If you’re a fan of the Chicago Bulls, you’ve probably spent the last few years looking at the draft board with a mix of anxiety and a calculator. It’s been a rough ride. Between the Vucevic trade that feels like a lifetime ago and the DeMar DeRozan era officially ending, the "treasure chest" of assets hasn't exactly been overflowing. Honestly, it’s felt like the front office was playing a high-stakes game of Tetris with their future, and the blocks weren't fitting.
But things changed. Big time.
The Zach LaVine trade to the Sacramento Kings in early 2025 was basically the "reset" button this franchise desperately needed. Before that trade, the Bulls were staring down a massive debt to the San Antonio Spurs. Now? The outlook on chicago bulls future draft picks is surprisingly clean, though there are still a few sticky notes attached to those assets that you need to know about.
👉 See also: Norwich City FC standings: What Most People Get Wrong
The San Antonio Debt Is Finally Dead
For years, the looming 2025 first-round pick owed to the Spurs was a dark cloud over the United Center. It was top-10 protected, then top-8, and it felt like the Bulls were stuck in "purgatory"—too good to keep their pick but too bad to actually win anything.
When Artūras Karnišovas (AK) sent LaVine to the Kings in February 2025, the headliner wasn't just the players coming back; it was the Bulls getting their own pick back. By taking on contracts and facilitating that three-team deal, Chicago effectively "bought" back their future.
What does that mean for the chicago bulls future draft picks from 2026 to 2031?
Basically, the Bulls now own all of their own first-round picks moving forward. No more sweating the lottery results just to see if the Spurs get to steal a blue-chip prospect. It’s a massive relief. If the Bulls bottom out and land a top-three pick in 2026 or 2027, they actually get to keep the kid. No strings attached.
The Portland "Ghost" Pick
There is one weird outlier that always trips people up. It’s the Portland Trail Blazers pick. Back in 2021, the Bulls got a lottery-protected first-round pick from Portland in the Lauri Markkanen three-team trade.
This pick is sort of a legend at this point. Because Portland has been, well, not great, the pick has been protected (1-14) every single year.
- 2026: Protected 1-14. If Portland makes the playoffs, the Bulls get the pick.
- 2027: Same deal. Protected 1-14.
- 2028: Final year of first-round protection.
If the Blazers stay in the cellar through 2028, the pick finally "dies" and converts into a 2028 second-round pick. Honestly, at this point, you shouldn't count on this being a mid-first-rounder. It’s a nice "if," but the Blazers are in a deep rebuild of their own. If they happen to stumble into the 8th seed in the West in 2026, it’s a massive bonus for Chicago. Otherwise, it’s just a ghost on the asset sheet.
What’s the Situation with Second Rounders?
While the first-rounders are mostly safe, the second-round situation is a bit of a mess. The Bulls were aggressive—maybe too aggressive—in the early AK era.
You won't see a Bulls second-round pick in 2026. That one is headed to Houston (via Washington). 2027 is also gone; it’s earmarked for Washington as part of the Julian Phillips trade.
It’s not until 2028 that the Bulls really start holding onto their own "seconds" again. In the grand scheme of things, losing second-rounders isn't a death sentence, but it does limit the ability to take fliers on high-upside projects or "draft-and-stash" players from Europe.
The Giddey and Okoro Effect
It’s worth noting that the Bulls have pivoted to a "proven youth" strategy. Instead of purely hunting for chicago bulls future draft picks, they’ve traded for guys like Josh Giddey and Isaac Okoro.
Giddey is a fascinating case. Some people hated the Alex Caruso trade because it didn't include a pick. But look at it this way: Giddey is 23 years old. In many ways, he is a high-lottery pick that has already finished his "growing pains" phase. The same goes for Okoro. The front office is betting that these 20-something players with NBA experience are more valuable than a random pick in the 20s.
Current Draft Capital Breakdown (2026-2031)
To make it simple, here is what the cupboard looks like right now:
- 2026: Own First; POR First (Protected 1-14); No Second.
- 2027: Own First; POR First (If not conveyed); No Second.
- 2028: Own First; POR First (If not conveyed); Own Second.
- 2029-2031: Full control of all Firsts and Seconds.
This is the cleanest the books have looked since Jimmy Butler was wearing a Bulls jersey.
Addressing the "Vucevic Hangover"
We have to talk about it. The Nikola Vucevic trade is widely considered one of the worst in recent franchise history. Giving up two first-rounders (which became Franz Wagner and Jett Howard) for a center who didn't propel the team past the first round was a tough pill to swallow.
But as we sit here in 2026, that trade is finally "off the books" in terms of future obligations. The Magic are done with the Bulls. The only lingering effect is the roster construction itself. With Vooch's contract winding down, the Bulls are finally in a position to use their own picks to find his successor.
Whether that's through the 2026 draft—which is looking heavy on frontcourt talent—or a trade, the Bulls finally have the "currency" to make a move.
Strategy: Why Tanking Might Finally Make Sense
Because the Bulls own their 2026 and 2027 picks outright, the "t-word" (tanking) is no longer a scary concept. In years past, if the Bulls finished with the 5th worst record, they still ran the risk of their pick sliding to 9th and going to San Antonio.
That fear is gone.
💡 You might also like: UFC 309 Weigh Ins: What Most People Get Wrong About the Numbers
If the Bulls decide to move Coby White for even more draft capital—which rumors suggest could happen before the next deadline—they could easily find themselves with three first-rounders in the next two years. That is how you build a contender. You look at what Oklahoma City or Utah did; it starts with owning your own failure. For the first time in the AK era, the Bulls are allowed to fail and actually be rewarded for it.
Actionable Steps for Bulls Fans
Keep a very close eye on the Portland Trail Blazers' standings. Every win they get is a win for the Bulls' draft stock. If Portland looks like they might sneak into the Play-In tournament, the value of that "ghost pick" skyrockets. It becomes a trade chip.
Also, watch the trade deadline moves involving veteran players. If the Bulls can snag even a single extra first-rounder for a veteran like Vucevic (even if it's a late one), it gives them the flexibility to move up in a loaded 2026 draft class.
The nightmare of the "protected pick" era is over. The Bulls aren't "rich" in assets yet, but they are finally out of debt. In the NBA, that’s usually where the real building starts.
Key Takeaways for the Future
- Full Control: Chicago owns all its first-round picks from 2026 onwards, a massive shift from the "pick-poor" years of 2021-2024.
- The Portland Factor: That 1-14 protected pick from the Blazers is the last "mystery" asset. It likely becomes a second-rounder in 2028, but there's a small window for it to be a mid-first.
- Flexibility is Back: Without the threat of losing a pick to the Spurs, the Bulls can finally afford to be bad or trade picks to move up in the lottery.
- No More "Middle Ground": The roster is younger (Giddey, Buzelis, Smith), meaning the picks they hold now are more likely to be high-lottery selections rather than mid-tier picks.
Monitor the 2026 draft lottery odds starting in April; for the first time in years, those ping-pong balls are 100% in Chicago's favor.