The NBA Draft is 61 days away. The 79th iteration will be held on June 25 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The Chicago Bulls' first-round fate is yet to be determined. Nonetheless, Vice President of Basketball Operations Artūras Karnišovas will likely select his prospect of choice with the 12th overall pick.
Next month's draft lottery will ultimately decide Chicago's fate. However, as it stands, the Bulls are 85.2 percent likely to hold steady at 12. Chicago has merely a 1.7 percent chance of landing the first-overall pick, and an 8.0 percent chance of falling into the top four.
Unlike a season ago, a second-round pick will be at the Bulls' disposal. Chicago only fielded a first-round pick in 2024, which was notably used to select Matas Buzelis. This time around, Chicago will select somewhere in the latter half of the lottery and at 45th on day two of the draft.
The Bulls have had great success in the second round
The Bulls' most recent second-round picks have turned out extremely well. In 2023, Chicago received the 35th overall pick, Julian Phillips, in a trade. Phillips has appeared in 119 games for the Bulls, with averages of 3.8 points and 1.7 rebounds per game. Although his counting stats aren't overly impressive, the former Tennessee Volunteer has the makings of a rotation-level wing for years to come. Furthermore, he's owed only $4.5 million over the next two seasons—fantastic value for a nightly contributor.
Moreover, Chicago unearthed arguably the most impactful second-rounder of the decade in 2021. The Bulls pulled off a heist drafting Chicago native Ayo Dosunmu with the 38th overall pick four years ago. Dosunmu leads all second-rounders since 2020 in minutes and points. The combo guard contributed right away, appearing in 77 games and starting in 40 as a rookie. He averaged 10.2 points, 2.9 rebounds, and 3.3 assists for his career.
Lastly, the Bulls nailed the 2019 NBA Draft, selecting Coby White in the first round and Daniel Gafford in the second. While Gafford's tenure in the Windy City was short-lived, he's developed into a starting center in recent seasons. The big man ranks 14th in his draft class in points, fourth in rebounds, and first in field goal percentage. Gafford has evolved into one of the better lob threats and rim protectors in the NBA.
Although the Bulls haven't always drafted well, think Dalen Terry and Patrick Williams, they've aced the second round—and fortunately, the Bulls will once again select a prospect in round two. Nevertheless, Chicago isn't only fortunate to possess a second-round pick because of past success.
Second-round picks are as important as ever
The NBA's new Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) has made roster construction arduous. No longer are the days of attracting multiple high-profile free agents in one offseason. Nailing the draft is as important as ever. Even in a weak 2024 class, 11 second-rounders totaled more than 500 minutes.
Due to salary cap restraints, second-round picks have become increasingly important. For starters, the new CBA implemented the second-round pick exception, which allows teams to sign their second-round picks to standard contracts without requiring cap room or another exception. For instance, these players typically sign three or four deals worth $6 to $9 million. Conversely, the 30th pick of the first round will earn $14 million over four seasons. Therefore, the 31st pick is arguably more valuable than the 30th.
Instead of the Bulls using their 45th pick to take a high-risk, high-reward prospect, a plug-and-play caliber player in the mold of Dosunmu makes the most sense, especially on a four-year pact. Well-established collegians such as Auburn's Johni Broome, Creighton's Ryan Kalkbrenner, UConn's Alex Karaban, and Arkansas's Adou Thiero pose as viable candidates for the Bulls.