The makeover in Chicago wasn’t as extreme as most expected.
Still, the Bulls’ roster could see as many as a half-dozen new players when the 2024-25 regular season begins.
After three years of trying and failing to break through the Eastern Conference playoff picture using continuity, the Bulls finally embarked on a new direction. Gone are reliable veterans DeMar DeRozan, Alex Caruso and Andre Drummond. In are a handful of fresh young faces who form the future: Josh Giddey, Jalen Smith and Matas Buzelis.
It’s an admittedly unfinished product, but one that offers intrigue nonetheless.
Here’s a player-by-player look at this year’s training camp roster. The players are listed in alphabetical order.
Lonzo Ball | PG | 6-foot-6, 190 pounds | Age: 26 | Experience: Sixth season
He’s attempting a comeback after missing the past 2 1/2 seasons because of multiple surgeries on his left knee. He last appeared in a game on Jan. 14, 2022, and hasn’t participated in a training camp since 2021. In 35 games as the Bulls’ starting point guard during the 2021-22 season, Ball averaged 13 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 1.8 steals in 34.6 minutes. The Bulls are eagerly anticipating how Ball’s body responds to the rigors of training camp before making any determination about his availability this season.
Onuralp Bitim | G/F | 6-6, 205 | Age: 25 | Experience: Second season
A sharp-shooting swingman out of Turkey, Bitim appeared in 23 contests as a rookie last season. He scored a career-high 17 points against the Dallas Mavericks on March 11. In mid-April, Bitim was ruled out for the season after being diagnosed with a detached retina in his right eye.
Matas Buzelis | F | 6-10, 209 | Age: 19 | Experience: Rookie
Chicago drafted Buzelis with this year’s 11th pick, and back in June, he didn’t appear to be a rotational player. But the Bulls have made major roster changes that have opened opportunities, and Buzelis has impressed in voluntary offseason team activities after a strong summer-league showing. Don’t be surprised if Buzelis, a multifaceted four-man, sees the floor sooner rather than later. He is a splendid ballhandler at his size, and he possesses a knack for attacking the basket and finding open teammates. His area of improvement is outside shooting.
Jevon Carter | G | 6-1, 200 | Age: 29 | Experience: Seventh season
After a career year with the Milwaukee Bucks two seasons ago, Carter had a disappointing debut season with the Bulls in 2022-23. He averaged 13.9 minutes and often played sporadically — and, on occasion, not at all. Carter adds on-ball defensive pressure and is a 3-point shooting threat, and he excels at both in transition. With a crowded backcourt, Carter could find it challenging to land consistent minutes this season, as well.
Torrey Craig | F | 6-7, 221 | Age: 33 | Experience: Eighth season
Craig is entering the second and final season of a contract he signed last summer to join the Bulls. He exercised a $2.8 million player option in late June to remain in Chicago. On a roster that’s thin in the frontcourt, Craig adds depth, defensive versatility and rebounding. A career 35.3 percent 3-point shooter, Craig enjoyed his best two seasons from beyond the arc the past two seasons, hitting 39.5 percent in 2022-23 and 39.2 percent last season.
Marcus Domask | F | 6-6, 215 | Age: 24 | Experience: Rookie
The pride of Waupun, Wis., Domask went undrafted out of Illinois in 2024. He played four seasons at Southern Illinois before transferring to Illinois as a fifth-year player. At Illinois, coach Brad Underwood nicknamed him “Luka” for his craftiness. Domask recorded the 10th triple-double in NCAA Tournament history in March with 12 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists against Morehead State in the first round. Domask is a long shot to make the regular-season roster.
Ayo Dosunmu (12) has been reliable for the Bulls and is looking to be a major contributor in his fourth NBA season. (Matt Krohn / USA Today)
Ayo Dosunmu | G | 6-4, 200 | Age: 24 | Experience: Fourth season
Dosunmu had a bounce-back season in 2023-24, atoning for a sophomore slump two seasons ago. He averaged a career-best 12.2 points on 50.1 percent shooting, hitting 40.3 percent on 3.9 3-pointers per game. Dosunmu also makes his presence felt with solid on-ball defense, gallops to the rim, sneaking offensive rebounding and a splash of playmaking. In two out of his first three seasons, Dosunmu has been a dependable young role player. His fourth season brings a chance to prove how much more he can do.
Chris Duarte | G | 6-6, 190 | Age: 27 | Experience: Fourth season
The 13th pick by the Indiana Pacers in 2021, Duarte put together a promising rookie season. But his career has been in decline in each of the past two seasons. Duarte averaged a career-low 3.9 points in 12.2 minutes per game last season for the Sacramento Kings, and he was a throw-in as part of the sign-and-trade that sent DeRozan to the Kings. Duarte has a reputation of being a hard-nosed, 3-and-D player. He now has a chance to resurrect his career in Chicago.
Josh Giddey | G | 6-8, 210 | Age: 21 | Experience: Fourth season
The latest to step into the Bulls’ revolving door of players considered to be the point guard of the future, Giddey arrived in the trade that sent Caruso to the Oklahoma City Thunder. Giddey, who turns 22 on Oct. 10, is a big, versatile guard who has a tremendous feel for the game and prides himself on setting up teammates. The Bulls will put the ball in Giddey’s hands and allow him to orchestrate what the team envisions being an up-tempo offense. Giddey believes he has All-Star potential and is now in a role that will allow him to showcase all that he’s capable of. He’s also in a contract year.
