What NBA Draft picks do the Chicago Bulls own?
The Chicago Bulls are one of many teams that do not have full control over their own NBA Draft picks over the foreseeable future. Due to a trade at the 2020 deadline, the Bulls will surrender some of their first-round (and potentially second-round) picks in the near future.
In the NBA, the draft is a major part of how teams add to their roster. Free agency is where teams can add proven, veteran talent or take a few risks on players who may need some career revitalization. Conversely, the draft is where teams can essentially get in on the ground floor of a young player’s development, sell them on their culture, and plant the roots on a homegrown fruitful career.
Since teams have significant control over the future of players on rookie contracts — teams can offer favorable extensions to players on rookie deals before they even have the opportunity to listen to deals in the open market — drafting well is one of the best ways to create a sustainable future for the franchise.
So, where are the Chicago Bulls draft picks located over the next several years?
Where are the Chicago Bulls selecting in the 2021 NBA Draft?
Barring a trade to sneak into the first round, the Chicago Bulls do not have a first-round pick in the 2021 NBA Draft. They sent their first-round pick away to the Orlando Magic in order to obtain Nikola Vucevic, a trade that will impact the makeup of their stockpile for Chicago over the next several years as we’ll see throughout this post.
The Bulls swapped picks with the New Orleans Pelicans in the second round, meaning they are drafting at 38th overall (the Pelicans take the Bulls’ pick two selections later at 40). Here’s a look at the best players ever selected at 38 overall.
What NBA Draft picks do Chicago Bulls own in 2022?
The Bulls own their own first-round draft pick in 2022. As we’ll see, the ownership of their picks in 2023 and 2024 are uncertain and as such, it will be important for Chicago to nail this pick in 2022.
Their second-round pick gets a little more complicated. A slew of picks between the Wizards, Pistons, Lakers, and Bulls will be rearranged.
The Bulls will get their own pick, the Pistons pick, or the Lakers pick. Per RealGM, it will play out as such:
"Most favorable of CHI, DET and LAL to WAS; less favorable of (i) LAL and (ii) more favorable of CHI and DET to CHI; less favorable of CHI and DET to SAC (via CHI swap for DET; via WAS swap of LAL for CHI or DET; via MEM to SAC)"
So first, we see who has the more favorable pick, the Pistons or the Bulls. Then, we see if that pick is more or less favorable than the Lakers pick and the resulting less favorable pick is the Pistons.
In all likelihood, the Bulls will probably gain the Lakers’ pick in the end of it, but it will all depend on how the 2022 season and playoff seeding (or NBA Draft Lottery) plays out.
What NBA Draft picks do Chicago Bulls own in 2023?
2023 is the first of two years that include a possibility of surrendering another first-round pick to the Magic.
The Bulls have a protection on their first-round pick going to the Magic if it’s inside the top 4.
So, it’s simple. If the Bulls first-round pick lands in the top 4, they keep it. If it’s outside of the top 4, it goes to the Magic.
The Bulls do not own their second-round pick in 2023, it is slated to go to the Washington Wizards.
What NBA Draft picks do Chicago Bulls own in 2024?
Chicago’s 2024 first-round draft pick depends on the outcome of the first-round pick in 2023. If the pick is surrendered to the Magic in 2023, then the Bulls own their 2024 first-round pick outright. If it is not surrendered, then another (tighter) protection is in place, top 3.
So if the Bulls keep their pick in 2023 and their 2024 pick falls outside of the top 3, the Magic receive it. If the Bulls keep their pick in 2023 and their 2024 first-round pick falls inside the top 3, the Bulls keep it.
And again, if the Bulls surrender their pick in 2023 they keep their 2024 first-round pick regardless.
If the pick does not convey to the Magic by 2024, the Magic do not receive another first-round pick from the Magic and the pick instead converts into the right of a second-round pick in 2026. So if the Bulls pick inside the top 4 in 2023 and inside the top 3 in 2024, then the Magic do not receive a first-round pick from the Bulls at all.
The Bulls own their own second-round pick in 2024.
What NBA Draft picks do Chicago Bulls own in 2025?
In 2025, things are simple. The Chicago Bulls draft picks owned are their own first and second round picks.
What NBA Draft picks do Chicago Bulls own in 2026?
In 2026, the Bulls own their first-round pick.
The Bulls shall own their second-round pick unless the first-round pick to the Magic does not convey in both 2023 and 2024. If neither of those picks convey, then the Bulls will send their second-round pick in 2026 to the Magic.