The 2023-24 season is over for the Chicago Bulls, and their loss in the Play-In put them just one game short of the NBA Playoffs. After going all in on this roster and dealing with a myriad of injury troubles over the last several years, the Bulls are in a precarious position.
Major changes will need to be made according to Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations Arturas Karnisovas. Chicago may be wise to pursue a full rebuild of their roster this summer, and step one of that process would be getting good luck in the Draft Lottery.
With several talented players that could serve as the foundation to a new era of Bulls basketball, management is no doubt already doing their homework on which prospects the organization would consider drafting.
What are the Bulls' chances at the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft?
Since Chicago was insistent on pursuing a spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs until the bitter end this past season, their final record was a lot better than many of their fellow lottery teams. As such, they have extremely slim odds of landing the top overall pick at just 2.0%.
The Bulls have a slightly better chance of jumping into the top four at 9.4%. But the odds are, they will end up picking closer to the end of the lottery.
TEAM | Chance of No. 1 pick | Chance of Top 4 pick |
|---|---|---|
Detroit Pistons | 14.0% | 52.1% |
Washington Wizards | 14.0% | 52.1% |
Charlotte Hornets | 13.3% | 50.3% |
Portland Trail Blazers | 13.2% | 50% |
San Antonio Spurs | 10.5% | 42.1% |
Toronto Raptors | 9.0% | 37.2% |
Memphis Grizzlies | 7.5% | 31.9% |
Utah Jazz | 6.0% | 26.3% |
Brooklyn Nets | 4.5% | 20.3% |
Atlanta Hawks | 3.0% | 13.9% |
Chicago Bulls | 2.0% | 9.4% |
Houston Rockets | 1.5% | 7.1% |
Sacramento Kings | 0.8% | 3.8% |
Golden State Warriors | 0.7% | 3.4% |
Who could the Bulls take with the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft?
If they luck out and end up with the top overall pick in the draft, do not expect a generational talent the likes of Victor Wembanyama to be available this time around. This year's draft class is considered significantly weaker than last year's by many draft analysts.
But one of the players in consideration for the number one pick is Alexandre Sarr out of France. Playing professionally in Perth, Australia this season, Sarr is yet another international prospect that is honing his skill against other grown men in a pro league, something that has proven valuable for multiple big name prospects in recent years.
A 7-foot-1 big wing that can likely play power forward or center at the NBA level, Sarr is a highly skilled rim-running player that can punish opponents on the offensive side with his long-range shot and on the defensive side with his shot-blocking ability. He would no doubt be a significant and immediate lift to the Bulls' rotation.
How many times have the Bulls won the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft?
Chicago has picked first overall in the draft just twice, and both times were a result of winning the lottery. The first instance came back in 1999 when the Bulls selected Elton Brand out of Duke University. The second and most recent was 2008 when Chicago of course took Derrick Rose.
When is the NBA Draft Lottery?
The 2024 NBA Draft Lottery will take place on Sunday, May 12 in Chicago. It will be broadcast on ESPN at 2:00 PM CT.