Six championship banners hang at the United Center from the Michael Jordan era. But that success couldn't seem farther from Bulls fans.
However, the Bulls have a chance to bring hope back to Chicago this offseason by fulfilling key roster needs, maximizing their young talent, and boosting the on-court product. If they succeed, they will change the narrative surrounding the franchise.
The 2026 NBA Draft
The Bulls need multiple high-level scorers on the roster. In the 2025-26 season, no member of the Bulls averaged above 20 points per game.
While Matas Buzelis took a big leap in scoring this season — and can likely do it again — the Bulls need to add more scorers to help him.
In the draft, the Bulls can add a talented scoring forward with defensive upside in either Caleb Wilson or Cameron Boozer, depending on who is available at No. 4.Â
If they opt for a high-scoring player outside of Wilson or Boozer at No. 4, particularly a guard, they can grab Darius Acuff Jr.Â
They can also continue to add scoring with the No. 15 pick. They could use the pick to add size and/or defense, too.
Head Coaching Hire, Developing Matas Buzelis and Defense
With two first-round picks in the draft and young players in Buzelis (21 years old) and Josh Giddey (23 years old), the Bulls need a coach who can maximize the young talent by helping them develop.Â
It is important to develop the players they select with their first-round picks. As for the current roster, the name to focus on is Buzelis.Â
Buzelis took major leaps in year two, increasing his averages in points, rebounds, assists, blocks, and field-goal percentage.Â
The new head coach also needs to create a good on-court product that maximizes players' capabilities on both ends of the court.Â
The Bulls’ defense finished near the bottom of the league in opponent points in the paint per game (27th) and opponents’ points per game (28th). By improving their defense, the Bulls can further maximize their offensive production by getting stops to build and maintain leads.Â
The Bulls may produce the head coaching answer soon, as the search has narrowed to four candidates: Tiago Splitter, Micah Nori, Ryan Schmidt, and Bulls assistant coach Wes Unseld Jr., per Jake Fischer of The Stein Line and K.C. Johnson of CHSN.
The Opportunity for 2026-27
If Chicago can succeed in all of this, it can bolster its roster and on-court product. The organization can find better success compared to last season and put the team on a good trajectory for the future.Â
This offseason is an important one not only for these reasons, but for the fans as well, who want to see winning basketball return to the Windy City.
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