The Chicago Bulls’ postseason struggles continued this past season, as they fell in the play-in tournament for the third consecutive season. The guard-heavy team had only Nikola Vučević as the big man in its top seven scorers, and with Zach LaVine also departing earlier this year, the Bulls were expected to be looking for more productive big men this offseason.
They had the chance to address the need with the No. 12 pick in the first round but swung big on French forward Noa Essengue. While they did pick a big man in the second round, it was an even worse selection, and they received one of the lowest grades of the entire draft.
Chicago Bulls’ Second-Round Draft Pick Receives Terrible Grade
The Bulls selected championship-winning Illawarra Hawks big man Lachlan Olbrich with the No. 55 pick. The 21-year-old was nowhere near in contention to be picked in the draft and was widely expected to go undrafted.
PFSN’s Brandon Austin described the Australian as “a throwback-style big man who thrives in the post and brings a polished skill set rarely seen from players his age.” However, Olbrich is 6 feet 9 inches tall and clearly undersized for the middle. His shooting isn’t good enough to play anywhere else, resulting in a “D” grade from Austin.
“While his footwork, touch, and passing instincts are promising, the NBA may not be the best fit for his current profile, and this selection feels more like a developmental long shot than a real value grab late in the second round,” Austin wrote.
“He’s an undersized center without vertical pop, plays below the rim, and lacks the lateral mobility to defend in space,” he added. “His defensive playmaking is minimal, and his struggles as a free-throw shooter raise concerns about any future shooting development.
“His slow screen timing and occasional spacing issues add to the questions about where he fits in modern NBA offenses, and it’s not clear if he can survive at either the 4 or the 5.”
The brightest area in the Australian’s game is his feel for the game, particularly as a passer. He averaged 1.6 assists in 16.7 minutes per game last season and can be a decent short-roll facilitator.
The Chicago Bulls have selected Australian big man Lachlan Olbrich with the No. 55 pick.
Strong, tough, skilled big man with ball-handling ability, the ability to score inside the paint and pushing off the defensive glass, and good vision as a passer. pic.twitter.com/3Kt0KFS9IW
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) June 27, 2025
Olbrich’s rebounding isn’t bad either; he averages 3.8 boards per game and catches cleanly. However, his shooting and defense are way below average, and unless he develops those things, the NBA minutes are likely to elude him.
“For Chicago, this pick feels more like a stash-and-see than a strategic win,” Austin concluded, highlighting the risk attached to such a raw prospect. The Bulls might be better off giving him a 2-way contract and letting him develop for a year or more to see if he can improve defensively and find more range as a shooter.
