The NBA Draft is only one day away. After months of speculation, scouting, and sifting through endless mock drafts, pundits and fans alike will finally discover who will be the next bright-eyed prospect to suit up for the Chicago Bulls.
However, despite a litany of names being considered at No.12, the Bulls have reportedly zeroed in on two prospects per Chicago Sport Network's K.C. Johnson.
"I do think a good player will be there available at #12."@KCJHoop shares two big names the Bulls could target on The Fastbreak đź‘€ pic.twitter.com/WoftTzFM5P
— Bulls on CHSN (@CHSN_Bulls) June 24, 2025
Johnson reported, "From everything I've been told, [the Bulls] are very confident that they are going to get a good player at 12. I have not heard much talk about [the Bulls] trading up… the two names I'm hearing the most linked to the Bulls are Collin Murray-Boyles and Noa Essengue."
Chicago's preference in draft prospects has shifted to forward
The initial reaction to Johnson's shared sentiment should be overwhelmingly positive. Murray-Boyles and Essengue are fantastic fits on a roster lacking a forward next to last year's first-round pick, Matas Buzelis.
Murray-Boyles is one of the better defensive prospects in the draft, and a player who plays bigger than he is at 6-foot-7. The former Gamecock couples a strong frame with a long wingspan. Murray-Boyles weighed nearly 240 pounds at the NBA Draft Combine and boasts a massive 7-foot-1 wingspan.
The burly forward averaged 16.8 points, 8.3 rebounds, 2.4 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.3 blocks as a sophomore for the Gamecocks. He's an ace on the defensive end, capable of switching across one through five. Moreover, he's a terrific weakside defender and possesses defensive instincts wise beyond his years. Murray-Boyles is the ideal fit next to the lankier Buzelis.
On the other hand, Essengue is built similarly to Buzelis at 6-foot-10 (barefoot) and 204 pounds. Last year's 11th-overall pick measured nearly 6-foot-9 barefoot and came in at 197 pounds. While Essengue doesn't make up for Buzelis's lack of strength like Murray-Boyles, his similar physical and athletic profile makes for an extremely versatile lineup.
Essengue, the second-youngest prospect in the draft class, spent this past season with Ratiopharm Ulm in Germany's top professional league, Basketball Bundesliga. Across 41 appearances, Essengue averaged 10.0 points, 4.9 rebounds, 1.2 assists, and 0.7 steals per game in league play.
The 18-year-old is one of the highest upside bets in the draft. Perhaps still growing, he could be 7-feet tall in shoes by the time he hits his stride in the NBA. Despite a tall, lanky frame, Essengue is a smooth athlete who's lethal in transition—a huge plus in Billy Donovan's uptempo offense. Lastly, he's uniquely talented at drawing fouls. Essengue averaged 4.6 free throws per game in only 22.4 minutes of action.
It's reaffirming to hear of the Bulls' interest in Murray-Boyles and Essengue, two well-suited prospects. However, Johnson did mention Derik Queen remains a player the Bulls would be willing to pull the trigger on, regardless of his fit on the roster. While Queen is as close to an offensive savant as a draft prospect can be without shooting the ball well from deep, his defensive deficiencies and so-so athleticism are causes for concern.