The 2026 NBA Draft could provide a chance for the Bulls to add another NBL talent to their core.
The Chicago Bulls have quietly stacked intriguing prospects from the NBL over the past several seasons. The most notable name in this bunch is, of course, Josh Giddey, the former Adelaide 36er who is currently second in the NBA in triple-doubles (7). Giddey was the sixth overall pick in 2021 NBA Draft by the Oklahoma City Thunder, after a successful stint with the Adelaide 36ers as part of the Next Star's Program. Giddey was traded to the Chicago Bull on June 21, 2024, and after settling in, became Chicago's clear foundational piece.
Maybe it was the success with the Giddey acquisition, or perhaps it just worked out that way, but the Bulls continued to dip into the NBL for young talent.
Trentyn Flowers was one of the top wing prospects in the Class of 2024, slated to head to Louisville to play college ball. But before the season began, Flowers decommitted from Louisville to sign with the Adelaide 36ers, becoming a member of the NBL's Next Stars Program like Giddey before him.
Flowers even had this quote discussing what type of player he wants to be:
"I'm going over there to play point guard, to learn how to run a team, and be a player like LaMelo Ball or Josh Giddey. Adelaide is a place for me to lock in and focus on my game."
Flowers cited LaMelo Ball and Josh Giddey as players he wanted to perform like, both talented, big playmakers who gained valuable playing experience in the NBL. Flowers is currently on the Windy City Bulls, where he joins the last piece of Chicago's NBL grouping, Lachlan Olbrich.
Olbrich had a much more varied time in Australian basketball than his Bulls peers.
He played in the NBL1 Central (semi-pro), also had a stop with the Adelaide 36ers as a development player, spent a year playing NCAA basketball with UC Riverside Highlanders, a stop in the New Zealand National Basketball League (NZNBL) with the Canterbury Rams, and finally back to the NBL with the Illawarra Hawks, where Olbrich won an NBL Championship. His unselfishness and hustle on the floor were a big part of Olbrich being selected in the second round of the 2025 NBA Draft by the Los Angeles Lakers, where his rights were subsequently traded to the Bulls.
There will never be a shortage of young talent coming from the NBL, and the 2026 NBA Draft gives the Bulls a chance to add another NBL prospect to the group of Giddey, Olbrich and Flowers.
Could Dash Daniels or Karim Lopez make sense for Chicago in this year's draft?
Obviously, draft slot and roster composition at the time of the draft will play a huge factor in the decision, but so far the answer appears to be a resounding yes.
Lopez comes in at 6-foot-8, a physical wing from Mexico who is currently playing the New Zealand Breakers as part of the NBL's Next Stars Program.
Lopez is averaging 10.3 points, 5.6 rebounds, and a combined 2.0 steals + blocks per game, while shooting 36.5% from 3-point range on 3.0 attempts per game (per Real GM). He can play bully ball and excels once he gets around the basket, but he isn't creating much for himself. That is something that obviously wouldn't be a problem playing next to Giddey, and in general the fact that Lopez can be a jack-of-all-trades would have a lot of value to a Bulls team that has several big picture problems to fix both offensively and defensively.
Another member of the NBL's Next Stars Program that could end up in Chicago is Dash Daniels, the younger brother of Atlanta Hawks guard Dyson Daniels. Dash is intriguing defender like his brother, but differs in the offensive department where he appears to have little bit more juice. That hasn't showed up much for Daniels as he adjusted to the professional game with Melbourne United. Daniels is extremely young, just turning 18 as of late December. He still has a long way to go offensively despite the potential there, but his aggression and ability on defense could make him a very impactful player even if the offense stagnates to an extent.
If Chicago ends up in the top-four of the 2026 NBA Draft, it is unlikely we see them take an NBL prospect there. But if the Bulls end up in there usual spot between 10-14 in the lottery, I believe there is a strong chance another NBL talent is added into the fold in Chicago, with Lopez being the most realistic option for a Bulls squad that could certainly use more help in the frontcourt.