Get those brackets ready, Chicago Bulls fans! The Big Dance represents a great chance to scout for the 2026 NBA Draft. March Madness officially tips off this week, starting with two days of First Four clashes on Tuesday and Wednesday.
Our Bulls are returning to the United Center on Monday, after a scarily-competent 2-3 road trip that saw them steal wins over the Phoenix Suns and the reeling Golden State Warriors, who have tumbled into Tankathon’s lottery thanks to a dismal five-game losing streak. It doesn’t help that neither Stephen Curry nor Jimmy Butler has played for Golden State since January.
The upshot is, maybe the Warriors will add some major talent again via the supposedly loaded 2026 NBA Draft. Chicago, meanwhile, is battling with the miserable Milwaukee Bucks to avoid the 10th-best lottery odds this year. Here’s our latest mock.
The Lottery
Indiana Pacers: AJ Dybantsa, SF, BYU Washington Wizards: Cameron Boozer, PF, Duke Brooklyn Nets: Darryn Peterson, SG, Kansas Sacramento Kings: Caleb Wilson, PF, North Carolina Utah Jazz: Kingston Flemings, PG, Houston Atlanta Hawks (via New Orleans Pelicans): Keaton Wagler, SG, Illinois Dallas Mavericks: Darius Acuff, Jr., PG, Arkansas Memphis Grizzlies: Nate Ament, SF, Tennessee Chicago Bulls: Patrick Ngongba II, C, Duke Milwaukee Bucks: Mikel Brown, Jr., PG, Louisville Portland Trail Blazers: Labaron Philon, PG, Alabama Golden State Warriors: Brayden Burries, G, Arizona Charlotte Hornets: Hannes Steinbach, PF, Washington San Antonio Spurs (via Atlanta Hawks): Yaxel Lendeborg, PF, MichiganRemember, the Portland Trail Blazers’ first-round pick will convey to the Bulls should it fall out of the lottery. At this point, Portland probably cannot catch the No. 6 seed in the Western Conference, meaning the Trail Blazers will need to advance out of the play-in tournament to avoid the lottery. That all seems to hinge on All-Star forward Deni Avdija’s creaky lower back.
We are trying to avoid seeing Chicago saddled with yet another guard, as we established in last week’s mock. Duke center Patrick Ngonba II has been moving up draft boards this week, so let’s slot him in for Chicago. The big man has been struggling with a left wrist injury of late, but hopefully will be available to compete alongside fellow frontcourt Blue Devils lottery prospect Cameron Boozer in the NCAA Tournament.
Mid-Round Picks
15. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Los Angeles Clippers): Braylon Mullins, SG, UConn16. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Philadelphia 76ers): Koa Peat, PF, Arizona17. Miami Heat: Bennett Stirtz, PG, Iowa18. Toronto Raptors: Thomas Haugh, PF, Florida19. Memphis Grizzlies (via Orlando Magic): Chris Cenac Jr., C, Houston20. Charlotte Hornets (via Phoenix Suns): Christian Anderson, G, Texas Tech
The Los Angeles Clippers’ current four-game win streak sees them avoiding the lottery, which feels like a safe bet should Kawhi Leonard remain healthy through the play-in tournament (although presumably he’ll get hurt in the first round of the playoffs). The reigning champion Oklahoma City Thunder control the Clippers’ selection this year, meaning they may miss out on lottery luck.
That said, the Philadelphia 76ers have been looking rough sans Tyrese Maxey, Joel Embiid, or Paul George. The club has gone just 5-5 in its last 10 contests, and is currently the No. 8 seed in the East at 37-31. Should Maxey (injury) and George (suspension) be back by the postseason, Philadelphia seems like to escape the play-in. But there’s always the chance that the 76ers manage to stumble into the lottery, thus giving the mighty Thunder yet another shot at a premium prospect on a rookie-scale deal. Yikes. For now, we have them grabbing Connecticut shooting guard Braylon Mullins and Arizona power forward Koa Peat with their mid-first-round selections.
William Purnell-Imagn ImagesLate First-Rounders
21. Denver Nuggets: Karim Lopez, F, New Zealand Breakers 22. Atlanta Hawks (via Cleveland Cavaliers): Tounde Yessoufou, SG/SF, Baylor23. Detroit Pistons (via Minnesota Timberwolves): Henri Veesaar, C, North Carolina24. Philadelphia 76ers (via Houston Rockets): Joshua Jefferson, F, Iowa State 25. Los Angeles Lakers: Flory Bidunga, C, Kansas26. New York Knicks: Cameron Carr, SF, Baylor27. Boston Celtics: Tyler Tanner, PG, Vanderbilt28. Minnesota Timberwolves (via Detroit Pistons): Amari Allen, SF, Alabama29. Cleveland Cavaliers (via San Antonio Spurs): Morez Johnson Jr., PF, Michigan30. Dallas Mavericks (via Oklahoma City Thunder): Aday Mara, C, Michigan
In this range, fans of rival teams should be wary of whomever the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers pick. Both have found respectable talent beyond the lottery under their current front office regimes.
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