The Chicago Bulls' choice at fourth overall in the 2026 NBA Draft should, theoretically, be an easy one.
This is a draft with a clearly defined top-four of AJ Dybantsa, Cameron Boozer, Darryn Peterson, and Caleb Wilson. In a vacuum, the obvious move is to take whichever of those four prospects drops to them.
But things get much more complicated in practice. New lead executive Bryson Graham has stated a clear vision for the types of players he wants to bring into Chicago— one that centers around size, athleticism, and defense. If they're enamored with a prospect like Dybantsa, would they be willing to sacrifice the rest of their draft capital to move up? Or, conversely, would they be looking to move down if the piece they want is off the board?
If they stay put, though, there's truly no other option than to select from those top-four prospects. Chicago Sun-Times writer Joe Cowley utterly dismissed the case for reaching for a prospect like Darius Acuff Jr. in a recent set of posts on X.
It's frankly hard to disagree with his take.
I love Acuff ... and if the Bulls were picking 5, I'm in. But this is a big man's league. Steph and Zeke the only small guards to win rings ... and you have to build an exact team around that. Boozer or Caleb ... no brainers.
— Joe Cowley (@JCowleyHoops) May 11, 2026
Problem is there are talking heads in Chicago that don't know ball, selling themselves on Acuff at No. 4. Ignore them. Talking puppets.
— Joe Cowley (@JCowleyHoops) May 11, 2026
Bulls can't reach outside of this class's top-four if they stay put in the Draft
Cowley wasn't arguing into the void. Since the NBA Draft Lottery took place on Sunday, there have been a number of fans and local analysts who have floated the idea of reaching for Acuff if the Bulls don't like what they see at fourth overall.
Acuff is a talented offensive prospect. He averaged 23.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 6.4 assists while shooting 44% from 3-point range in his freshman season at Arkansas. He'll likely go within the top five or six selections of this Draft.
But Cowley's argument is that a smaller guard like Acuff requires a specific schematic build around him in order for a team to enter championship contention. Archetypes like Boozer and Wilson, conversely, are much more versatile from a team-building standpoint.
This idea extends even beyond Acuff. Out of the players projected to be available in picks 5-9, including Keaton Wagler, Kingston Flemings, and Mikel Brown Jr., most are guards who project to have defensive issues at the next level. While Giddey's future in Chicago is still uncertain, the Bulls can't afford to gamble on one of these prospects with the gift they were granted by the Draft Lottery.
This pick is an opportunity for the Bulls to set the foundation for the future of their organization. It's not one that can be taken lightly. Cowley's argument, therefore, should realistically put an end to any speculation surrounding Acuff or another limited guard at fourth overall.
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