The Chicago Bulls have a clear Bennedict Mathurin free agent market disadvantage, and the numbers prove it. This isn’t about talent or fit; it is about cold hard cash that the front office simply does not have. While the team wants to add a young scorer, the salary cap rules work against them in a major way.
The Money Problem Is Real
Both the New Orleans Pelicans and Milwaukee Bucks can offer a much larger check to win this bidding war. Per reports, those teams hold access to the larger non-taxpayer mid-level exception, estimated at $15.04 million for the 2026-27 NBA season. The Bulls are stuck with a much smaller option. Chicago, projected to sit $1.9 million beneath the 2026-27 NBA salary cap by Spotrac, possesses only the $9.37 million room mid-level exception. That gap is huge. It leaves the Bulls offering less than what other suitors can easily provide without triggering tax penalties.
Bucks Hold The Edge
Milwaukee presents an even tougher hurdle with a massive financial weapon. The Bucks hold a $25.46 million traded player-exception (TPE) per reports. They could swap out an expiring salary and use that full amount to get the job done. The Pelicans also sit below the luxury tax line, estimated at $8.22 million under the 2026-27 NBA luxury tax, affording them operational flexibility. The Bulls cannot match that flexibility. They are playing in the wrong market with the wrong tools for this specific deal.
There is a clear path for the front office to fix this mess. The Bulls should stop trying to sign Mathurin directly and instead act as a facilitator. They could help the Pelicans or Bucks acquire him in exchange for draft picks. On Tuesday, The Stein Line learned from Marc Stein that Chicago is another current suitor for Mathurin. That is a polite way of saying they are the backup plan. The team needs to cash in on their service rather than chase a player they likely cannot afford.
A Fan Base To Watch
Despite the financial hurdles, there is one reason to stay hopeful. The new leadership in the building seems to like the player. “I’ve been told that in Bryson Graham, Bennedict Mathurin has a significant fan,” a source told CHGO Bulls regarding the executive vice president’s interest. Graham likes the athletic profile and the scoring punch Mathurin brings. But liking a player does not pay the bills. If Graham wants to make this happen, he needs to get creative with trades or accept that the money just isn’t there for a direct signing. The Bulls must face reality before the window closes.
