When the buzzer sounded and the Chicago Bulls stepped off the court against the Dallas Mavericks on April 12, eyes didn’t go to the play-in tournament like the past three years.
Instead, they looked toward the offseason and the draft, where the organization can make needed improvements to the roster — specifically with a center and an elite scorer.
The Bulls have two significant needs they must address this summer
Chicago finished the regular season 27th in the league in opponent points in the paint, giving up 54.1 on average. This was only better than the Washington Wizards, Indiana Pacers and Dallas Mavericks. They also finished 28th in opponent points per game, allowing 121.5.
With a dominant rim protector, the Bulls could limit teams in the paint and improve their defense. This will give their young offense more room for error while they remain competitive.
A rim protector who can finish in the paint will also maximize Josh Giddey's talent. The 23-year-old averaged 9.1 assists per game in 2025-26. With his passing IQ, he would be able to feed a center consistently and give him good looks at the rim.
This will help when the Bulls struggle from outside, as it can be an option to get their offense back in rhythm, another area that needs improvement. No Chicago player averaged more than 20.0 points per game this season. The team needs a strong offensive option who can consistently score in bunches to lead the offense.
Giddey, a do-it-all player, averaged 17.0 points and 8.3 rebounds to go along with his 9.1 assists. This makes him the perfect complement to a No. 1 scorer.
That top offensive option, then, can focus solely on putting the ball in the basket, while Giddey can chip in where needed and facilitate the offense.
Matas Buzelis is a candidate to fill this role if he continues to make strides. Buzelis averaged 16.3 points on 46.3 percent shooting from the field in the 2025-26 season, a stark increase from his average of 8.6 as a rookie.
Chicago can find answers in the 2026 NBA Draft
The Bulls can also look to the 2026 NBA Draft for these types of players. With their two first-round picks, they can grab talented prospects who can help with their offensive and defensive needs.
Depending on how the lottery plays out, a scoring guard like Darius Acuff Jr. or a shot-swatting center like Aday Mara could have a major impact.
Whatever they do, eyes will be focused on the Windy City this offseason. Addressing these roster needs will help heading into 2026-27.
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