The Chicago Bulls had a good 2021-22 NBA season, finishing with a record of 46-36 and getting back into the postseason. Unfortunately, injuries became too much to overcome, as they were defeated rather easily by the Milwaukee Bucks in their first-round matchup.
Chicago’s front office has done a great job upgrading the roster in the last year or so, adding the likes of Nikola Vucevic, DeMar DeRozan, Lonzo Ball, and Alex Caruso to Zach LaVine. This is a roster that is built to win now, which makes this offseason an intriguing one.
The Bulls own the No. 18 overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft. However, given the current state of the franchise, it sounds as if they will look to trade that pick. In a recent mock draft at Sports Illustrated, Jeremy Woo shared the update on Chicago’s thinking with their selection.
“Rival teams expect the Bulls to explore trade options with this pick, preferably in search of veteran help. If Chicago keeps it, this is an opportunity to add a more experienced college player who can feasibly deepen the bench next season.”
LATEST NBA DRAFT NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: 3 Offseason Targets For Chicago Bulls To Add More Shooting
Trading the pick and landing an established player is likely the avenue that the Chicago Bulls will look to travel first. This is a team that was among the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference before they were hit hard by injuries.
The team struggled against the elite of the league, which would make targeting established players a good plan this offseason. It would be hard to find a rookie with the 18th pick that can come in and improve the rotation right off the bat for Billy Donovan’s club.
LATEST NBA DRAFT NEWS & TRADE RUMORS: 3 Offseason Targets For Chicago Bulls To Add More Shooting
But, if they keep the selection, a player such as Jalen Williams, who was mocked to them by Woo, would make a lot of sense. He is already 21-years old, so he should be able to provide rotation minutes instantly. Versatility is key, as he can fill numerous roles on the team.
While some teams provide youth and upside in draft picks, a team such as the Chicago Bulls should be searching out players that can fill a role right away. They may not have as high of a ceiling, but they will impact winning sooner than some of their younger peers.
