicknames.

  King averaged 6.4 points and 3.3 rebounds over an eight-year career with the Bulls, Timberwolves, Heat, Celtics, and Mavs.

  Oklahoma also retired King's No. 33 jersey in 2008.

• Knicks To Have Competition To Re-Sign Mitchell Robinson

  The New York Knicks are hoping to retain Mitchell Robinson in unrestricted free agency this summer. Doing so won't come cheaply, as New York is likely to have competition for Robinson's services this offseason.

  The Chicago Bulls, Charlotte Hornets, Los Angeles Lakes and Toronto Raptors are all expected to look at upgrading their center positions. Robinson is likely to be the best unrestricted center available in free agency.

  The Bulls and Lakers could have enough cap space to offer the 28-year-old center a big enough deal to make the Knicks think twice about beating it. New York is expected to be dealing with the first and second apron next season, as their roster has five players who are set to make between $20 and $57 million.

  The Hornets will have the Non-Taxpayer Mid-Level Exception of $15 million to offer Robinson. Both Charlotte and Toronto could also look into sign-and-trade possibilities with New York, as well.