The Chicago Bulls are undergoing a significant front-office overhaul following the departures of Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas and General Manager Marc Eversley. In a surprising development, head coach Billy Donovan also stepped down from his position after what many viewed as a disappointing tenure with the franchise, despite his credentials as a Basketball Hall of Fame coach.
As the organization looks to rebuild and chart a new direction, one familiar face from the previous regime could soon be making a dramatic return to the United Center.
Ayo Dosunmu, the Chicago native and former second-round draft pick, has emerged as a strong candidate to rejoin the Bulls this offseason in free agency.
In a recent interview with Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, Dosunmu made it clear that returning to his hometown team remains very much in play.
“Everything is on the table when you’re a free agent,” Dosunmu said. “That’s the main thing about being a free agent — you listen. You have conversations with whoever is interested. I’ll sit down with my family, and you have those conversations about where the next duration of my career will be.”
While Dosunmu has been impressed by the reception he’s received in Minnesota, he stopped short of closing the door on any team — including the Bulls.
“Minnesota has shown me love here. I love the love I’ve been getting from the coaching staff, the fans, the players. So of course Minnesota will have the first dibs to do right and make me feel at home where I won’t even have to go out and entertain [other offers],” he added. “This is what free agency is all about, sitting down and talking to teams, so I wouldn’t rule out no team. But that’s down the road.”
From Second-Round Pick to Playoff Contributor
Originally selected by the Bulls in the second round of the 2021 NBA Draft out of the University of Illinois, Dosunmu quickly carved out a role with his hometown team thanks to his competitiveness, defensive tenacity, and improving offensive game. However, in February, Chicago made the controversial decision to include him in a trade that sent Dosunmu and Julian Phillips to the Minnesota Timberwolves in exchange for rookie guard Rob Dillingham, forward Leonard Miller, and four second-round picks.
The move raised eyebrows across the league at the time, as many questioned why the Bulls would part ways with a young, cost-controlled guard who had shown steady development and possessed a natural connection with Chicago fans.
Now, Dosunmu is proving his value on a bigger stage. In 24 games with the Timberwolves (nine starts), he has posted solid averages of 14.4 points, 3.5 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game. More importantly, he is currently experiencing his first taste of the NBA playoffs, with Minnesota holding a commanding 3-1 series lead over the defending champion Denver Nuggets in the first round.
Though the Timberwolves’ superstar Anthony Edwards is expected to miss the next few weeks with a bone bruise, Minnesota’s depth — including contributions from players like Dosunmu — has kept them in a strong position.
A Homecoming Story in the Making?
For the Bulls, bringing Dosunmu back would represent more than just adding a reliable rotation player. It would be a chance to correct what many viewed as a questionable trade decision under the previous regime and to welcome back a local product who understands the city and the franchise’s expectations.
At 6-foot-4, Dosunmu brings size, athleticism, and versatility to the guard position. His ability to play both on and off the ball, combined with his improved scoring punch, makes him an intriguing fit for a Bulls team in transition.
While the new front office will undoubtedly explore multiple avenues to improve the roster this summer, re-signing Dosunmu could serve as both a pragmatic basketball move and a meaningful narrative reset for a fan base eager for stability and familiarity.
Dosunmu’s comments suggest he is keeping an open mind, but Chicago clearly remains on his radar. With free agency looming, the possibility of the 6-foot-4 guard returning to the Bulls is very real — and for many in Chicago, it would feel like a long-overdue homecoming.
The question now is whether the revamped Bulls front office sees the same value in Ayo Dosunmu that the fans and the player himself still clearly do.