The Chicago Bulls enter the 2025 NBA Draft with more questions than answers—and the mock draft landscape reflects that chaos. Coming off yet another disappointing season marred by inconsistency, injuries, and missed opportunities, the Bulls find themselves stuck in the murky middle of the league: too talented to tank, not good enough to contend. As the franchise looks to the future, the upcoming draft could be a turning point—or just another missed chance. Across the mock draft world, experts and analysts have been weighing in on who Chicago might select, and while consensus is hard to come by, one thing is clear: the Bulls can’t afford to get this wrong.
The Bulls currently own the No. 11 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, a position that puts them just outside the range of the elite prospects projected to go in the top five. It’s a spot that demands both foresight and fortune. Drafting in this range means taking calculated risks—betting on potential rather than proven production. And for a team like Chicago, which has been plagued by a lack of identity since the departure of Jimmy Butler and the decline of the DeRozan-Vucevic-LaVine core, it’s essential they land a player who can either develop into a franchise cornerstone or, at the very least, become a reliable building block.
According to ESPN’s latest mock draft, the Bulls are projected to select Colorado freshman wing D.J. Wagner, a former high school standout with NBA bloodlines and elite scoring upside. Wagner, the son of former NBA guard Dajuan Wagner and the grandson of Milt Wagner, has shown flashes of brilliance with his shot-creating ability and toughness. Though his efficiency and shot selection have been areas of concern, scouts believe his best basketball is still ahead of him. The Bulls, desperate for a dynamic perimeter creator who can both get his own shot and create for others, could view Wagner as a high-upside swing worth taking.
Meanwhile, Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman has the Bulls linked to French forward Nolan Traore, a versatile 6-foot-9 wing with a strong handle, soft shooting touch, and defensive versatility. Traore has impressed international scouts with his fluidity, ability to attack off the dribble, and instincts on the defensive end. For a team that has struggled mightily to defend the perimeter and generate consistent offense from its forward spots, Traore could offer a tantalizing blend of size and skill. The question, as always with international prospects, is how quickly he can adjust to the NBA speed and physicality—but his upside might be too enticing to pass up.
The Athletic’s Sam Vecenie has a different idea entirely. In his recent mock draft, Vecenie projects the Bulls to take Purdue big man Zach Edey, the two-time National Player of the Year who has seen his stock fluctuate dramatically throughout the draft process. Edey’s fit in the modern NBA has always been a topic of debate—his lack of lateral quickness and perimeter mobility limits his defensive potential—but his sheer size, rebounding, and low-post dominance are impossible to ignore. With Nikola Vucevic aging and the Bulls lacking long-term depth at the five, Edey could provide a physical presence and rebounding anchor that the current roster sorely lacks.
Then there’s Yahoo Sports, which sees the Bulls swinging for the fences with a selection of Baylor combo guard Ja’Kobe Walter. Walter, a 6-foot-5 scoring guard, has one of the smoothest shooting strokes in the draft and has flashed enough on-ball ability to suggest he could eventually handle lead guard duties. With Lonzo Ball’s health still a massive question mark and the front office appearing lukewarm on Coby White as a long-term starter, Walter could be a valuable insurance policy—and possibly much more. His scoring instincts and toughness make him a potential plug-and-play contributor in Year 1, and his ceiling as a three-level scorer is intriguing for a team in need of shot-makers.
DraftExpress, meanwhile, throws another name into the mix: Duke wing Mark Mitchell, a 6-foot-8 two-way forward with elite defensive versatility and an evolving offensive game. Mitchell may not be a flashy pick, but he’s the kind of glue guy who can elevate a team by doing the little things—switching on defense, attacking the glass, making the extra pass. In many ways, he mirrors the skill set of current Bulls forward Patrick Williams, who has yet to fully live up to his draft billing. If the front office decides it’s time to move on from Williams, Mitchell could slide into a similar role and perhaps even exceed expectations thanks to his motor and maturity.
Of course, all of this speculation depends on what the Bulls plan to do with their current roster. The team’s long-term outlook remains in flux, with DeMar DeRozan’s contract situation still unresolved and trade rumors swirling around Zach LaVine. Some insiders believe the Bulls are quietly exploring a full-scale rebuild, which would likely involve moving veterans and prioritizing youth development. If that’s the case, Chicago could opt for a high-risk, high-reward prospect like USC freshman Trentyn Flowers, a hyper-athletic wing with elite tools but an inconsistent résumé. Flowers’ upside as a slasher and defender is undeniable, but he’s raw and may require a patient developmental plan—something a rebuilding Bulls team might be more equipped to provide.
Adding to the uncertainty is the status of Artūras Karnišovas, the team’s executive vice president of basketball operations. While he has expressed a desire to remain competitive and avoid bottoming out, his recent moves—including the hiring of younger player development staff and an increased focus on scouting international talent—suggest a more future-focused approach. That shift in philosophy could influence who the Bulls target in the draft. Players like Traore, Flowers, or even G League Ignite guard Matas Buzelis, a Chicago native with positional versatility and pro-level polish, could be prioritized if the front office leans into a long-term vision.
Regardless of which direction the Bulls ultimately take, the importance of this pick cannot be overstated. With fan patience wearing thin and the team’s competitive window closing fast, the 2025 draft presents an opportunity to reset the foundation—or risk falling deeper into NBA irrelevance. The Bulls have spent the better part of a decade searching for the next face of the franchise. Since Derrick Rose’s departure, no player has fully assumed that mantle. And while DeRozan, LaVine, and Vucevic have had their moments, none has delivered the kind of sustained excellence or postseason success that defines a true franchise centerpiece.
