Photo: Chicago Bulls/X

Moves made at the trade deadline by the Washington Wizards and Utah Jazz significantly altered the financial outlook for teams expected to have major salary cap space in 2026.

Those transactions reduced each franchise’s long-term flexibility, narrowing the list of organizations projected to enter the upcoming offseason with meaningful cap room.

As a result, Chicago, Brooklyn, and both Los Angeles teams are now viewed as the most likely franchises to operate with significant spending power this summer.

According to Jake Fischer, the Chicago Bulls have already made it clear internally that their top priority in free agency will be strengthening the roster on the wing.

The available market could present a wide range of options, including experienced unrestricted free agents such as Khris Middleton and Tobias Harris, as well as younger restricted free agents like Bennedict Mathurin and Tari Eason, giving Chicago multiple directions to explore depending on cost and long-term fit.

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