For the first time since 2021, the Chicago Bulls will not be participating in the NBA Playoffs or the Play-In. The front office's decision to reject mediocrity and fully embrace a rebuild should be welcomed by Bulls fans, even if it means they're done watching their team until the fall.

But Bulls fans should still be invested in this week's Play-In Tournament despite Chicago's absence. That's because the outcome in the Western Conference could provide the Bulls with an extra draft pick.

The Portland Trail Blazers finished the regular season with a 42-40 record, which ranked eighth in the West. If the Blazers escape the Play-In Tournament and clinch a berth in the NBA Playoffs, the Chicago Bulls would receive Portland's first-round draft selection.

Portland's first-round pick is lottery-protected, which means the Blazers would keep their own selection if they don't make the playoffs. Otherwise, that pick heads to Chicago.

The Trail Blazers will have two opportunities to make it into the playoffs. On Tuesday night at 9:00 p.m. CT, the Suns will host the Blazers in a game that determines the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference. The winner between Phoenix and Portland matches up with the No. 2 San Antonio Spurs in the first round of the NBA Playoffs.

Whichever team loses on Tuesday night will play the winner of Wednesday night's Warriors vs. Clippers contest. The winner of that Play-In Tournament game earns the No. 8 seed and the right to play the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder.

If Portland wins one of its next two games to clinch a spot in the postseason, the Chicago Bulls would receive the Trail Blazers' first-round draft pick — likely No. 15 overall.

The Bulls' ownership of a Portland Trail Blazers lottery-protected first-round pick dates back to Aug. 28, 2021. Chicago dealt future All-Star forward Lauri Markkanen to the Cleveland Cavaliers in a three-team deal that also sent forward Larry Nance Jr. to the Blazers.

In exchange for moving Markkanen to Cleveland, the Bulls received Derrick Jones Jr., a protected second-rounder (which was later forfeited due to tampering) and the Trail Blazers' lottery-protected 2022 first-round draft pick. Since Portland failed to reach the Playoffs in any of the following four seasons, the draft pick has still not been conveyed, but that could change this year.

If Portland fails to win either of its final two games, Chicago still has two more opportunities to gain the draft selection. The Trail Blazers' pick is still lottery-protected until 2028, but if they do not reach the postseason by then, the Bulls would instead receive Portland's unprotected 2028 second-round pick.