Talen Horton-Tucker | G | 6-4, 233 | Age: 23 | Experience: Sixth season
A Chicago native, Horton-Tucker is looking to stick with the Bulls after stints with the Los Angeles Lakers and the Utah Jazz. He signed an Exhibit 10 contract in early September and is not guaranteed to make the regular-season roster; a crowded backcourt doesn’t help his cause. If he makes the final roster, Horton-Tucker would add scoring off the bench.
Zach LaVine | G | 6-5, 205 | Age: 29 | Experience: 11th season
LaVine is healthy again after being limited to 25 games last season with injuries. He underwent season-ending right foot surgery in February to address lingering discomfort. LaVine is the team’s leading returning scorer and most talented at creating his own shot. But the Bulls are moving to more of a team-oriented style, and how much of the offense runs through LaVine will be interesting to watch.
E.J. Liddell | F | 6-7, 240 | Age: 23 | Experience: Second season
A two-time Illinois Mr. Basketball award winner, Liddell went on to star at Ohio State before being selected 41st by the New Orleans Pelicans in the 2022 draft. He missed the 2022-23 season after tearing his ACL during a summer-league game. Liddell is another training camp invitee who faces long odds to make the final roster. He appeared in eight contests with the Pelicans last season and has logged only 23 career minutes.
Kenneth Lofton Jr. | F | 6-6, 275 | Age: 22 | Experience: Third season
An undersized-but-beefy bruiser, Lofton will surprise if he makes it past the preseason cuts. After breaking into the league with the Memphis Grizzlies two seasons ago, he’s appeared in 45 career contests with the Grizzlies, Utah Jazz and Philadelphia 76ers.
Julian Phillips | F | 6-8, 197 | Age: 20 | Experience: Second season
Phillips is a high-energy, do-anything forward who showed promise in his 40 appearances as a rookie last season. He improved his outside shot, making 12 of his final 29 3-pointers from January on. The Bulls can turn to Phillips when looking for a willing defender, second-chance opportunities and a jolt of athleticism. Whether Phillips can crack the rotation this season will depend solely on the jump he’s able to make from Year 1 to Year 2.
Adama Sanogo | F/C | 6-9, 245 | Age: 22 | Experience: Second season
One of the team’s true post players, Sanogo has an opportunity to gain valuable experience if he is called upon this season. He appeared in only nine contests as a rookie, logging just 66 minutes. As a two-way contract player, Sanogo is expected to be a third-string option. He finished with 22 points and 20 rebounds in a two-point win at the Washington Wizards on April 12.
Jalen Smith (25) and Torrey Craig were competitors last season. They will start the 2024-25 season as teammates. (David Banks / USA Today)
Jalen Smith | F | 6-10, 235 | Age: 24 | Experience: Fifth season
A newcomer who came from the division-rival Pacers, Smith has potential to become a fan favorite with his energy, hustle and ability to impact both ends. He signed a three-year, $27 million contract in July and projects to serve as the backup big. He has the talent to apply pressure on the starter. Like several others on this Bulls roster, Smith’s development will dictate how much he forces his way into more minutes. But in Smith, the Bulls landed a big man who can hit outside shots (42.4 percent on 2.4 3-point attempts per game last season), run the floor, finish at the rim and add shot-blocking.
DJ Steward | G | 6-2, 162 | Age: 22 | Experience: Rookie
Another Chicago native who finished his high school career in the shadows of the United Center before attending Duke, Steward is about to experience a dream come true. On Tuesday, he’ll take part in his first NBA training camp in his hometown. On Wednesday, he’ll turn 23 years old. Steward is a two-way contract player expected to spend the bulk of his time with the Windy City Bulls. He had a strong summer-league showing in Las Vegas, showing good balance as a scorer and facilitator.
Dalen Terry | G | 6-7, 200 | Age: 22 | Experience: Third season
Terry crafted a handful of encouraging moments in his second season after receiving more than triple the playing time than he did as a rookie. He logged only 214 minutes in 2022-23; Terry’s 681 minutes last season still leave him 105 shy of cracking 1,000 for his career. There’s still no definitive evidence to determine how good Terry, the 18th pick in the 2022 draft, can be. It’s up to Terry, however, to prove that he’s worthy of consistent minutes.
Nikola Vučević | C | 6-10, 260 | Age: 33 | Experience: 14th season
He’s the Bulls’ unquestioned starting center and one of the NBA’s most consistent performers over the last three seasons. Vučević has appeared in 231 of a possible 246 games over that span and averaged an almost-identical, raw stat line in each season: roughly 18 points, 11 rebounds and a shade less than 3.5 assists. Vučević is entering the second year of a three-year contract extension he signed last summer. With the Bulls going younger, the question is: How much longer will Vučević be in Chicago?
Coby White | G | 6-5, 206 | Age: 24 | Experience: Sixth season
White finished second in Most Improved Player award voting last season behind 76ers star Tyrese Maxey. White averaged a career-high 19.1 points on 44.7 percent shooting. He enters this season firmly entrenched as a starter on the wing alongside Giddey and LaVine. But no longer will White have the ball in his hands as much as he did in previous seasons. That might not be the worst thing for White if the Bulls pull off an up-tempo attack. White will be free of playmaking duties and can concentrate on catching and shooting or slashing to score. It might be the easiest the game has been in White’s career.
Patrick Williams | F | 6-7, 231 | Age: 23 | Experience: Fifth season
The Bulls rewarded Williams, the fourth pick in the 2020 draft, with a five-year, $90 million contract this summer in a continued show of faith. Williams, however, has struggled at times with erratic play and pesky injuries. He’s coming off left foot surgery, so don’t expect to hear that he’s is entering camp with a head of steam. How long it takes Williams to get a groove will be a critical early storyline to watch.
(Top photo of Coby White and Nikola Vučević: Melissa Tamez / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
