Even amid an 11-game losing streak, the Chicago Bulls haven’t plummeted in the standings. In fact, their draft position has only improved from 14th to ninth despite not winning a single game in February.
The Bulls have distanced themselves from fellow perennial Play-In Tournament contenders like the Atlanta Hawks and Miami Heat. Yet they remain a tier above Eastern Conference bottom-feeders such as the Brooklyn Nets, Indiana Pacers, and Washington Wizards—a group they’re unlikely to join.
Bulls caught in the NBA’s middle ground
However, the Bulls are now on the brink of joining a peculiar middle tier. One that isn’t positioned for the No. 1 overall pick but is nowhere near the Play-In Tournament either. That group includes the Dallas Mavericks and Memphis Grizzlies. Dallas sits at 21–38 (seventh in the draft order), while Memphis is 22–36 (eighth).
Although Chicago trails Memphis by one game and Dallas by two-and-a-half, it ranked below both Western Conference teams in Bleacher Report’s latest power rankings. The Bulls checked in at No. 25, behind the Grizzlies at No. 23 and the Mavericks at No. 22.
One might have expected Chicago to slide further, especially after placing No. 22 in Bleacher Report’s previous power rankings. Yet the bottom five have proven so entrenched that not even a team that went winless for an entire month could break into that tier.
Why the top eight matters more than ever
What Bleacher Report’s power rankings may signal, however, is that the Bulls are trending toward becoming the weakest team within that previously mentioned middle tier—a development with significant ramifications. If Chicago climbs to No. 7 in the draft order, or even No. 6 should the New Orleans Pelicans continue their recent surge, its odds of landing a top-four pick would increase by more than 10 percentage points.
That’s not the only benefit. While this draft class features a clear-cut top three and arguably a top four if Caleb Wilson is included, the talent between picks five and seven remains strong. Guards Darius Acuff, Kingston Flemings, and Mikel Brown headline that range, each projecting as an immediate-impact freshman at the next level. Beyond that group of highly productive underclassmen, however, the drop-off becomes more noticeable.
Keaton Wagler is another freshman guard worthy of top-10 consideration, though his NBA fit may not appear as seamless as the previous three names. Still, adding Wagler strengthens the case for a clear top-eight tier. Falling outside of that range would be a significant setback for the rebuilding Bulls.
If Bleacher Report’s power rankings are any indication, Chicago is inching toward the top eight (even if an 0–11 month wasn’t enough to push it there just yet). A season once headed for the late lottery could now deliver a blue-chip prospect. The losses haven’t produced results yet, but they may when the draft order is finalized in June.