Despite their highest hopes and best intentions, the Chicago Bulls aren't ready to compete for a top spot in the Eastern Conference, even as weak as it's projected to be. That means VP of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas horribly botched a massive opportunity to add to the franchise's rebuild by turning down a significant trade offer from the New Orleans Pelicans.
After nabbing guard Jeramiah Fears with pick No. 7, Pelicans Executive VP of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars was apparently quite desperate to add Maryland center Derik Queen to his roster. So desperate, in fact, that he traded a valuable 2026 unprotected first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks to move up from No. 23 to No. 13.
Karnisovas had the opportunity to take Dumars up on his offer, per the Pelicans' executive himself. The fact that Chicago passed on adding what could become a precious asset may turn out to be a massive mistake.
Bulls bungled chance to add unprotected 2026 first-round pick
Chicago selected French teenager Noa Essengue with its No. 12 pick. Essengue is an intriguing prospect to be sure, but not a can't-miss one.
There were still solid choices on the board when New Orleans' No. 23 pick—which became Atlanta's—came up an hour later.
The Hawks took Georgia forward Asa Newell at that 23rd spot. Newell was an option for the Bulls at No. 12 as a high-energy, bouncy, defense-first big man. If Chicago had swapped picks and landed Newell at 23, it would've been one of the biggest steals of the draft.
The unprotected pick that's now going to Atlanta is the most favorable of the Pelicans and Milwaukee Bucks next summer. Even without Damian Lillard, Milwaukee will be competitive in the East, which makes it likely that the pick the Hawks now have will come courtesy of New Orleans, a franchise in flux in a loaded Western Conference.
The Pelicans finished with a record of 21-61 last season, fourth-worst in the league. They've added a pair of untested rookies in Fears and Queen, traded C.J. McCollum to the Washington Wizards for erratic guard Jordan Poole, and have yet to make a decision on the constantly injured Zion Williamson. It's reasonable to expect NOLA to struggle again in 2025-26.
To sum up: The Bulls drafted a project in Essengue at No. 12 when they could have added a more NBA-ready prospect in Newell, plus another potential lottery pick in next year's loaded draft. Unless Essengue becomes a star, Karnisovas missed a grand chance to add critical assets to Chicago's rebuild.