The Chicago Bulls are reportedly exploring a move to acquire a second lottery selection in the 2026 NBA Draft, signaling potential aggression in reshaping their roster after a disappointing season finish.
NBA insider Evan Sidery reported on Wednesday, June 3, that Chicago has “some buzz building” around the possibility of jumping back into the lottery from their current No. 4 position. The organization is also open to absorbing unwanted contracts in order to gain additional draft capital.
Chicago’s current draft position already places them in range of elite talent, with prospect Caleb Wilson widely linked to the franchise. However, internal discussions around moving up again suggest the front office may be targeting a higher-tier prospect or additional flexibility in a deep draft class.
The 2026 draft is widely viewed as one of the strongest in recent memory, with AJ Dybantsa and Darryn Peterson leading the class. Behind them, players such as Cameron Boozer, Caleb Wilson, and Darius Acuff Jr. are projected to be impact-level prospects, increasing the value of lottery positioning.
Chicago finished the 2025–26 season with a 31–51 record, ranking 12th in the Eastern Conference. The team showed offensive growth in stretches, led by Josh Giddey’s 17.0 points and 9.1 assists per game, alongside Matas Buzelis averaging 16.3 points and 5.8 rebounds across a full workload.
Collin Sexton provided consistent scoring at 17.5 points per game, while Anfernee Simons added perimeter creation in limited appearances. Despite that production, Chicago’s roster lacked sustained two-way consistency, particularly in closing games against top-tier opponents.
That context has made draft positioning central to the Bulls’ offseason strategy. Moving from No. 4 into a second lottery slot would require either absorbing salary-heavy contracts or packaging future assets, a route that teams often use to accelerate rebuild timelines in high-end draft years.
With the NBA Draft scheduled for June 23–24 at Barclays Center, the Bulls’ positioning remains one of the more closely watched scenarios heading into the final weeks of pre-draft maneuvering.
