Even though it's been far from a banner year for the Chicago Bulls, they have managed to do just enough to remain in contention for a postseason spot in the Eastern Conference. The fallout of that is the Bulls may lose the opportunity to finish with a top-10 pick in what is expected to be a strong 2025 NBA Draft class. Especially now that the Bulls have won six of their last eight games, Chicago's first-round pick is now on track to finish outside the top 10.
But no matter where the Bulls end up picking late in the lottery, there is going to be a shot to find a high-risk, high-reward player in such a strong draft class. If Chicago was willing to put "needs" aside, let's explore six potential prospects with a high ceiling that could be on Chicago's radar.
Tre Johnson, G, Texas
Depending on where the Bulls end up picking will determine whether Tre Johnson is going to be an option on the table. If the Bulls' draft pick settles in the 8-10 range, I do believe there's going to be a chance that Johnson is still on the board. Even though he's an extremely skilled offensive player, there are major questions about his overall playmaking ability and defensive willingness.
Those big questions in Johnson's game are part of why he could be considered a high-risk draft pick. His excellent offensive skill set is why if he is available when Chicago goes on the clock, he should be the selection. If Chicago is looking to take a gamble on a player who has star potential late in the lottery, Johnson could be the best bet at this point. If Johnson does hit his ceiling as a player, he could be a superstar at the next level.
Derik Queen, C, Maryland
If the Bulls wanted to take a gamble on a frontcourt player late in the lottery, Derik Queen has to garner some serious consideration. Queen has been quite impressive throughout his freshman campaign at Maryland, but he may have sent the biggest message to draft scouts with his performance in the Big 10 Tournament game against Michigan.
Facing off against another highly-touted draft prospect (Danny Wolf), Queen dominated on the offensive end of the floor as he finished with 31 points. Queen needs to sure up his defensive question marks but such an offensively skilled big man could have a huge impact on a team that will be looking for a breath of fresh air in the frontcourt. If Chicago is looking for a big man who could help change the culture, Queen could be their target late in the lottery.
Jeremiah Fears, G, Oklahoma
Even though the Bulls will almost certainly re-sign Josh Giddey this offseason, it wouldn't be the worst idea in the world to look to continue to add to the backcourt with their selection in the first round. One late lottery prospect who could be in play for Chicago is Jeremiah Fears. Considered somewhat of a polarizing prospect because of his inconsistency on the offensive end of the floor throughout his freshman season at Oklahoma, the Bulls would be betting on his high-end star power.
As far as a point guard is concerned, Fears has all the speed, quickness, and ball-handling that you want. While it's far to question his shot selection at times, you can't question his ability to control the game and dictate how he wants to play. With such a high ceiling, Chicago could be looking to take a flier on a player who could end up being the second-best point guard from this class.
Khaman Maluach, C, Duke
Khaman Maluach may be one of those prospects that could be long gone before the Bulls go on the clock, especially if he continues to rise up draft boards as he has been the last couple of months. However, there's at least an outside shot that Maluach could still be on the board if the Bulls are selected in that 8-9 spot. Maluach is another big man who could help change the culture up front for Chicago.
Even though Maluach has shown some impressive signs during his freshman season at Duke, he's still just scratching the surface of the player he could potentially be at the next level. If the Bulls are looking for a defensive anchor who has also shown some real offensive upside as well, Maluach would have to be the selection late in the lottery if he were still on the board.
Asa Newell, F, Georgia
While Georgia as a team ended up laying an egg in the first-round matchup against Gonzaga, Asa Newell did show some encouraging signs as he finished with 20 points and eight rebounds. A player who has all the physical traits an NBA team would want in a modern big, Newell could be an extremely appealing prospect for many teams late in the lottery. If Chicago believes in their developmental system, it could be difficult to not take a flier on Newell.
For Newell, the key is development. A great talent, Newell still needs a couple of years to hone his skill set if he's going to reach his ceiling as a player at the next level. If Chicago is willing to take a more patient approach with this selection, Newell should be in play for a Bulls team looking for some star power.
Carter Bryant, F, Arizona
If the Bulls wanted to take a huge gamble with their late lottery pick, Carter Bryant is one prospect to keep a close eye on. He had flashes of brilliance during his freshman season at Arizona but was not consistent enough where he's going to be considered a lock to be selected in the lottery heading into the pre-draft process. However, that could change if he can string together some strong pre-draft workouts.
Because of his athleticism, shooting ability, and defensive versatility, there's reason to believe that Bryant could eventually develop into a star-level player at the next level. He'll need a couple of years of development and committment from a franchise. Would the Bulls want to go down that path again for a player who is probably further away from contributing than any other player on this list? That remains to be seen.