Trade Proposal Sends Bulls’ Ayo Dosunmu To Bucks

One NBA analyst proposed that the Milwaukee Bucks acquire Ayo Dosunmu from the Chicago Bulls. 

Grant Hughes of Bleacher Report proposed the following mock trade between the Bucks and Bulls:

The Trade: The Milwaukee Bucks acquire Ayo Dosunmu from the Chicago Bulls for Pat Connaughton and a 2031 first-round swap

“Two key factors should push the Bulls toward gritting their teeth and moving on from Ayo Dosunmu,” Hughes wrote in his NBA trade proposal. “First, the 24-year-old’s market value may never be higher than it is right now. Coming off a career-high 12.2 points per game after seizing a starting role down the stretch of last season, Dosunmu is set to make just $7.0 million this season and $7.5 million in 2025-26 ahead of unrestricted free agency.

“That salary is almost definitely too low for the Bulls to convince Dosunmu to extend off it, so it’s highly likely he’ll hit the market two summers from now. That long-term concern shouldn’t apply to the title-chasing Bucks, who are all-in on making their current roster as dangerous as possible.

“Secondly, Chicago should relish the chance to short the Bucks’ future by getting swap rights in 2031. If things go badly for Milwaukee this season, maybe Giannis Antetokounmpo will finally angle for a way out. It’d be hard to blame him given the age of the supporting cast around him. The Bucks might remain stable contenders for a few more years, but by 2031 they could be losing games left and right amid a full rebuild. For the Bulls, betting against the 2031 version of a hugely expensive and second-apron-limited Bucks squad is just good business.

“Dosunmu would be an upgrade over Pat Connaughton in the rotation, could spell Damian Lillard at the point and brings much more youth and athleticism than anyone else who figures to see the floor regularly in Milwaukee—unless Andre Jackson Jr. forces his way into more playing time.”

The Bulls missed the playoffs in 2024, while the Bucks lost to the Indiana Pacers in the first round. 

Dosunmu appeared in 76 games for the Bulls last season. He averaged 12.2 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 0.9 steals and 0.5 blocks while shooting 50.1% from the field, 40.3% from beyond the arc and 81.0% from the free-throw line. 

The Bulls drafted Dosunmu with the 38th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft out of Illinois. Dosunmu, 24, has career averages of 9.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, 3.0 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.4 blocks. 

Dosunmu will make $7 million next season.