The Chicago Bulls stayed put in the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery, landing the 11th pick for which they had overwhelming odds.
It’s a middling pick in a sketchy draft class, but the good news is that with so many unknowns, the best player in the draft could end up falling to Chicago, as there is little consensus about how the top will shake out.
The Atlanta Hawks, who had similar odds as the Bulls, jumped all the way up to the #1 pick, which will certainly make their offseason more interesting, as they have already indicated the possibility of blowing up their backcourt with a trade.
Holding the 11th pick in a wide-open draft doesn’t make the Bulls’ offseason choices any easier and may prolong the inevitable rebuild, especially when you see their future draft assets, or lack thereof.
If you are looking for a reason to be excited about the Bulls’ future, you should probably stop reading now.
Chicago Bulls 2024 Draft Picks
-Bulls first-round pick: #11
-Philadelphia owns the Bulls’ second-round pick in 2024
Chicago Bulls 2025 Draft Picks
-Bulls’ first round pick: 1-10 own, 11-30 to the Spurs. The Bulls also own Portland’ pick but only if it lands in the 15-30 range.
-San Antonio owns the Bulls’ second-round pick in 2025
Chicago Bulls 2026 Draft Picks
-Bulls’ first-round pick: 1-8 Own; 9-30 to Spurs if not already settled. The Bulls also own Portland’s pick 15-30 if not already settled.
-Washington owns the Bulls’ second-round pick in 2026
As you can see, things aren’t looking great for the Bulls, who don’t own their own first-round pick outright until 2028 or until the one they owe the Spurs is conveyed. The worst-case scenario would be the Bulls running it back next season, finishing in a similar spot and then having to hand over their pick to the Spurs anyway.
The Bulls also don’t have a second-round pick until 2028 at the earliest, giving them little wiggle room to find a gem later in the draft or to use as leverage to move up or to land a player in a trade.
There is a chance the Bulls could recoup a pick from Portland, but you are counting on the Trail Blazers, who were horrible last season, to finish outside of the lottery in the next three seasons. If the pick does not convey by 2028, it turns into a second rounder for Chicago.
We are looking at a team that may not have a pick in the stacked 2025 draft class just as they are starting to rebuild, not an ideal situation to be in for Chicago.