The Chicago Bulls’ poor grade in the 2025 NBA Draft stemmed from two selections that didn’t significantly move the needle as they try to climb out of mediocrity.
The Windy City franchise selected French prospect Noah Essengue at No. 12 in the first round. They followed that up by taking Australian forward Lachlan Olbrich in the second round at pick No. 55 from the Los Angeles Lakers.
Chicago Bulls Draft Picks Leave Experts Unimpressed
According to PFSN’s latest draft grades, the Bulls earned a ‘C-‘ for their two picks.
Unlike the drafting of Matas Buzelis last year, who brought two-way energy, Essengue and Olbrich offer potential but little immediate impact.
Essengue is raw but explosive, possessing the defensive skills necessary for the NBA. Olbrich needs to improve his spacing and rim protection to contribute more effectively. However, with the Bulls focused on making the playoffs, there’s little time for development projects
Meet Noa Essengue 🇫🇷
• Explosiveness • Versatility • 2nd-youngest player in the Draft
🎥: @espn pic.twitter.com/hC7SJIJcRo— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) June 26, 2025
For now, both players are viewed as bench options and are unlikely to be among the first substitutes.
In the aftermath of the draft, the Bulls made a trade, sending point guard Lonzo Ball to the Cleveland Cavaliers in exchange for small forward Isaac Okoro. For the Cavaliers, a healthy version of Ball is a bonus. The guard averaged 7.6 points, 3.4 rebounds and 3.3 assists in just over 20 minutes per game last season. His three-point shooting and defense make him a two-way player of significant impact.
After undergoing three knee surgeries, Ball returned to the court for the Bulls last season, appearing in 35 games. Chicago rewarded him with a two-year, $20 million contract extension set to begin next season.
BREAKING: The Chicago Bulls are trading Lonzo Ball to the Cleveland Cavaliers for Isaac Okoro, sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/W0FTrRhe7y
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) June 28, 2025
The Bulls made their rebuilding intentions clear when they traded Zach LaVine to the Sacramento Kings. Reports had previously linked both Ball and Coby White to trade talks. With Ball now dealt, attention turns to White, one of Chicago’s top players over the last two seasons.
Outside of Buzelis and Australian point guard Josh Giddey, who recently signed an extension, the rest of the roster is reportedly available.
It was another rough year for the Bulls, as they finished 39-43 and 10th in the standings. They haven’t made the playoffs since the 2021-22 season and have been limited to Play-In appearances since. With the latest moves and draft picks, only time will tell if things improve for the 2025-26 campaign.
