With their most recent loss to the Charlotte Hornets, the Chicago Bulls are heading exactly where most fans expected: down the standings. The uncomfortable truth about the NBA is simple, championships are built on elite talent. And more often than not, elite talent is acquired at the top of the draft. This is a path the Bulls have hesitated to fully commit to for nearly a decade.

Yes, the draft is a lottery. Nothing is guaranteed. But since the lottery era began, the Bulls have only selected as high as fourth overall (2020), a pick that turned into Patrick Williams. Williams is still on the roster, but his limited production and contract situation have made him nearly impossible to move. If the Bulls want to truly see the horizon of competing in the Eastern Conference, they still need a true superstar the kind of player who changes the direction of a franchise.

My Hottest Take: The Bull's next star will not come from this draft class

Drafting is never an exact science. Teams have access to endless scouting reports, analytics, and interviews, and still get it wrong. There’s luck involved beyond the lottery itself. Talent has to align with opportunity, development, and organizational direction for things to truly click.

That said, there is one clear superstar in the 2026 class. AJ Dybantsa is a 6’10” wing out of Brigham Young University, and in my eyes, he is the only true franchise-altering prospect in this class. His NBA comparison? Tracy McGrady.

Dybantsa checks every box: elite scoring ability, two-way impact, and a competitive edge that separates stars from role players. He’s not flawless (no prospect is) but the upside is generational. One of the most impressive parts of his story is his decision to attend BYU. With offers from every major program in the country, Dybantsa chose the challenge of elevating a program rather than joining an already established powerhouse. That mindset matters.

Other high-end prospects like Darryn Peterson and Cameron Boozer have real potential, but for the Bulls to land any of these players, a lot will have to fall their way.

What You Need to Know: Where the Bulls Actually Stand

Despite losing 10 straight games, the Bulls currently sit 9th in the lottery standings.

If the season ended today:

• 4.5% chance at the #1 overall pick

• 20% chance at a top-four pick

The Bulls are 2 games back of the Grizzlies and Mavericks. Jumping them increases odds by:

• +3% for #1 overall

• +12% for a top-four pick

That’s not nothing, but it’s also not ideal.

As things stand, the Bulls are projected to select Nate Ament, a wing out of Tennessee. Ament profiles as a solid role player … and the Bulls already have plenty of those.

Here’s where it gets interesting: to reach the fifth-best lottery odds, the Bulls would need to close a seven-game gap with the Pelicans. If they manage that:

• 42% chance to land in the top four

• 10.5% chance at the #1 pick

“Tanking” isn’t fun, but it’s reality. The Bulls have not landed a marquee free agent in my lifetime, and until proven otherwise, the draft remains the only realistic path forward. Sometimes the only way out … is through the losses.

Before You Go: This Is About Development

Watching your favorite team lose is brutal, unless there’s a purpose behind it.

For years, the Bulls tried to stay competitive and still ended up losing anyway. In today’s NBA, the middle of the standings is basketball purgatory. Direction matters more than pride wins.

The front office finally committing to change and moving on from long-tenured players was the first real sign of progress. And the results are already showing in the young core. In the most recent loss to the Hornets: Matas Buzelis had a career high 32 points and seven rebounds; he’s starting to look comfortable as one of the foundational pillars of this franchise.

There is beauty in the struggle. The rest of this season and likely next will be rough in the win-loss column. But what I won’t struggle with as a fan is watching Buzelis, Josh Giddey, Rob Dillingham, and whoever the Bulls draft next get the reps and development they deserve.

For the first time in a long time, the Bulls are losing with intention. And that matters.