Three Names To Monitor In The NCAA Tournament For The Chicago Bulls
Arturas Karnisovas and his self-proclaimed deadline masterclass on how to rebuild a roster have landed Chicago in familiar waters. With 11 games left in the regular season, all indications point to the Bulls being somewhere between the eighth and tenth slots in the draft lottery. While Chicago may muster up some luck and land at the top of the order, the more likely outcome is owning a pick somewhere in the range of eight to twelve. Assuming that is their final destination in the upcoming draft, here are three names to watch in March Madness over the coming weeks that’ve been rumored to be selected in that range, fit the Bulls’ roster needs, and have been mocked to head to the Windy City.
3. Brayden Burries
The first name that cracks the list is an electric 20-year-old guard who plays for the Arizona Wildcats. Arturas Karnisovas has already plucked from this mixing pot once, grabbing Dalen Terry in 2022 with the 18th overall selection. Obviously, Terry didn’t pan out the way Chicago had hoped, and this time around, they’d be targeting a higher-level scoring option in Burries, and one that can pair well in the backcourt with Josh Giddey. Although the current roster has an overflow of guards, most are set to hit free agency this summer, leaving the Bulls with options on how to proceed in finding a suitable running mate for Giddey’s playmaking. Burries has surged up draft boards lately, scoring 20 or more in five of his last nine outings and averaging 17.0 points per game thus far in the NCAA Tournament. While guard help is not the number one priority, his ability to score at all three levels would instantly bolster Chicago’s offensive attack and fit well with the fast-paced offensive style they deploy.
Arizona’s Brayden Burries has been playing with a ton of confidence as of late, fueling even more star power at Arizona
He’s averaging 20.3 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 2.4 APG in his last 5 games while shooting 61%
Burries combination of positional size, athleticism and shotmaking off the… pic.twitter.com/P0F77H15sS
— Arman Jovic (@PDTScouting) December 17, 2025
2. Koa Peat
The second-best guess for who may be wearing the Chicago Bulls hat on draft night is teammate Burries’ teammate, Koa Peat. With Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis assuming the majority of the scoring duties, both will land near 20 points per game on the year. Karnisovas will be on the hunt for more than just offensive firepower. Enter Arizona’s 6’8″ gritty forward. Peat is known for his defensive toughness and rebounding prowess. Think Patrick Williams, but upgraded. He’s only 18 years old, averaging almost 14 points and 6 rebounds per night, and has poured in 20 or more points on 6 occasions in his freshman campaign. Karnisovas has often opted for the youngest options in the NBA draft, and this would be a prime candidate that fits his selection trends. Peat and Burries would be selected with confidence from a Tommy Lloyd tree that features over 25 years of combined coaching experience at Gonzaga and Arizona.
Koa Peat is a man
One of the most physically impressive Freshmen we have ever seen
Who is his NBA Comp?
— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) March 15, 2026
1. Patrick Ngongba II
The most likely candidate to be selected by the Chicago Bulls in the upcoming draft is Patrick Ngongba II. At only 18 years old and filling the most obvious positional need for Karnisovas’s roster, this is a slam-dunk pick. He’s currently representing Duke University, and although he’s often overlooked playing alongside a surefire top-three pick in Cameron Boozer and a star-studded lineup overall, this youngster is primed to make an immediate impact at the next level. His rim-protecting abilities, strong frame, and physical style of play are ideal fits for a rebuilding Chicago roster. Despite missing a few games to injury, he’s putting up over 11 points and six rebounds per night. With the center position being the heavy-favorite for the Bulls front office in a few months on draft night, Ngongba II makes the most sense with where they will be selecting.
Ngongba https://t.co/Z2Dj0WO3O2
— AJ (@AJ3Jazz) March 22, 2026
While all of Chicago is hoping the Bulls can stir up some lottery luck, land in the top-five, and grab a franchise-altering talent, these three names are the most likely outcomes of another year being stuck in the middle of the first round. Who will you be pulling for Karnisovas to draft?