A Chicago Bulls player doesn’t have default upside just because they’re under 25

Writer Morris Bankston argues that young Chicago Bulls players do not possess default upside simply due to being under 25 years old. Ahead of the 2026-27 preseason and the start of the Bryson Graham front office era, the writer reflects on the team's history of acquiring young talent under former executive Arturas Karnisovas following the trade of Rob Dillingham for Buddy Hield.

Bankston claims that Karnisovas routinely acquired project players with minimal real upside, citing Dalen Terry, Julian Phillips, Troy Brown Jr., and Patrick Williams' contract. He notes that new executive Bryson Graham inherits genuine young success stories in Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey, but must prove to be a superior talent evaluator.