With the No. 4 and No. 15 picks in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls can strike gold with this very reachable draft plan.Â
The Bulls need to prioritize scoring with the No. 4 pick, particularly with a forward. At No. 15 or in the second round, they must acquire a big man with defensive upside who can be fed in the post.
Given their picks, the Bulls can execute this plan and build a talented and well-rounded roster.Â
It can tremendously help the Bulls’ offense
The Chicago Bulls finished 12th in the league in points per game in the regular season (116.3). However, no player stood out on the offensive end on a night-to-night basis.Â
As for the 11 teams above them in points per game, seven of them had multiple players average 20+ points per game, minimum 42 games played with the team. The Cavaliers had James Harden and Donovan Mitchell fall in this scoring category, but Harden only logged 26 games with the Cavs.Â
By having the No. 4 pick, the Bulls have a huge opportunity to add a high-level scorer to the roster. This can be Caleb Wilson, Cameron Boozer, or Darius Acuff Jr. These selections would add another scorer to play alongside Matas Buzelis if they transition well to the league.
Defense also helps
The three teams above the Bulls who had only one player average 20 + points per game were the San Antonio Spurs, Oklahoma City Thunder, and Detroit Pistons.Â
While the Spurs had Victor Wembanyama, the Thunder had Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and the Pistons had Cade Cunningham, their defense helped them find the success they did.Â
The Thunder, Pistons, and Spurs had the top three defensive ratings in the regular season, respectively. The Bulls, meanwhile, ranked 22nd.Â
If the Bulls draft a talented center on the defensive end, they can do a better job of protecting the paint. The Bulls struggled compared to the rest of the league when it came to opponent points in the paint. A forward like Wilson or Boozer can help with this as well, especially Wilson.Â
Wilson averaged 1.4 blocks and 1.5 steals per game in the 2025-26 season for UNC. Boozer averaged 1.4 steals per game for Duke.
The Bulls also need more depth and consistency at the five position. Zach Collins only played in 10 games, and Jalen Smith played in 53 games. Nick Richards can be a good backup option. In 20 games with the Bulls, he averaged 9.4 points and 7.6 rebounds per game.
Depending on how the draft plays out, this could be a player like Aday Mara or a later pick like Tarris Reed Jr.Â
Why this roster can be successful
If the Bulls draft this way, they can have a starting lineup that consists of Josh Giddey, Buzelis, Wilson/Boozer/Acuff, and a big man with defensive upside who can play in the post. Â
This lineup will bring defense, helping resolve paint protection issues. It will also bring playmaking and particularly scoring, which the Bulls need more of.
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