RealGM Basketball Wiretap

07 June 2025

• Bulls Interested In Drafting Egor Demin

  The Chicago Bulls hold the No. 12 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft. Picking near the end of the lottery leaves Chicago with a lot options, but they Bulls are seemingly focusing in on drafting Egor Demin of BYU.

  Some outlets consider Demin to be a top 10 selection in the draft. Others have him available when the Bulls pick. Chicago is said to be focused on drafting a wing or big with their first-round pick.

  The 6-foot-8 ballhandler had an up-and-down season at BYU. Demin averaged 10.6 points, 5.5 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.2 steals per game. Unfortunately, the 19-year-old shot just 41.2% from the field and 27.3% on three-pointers.

  Still, Chicago sees Demin as potentially a good fit in their up-tempo offense. The pace with which team wants to play, has reportedly seen them sour some on big man Derik Queen. The Maryland big man is not considered a good fit for the Bulls style of play.

• Josh Giddey Seeking At Least Five-Year, $120M Deal From Bulls

  Josh Giddey will be seeking at least $120 million over five years from the Chicago Bulls in restricted free agency. Giddey, who is represented by Daniel Moldovan, was acquired by the Bulls last June from the Oklahoma City Thunder for Alex Caruso. The Bulls also reportedly never made an extension offer to Giddey last offseason.

  In 70 games with the Bulls last season, Giddey averaged 14.6 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.2 assists while shooting 37.8 percent on 4.0 three-point attempts per game. Giddy also had a career high PER of 17.8. Giddey had a PER of 24.0 in 19 games after the All-Star break.

• Mavericks Interested In Jrue Holiday, Lonzo Ball, Chris Paul

  The Dallas Mavericks have interest in acquiring a point guard that would help them remain competitive next season while Kyrie Irving rehabilitates his torn ACL. Jrue Holiday, Lonzo Ball and Chris Paul are three players to monitor as all three would also be able to play alongside Irving once he is cleared to return to game action.

  Holiday has three seasons and $104 million remaining on his contract with the Boston Celtics. Holiday is a trade candidate as the Celtics attempt to navigate their salary cap, luxury tax and apron situation.

  Ball would be an easier player for the Mavericks to acquire after he signed a two-year, $20 million extension in February with Year 2 being a team option.

  Paul will be a free agent after signing a one-year, $11 million deal with the San Antonio Spurs last offseason. Paul played in all 82 games for the Spurs this season, but their backcourt has become crowded with the emergence of Stephon Castle along with the trade for De'Aaron Fox and anticipated draft selection of Dylan Harper.

• Coby White Likely To Wait For Bigger Deal With Bulls Vs Extension This Summer

  Chicago Bulls guard Coby White continued his emergence as one of the better young guards in the NBA last season. That has many wondering what White's next contract could like, after he signed a team-friendly three-year, $36 million contract in 2023.

  White's salary for next season is $12.9 million. Because that figure is less than the NBA's average player salary, White would be eligible for a projected four-year, $89 million extension this offseason.

  However, an average annual value of just over $22 million isn't enough for a player of White's stature. But Bulls fans shouldn't panic and assume that means White is leaving town. Instead, White and the Chicago are expected to wait until the 2026 offseason to sign a new contract, when White would be eligible for a contract in the range of $40 million per season.

• Bulls To Look To Trade Nikola Vuceivc This Offseason

  The Chicago Bulls are again expected to explore trading veteran center Nikola Vucevic this offseason. Vucevic is heading into the final year of the three-year extension he signed with Chicago in 2023.

  Vucevic has one year remaining on his deal at $21.5 million for 2025-26. The Bulls reportedly were close to trading the veteran center to the Golden State Warriors at the trade deadline, but couldn't reach a final agreement on a deal. As he has an expiring contract, it's expected Vucevic could be easier to trade this offseason or ahead of the 2026 trade deadline.

  If Chicago trade Vucevic, it's expected that veteran backup Zach Collins would be installed as the team's new starting center. The Bulls could also look to fill the center position through the 2025 NBA Draft.

• Josh Giddey Expected To Play Through Hand Injury In Play-In Tournament

  Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey is dealing with a muscle injury in his right hand. The injury causes pain and tightness for Giddey, especially when making certain movements with his right hand and arm. But the versatile Bulls guard says it won't keep him out of Wednesday's Play-In Tournament game against the Miami Heat.

  "I'm good to go," Giddey said. "Play-in game, must-win game, there's no way I'm going to sit out."

  The pending restricted free agent said about the injury that "It's just about managing the pain." Giddey also said it's something that will need to be addressed in the offseason.

  The Bulls host the Heat in the 9-10 game in the Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament on Wednesday. The winner will advance to play at the Atlanta Hawks on Friday for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs. The loser will head to the NBA Draft Lottery.

• 2025 NBA Playoffs: First-Round Matchups Set As Regular Season Concludes

  The Oklahoma City Thunder secured homecourt advantage for the duration of the playoffs with their 68-14 record and NBA-best +12.9 Net Rating. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Boston Celtics were bunched together in second and third in both record and Net Rating.

  The best matchups of the first round figure to be the Los Angeles Lakers against Minnesota Timberwolves less than a year after Luka Doncic faced them with his former team in the Western Conference Finals. The Houston Rockets against either the Golden State Warriors or Memphis Grizzlies will also be close and contentious, as should the New York Knicks against the Detroit Pistons in the Eastern Conference.

  The opening games of the playoffs begin next weekend following the conclusion of the Play-In Tournament on Friday.

  Western Conference
  • (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs. (8) Play-In Winner between loser of Golden State Warriors/Memphis Grizzlies or Sacramento Kings/Dallas Mavericks
  • (2) Houston Rockets vs. (7) Play-In Winner of Golden State Warriors/Memphis Grizzlies
  • (3) Los Angeles Lakers vs. (6) Minnesota Timberwolves
  • (4) Denver Nuggets vs. (5) LA Clippers

  Eastern Conference
  • (1) Cleveland Cavaliers vs. (8) Play-In Winner between loser of Orlando Magic/Atlanta Hawks or Chicago Bulls/Miami Heat
  • (2) Boston Celtics vs. (7) Play-In Winner of Orlando Magic/Atlanta Hawks
  • (3) New York Knicks vs. (6) Detroit Pistons
  • (4) Indiana Pacers vs. (5) Milwaukee Bucks
  
  NBA Play-In Tournament
  Western Conference
  • (8) Memphis Grizzlies vs. (7) Golden State Warriors (Tues., Apr. 15 - 10 p.m. ET on TNT)
  • (10) Dallas Mavericks vs. (9) Sacramento Kings (Wed., Apr. 16 - 10 p.m. ET on ESPN)
  
  Eastern Conference
  • (8) Atlanta Hawks vs. (7) Orlando Magic (Tues., Apr. 15 - 7:30 p.m. ET on TNT)
  • (10) Miami Heat vs. (9) Chicago Bulls (Wed., Apr. 16 - 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN)

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