With one month until the NBA Draft, the phone lines are heating up in Chicago.
The Bulls struck the jackpot by moving up in the lottery and securing the No. 4 overall draft pick, but Bryson Graham may not be content with staying there.
Chicago's new executive vice president of basketball operations has been adamant that his team is entering a rebuild. It's yet to be seen whether he views Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey as the cornerstones of that rebuild, but the player Graham selects at No. 4 overall will likely be a key cog in the next iteration of Bulls basketball.
That is, unless the Bulls trade out of the fourth pick. A new report from ClutchPoints' Brett Siegel revealed that Chicago has considered moving up in the draft, even exploring options to trade up with the Washington Wizards for the top selection.
"As previously reported in our Mock Draft 1.0 before the draft combine, both the Utah Jazz and Brooklyn Nets have held discussions with the Wizards about the No. 1 pick," Siegel wrote on Monday. "Sources say the Chicago Bulls have also reached out to the Wizards since the start of the combine, along with the Atlanta Hawks."
BYU wing AJ Dybantsa and Kansas guard Darryn Peterson are widely viewed to be in a two-man race to be selected with the No. 1 overall pick, while Duke forward Cameron Boozer and North Carolina forward Caleb Wilson are expected to follow in the star-powered top four.
Mar 22, 2026; San Diego, CA, USA; Kansas Jayhawks guard Darryn Peterson (22) controls the ball against St. John's Red Storm guard Oziyah Sellers (4) in the second half during a second round game of the men's 2026 NCAA Tournament at Viejas Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn ImagesChicago seems to be on a collision course with Wilson, though several prognosticators have predicted Boozer or Peterson to slide to No. 4 overall instead. The factor that hasn't been largely considered is that Graham could be so enamored by Dybantsa that he attempts to make a move up to No. 1.
Given the Wizards' three-year stretch at the bottom of the sport, it seems highly unlikely that Washington would deal a potential superstar in Dybantsa or Peterson unless it was getting a massive haul in return. Currently, the Bulls don't have much to offer.
"The Bulls have no interest in trading the No. 4 pick unless they were to move up, sources said, and Graham is focused on building a young, dynamic team with a head coach who can bring energy and relate to his young players," Siegel added. "Interviews for the head coaching role in Chicago are ongoing, as sources say the organization will move to the next stage of the process entering the first week of June."
Chicago is armed with four picks in next month's draft: Nos. 4, 15, 38 and 56 overall.
