When Chicago added Noa Essengue in the 2025 NBA Draft, it sent a signal to the rest of the league that the Bulls were all in on long, versatile, athletic young wings. Regardless of where the franchise is picking in the 2026 NBA Draft, expect VP of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas to add to that stable.
The rest of this offseason, at least to this point, has only confirmed the front office's stance. The Bulls traded Lonzo Ball to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for 6-foot-5, 225-pound forward Isaac Okoro. It's unlikely to happen, but Chicago is still mentioned as a potential partner in a sign-and-trade move for Golden State Warriors forward Jonathan Kuminga.
Even the team's summer league squad doubled down on long, springy wing players like Emanuel Miller.
Regardless of what happens in 2025-26, though, it's clear the direction in which the Bulls' roster is headed.
Chicago Bulls 2026 NBA Mock Draft Roundup
It doesn't take long for the league to move from one offseason fiesta to the next. Now that a wild week of free agency is in the books—for Chicago, at least—it's worth revisiting the "way too early" 2026 mock drafts that came immediately after 2025's concluded.
ESPN: F Karim Lopez, New Zealand Breakers
It's not shocking to see the Bulls grabbing another wing. What is relatively shocking is that the ESPN crew has Chicago picking at No. 7 overall. Given the team's strong finish to last season and a weakened Eastern Conference, the Bulls have a legitimate shot at a playoff berth. Picking in the top 10 would mean Billy Donovan's squad had a massively disappointing 2025-26 campaign.
Lopez fits what Karnisovas is looking for, though, as a 6-foot-9 combo forward with good athleticism and projected defensive versatility. The 18-year-old averaged 8.9 points and 4.3 rebounds in 22 minutes per game last year in the NBL, an impressive stat line considering his age and pro-level competition.
Bleacher Report: G Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville
Brown is heading to the Cardinals as one of the top recruits in the 2025 class. He played a crucial role in the Team USA squad that won the U-19 FIBA World Cup. He averaged 14.7 points and 6.1 assists in the tournament's seven games, with shooting splits of 48/49/80.
Brown is on the smaller size for a guard at 6-foot-3, but he can create his own shot, is a high-level outside marksman and can make plays for others. He would be a good replacement if and when the Bulls move on from Coby White or Ayo Dosunmu, who are both free agents after this season.
The Athletic
Sam Vecenie decided not to do a mock draft, instead ranking the top prospects heading into the year. The one name that stands out as a potential fit for the Bulls is North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson, whom Vecenie ranks as the eighth-best player in the 2026 class.
The highly-touted freshman, who will be 19 next summer, could potentially slip a few spots to the late lottery, where Chicago had success snagging Matas Buzelis and Essengue. Wilson's defense is way ahead of his offense, and the Tar Heels haven't had much success turning standout recruits into irresistible draft prospects (see Powell, Drake).
Vecenie writes, "There’s probably not a wing in this class with more defensive upside than Wilson, a switchable athlete with all sorts of disruption talent."
That sounds like the type of prospect Karnisovas would quickly add to his roster, if given the opportunity.