When running through the many prospects who should be on the Chicago Bulls radar for the upcoming 2026 NBA Draft, the main concern that comes up is how will these players fit with the current Bulls core?

Of course, defining the core is an interesting task in itself, as at this time only Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey can be confidently called "core" pieces. If the Bulls hop into the top-four, any of the consensus top-four prospects would likely push Giddey and Buzelis off the ball quite heavily. If the Bulls don't see lottery luck shine on them, they will be picking somewhere in the 9-through-11 range. They may not be able to get the absolute highest ceiling prospects in that range, but they can definitely add an impact player who doesn't disrupt their current ecosystem too much. Arizona Wildcats guard Brayden Burries fits this description to a tee. 

Let's take a look at how Burries would improve the Bulls' lineup. 

Brayden Burries is a player who can go get you a great shot at all three levels of the floor whether he is working on or off the ball. This is the basis of what makes him a great fit with any team, but especially in Chicago. 

Burries had a stellar +11.7 BPM, contributing equally on both sides of the ball. His true three-level scoring ability was on display all year long for Arizona. Over his freshman season, he averaged 16.1 PPG, shot 39.1% on 3-PT FGs, 56.2% on 2-PT FGs and 80.5% from the free throw line. 

The three-level scoring ability of Burries is powered by his balance. He is methodical in how he slows down once he turns the corner as a pick-and-roll ball-handler. He can shoot a 3-pt FG, probe deeper and rise up for a midrange jumper or strong floater; or use his James Harden-esque low gather to get all the way to the rim for a finish through contact. 

When it comes to player development, it is incredibly tough to thread the needle. Sometimes, a franchise does a disservice to itself by trying to develop several players at once without a concrete plan to make sure they are all progressing at a steady rate.

With that being said, a big issue that could be looming in Chicago is: how different does Josh Giddey's game look if he is forced into a majority off-ball role? Thankfully, that question would not need to be answered with Burries in tow.

Burries, a 6-foot-4, 205 lb. combo guard, played next to 6-foot-3 guard Jaden Bradley in the Wildcats' backcourt, and allowed Bradley to play his game with no issues. In fact, Bradley won Big 12 Player of the Year in part because of his synergy with Burries and a team that was hyper-focused on winning games (the Wildcats finished 36-3, losing in the Final Four to Michigan).

The 23% usage rate possessed by Burries in his lone year at Arizona shows a player who was for sure one of the top-three options on offense, but not someone who dominated possession of the ball. He rarely made mistakes--1.8 turnovers per 36 minutes--and although he was not a game-changing playmaker, he has had games that suggest he is capable of more with the ball in his hands. In one of Arizona's biggest games of the season against fellow NBA Draft prospect Darryn Peterson and Kansas, Burries dropped 20 points, 12 rebounds, 5 assists and zero turnovers in a dominating Wildcats win. 

Defense is the reason Burries has often drawn comparisons to Boston Celtics guard Derrick White. Burries is a similar in size to the 6-foot-4, 190 lb. White, and  projects to be able to guard up a position at the next level. 

If Burries can capably guard a variety of NBA wings, it enhances his ability to stay on the floor and mesh with three-guard lineups, something that may be popular in Chicago even post-Billy Donovan considering the makeup of the roster. 

Burries ranks favorably on defense among my top-10 prospects in the 2026 class, having the third-highest Defensive Box-Plus/Minus (+5.7). He is a bulldog on defense, using his stocky frame to compete and deny position. He has strong hands and great anticipation. Burries utilizes his quick reflexes to bully his way to 1.5 steals per game for an Arizona team that finished second in Adjusted Defensive Efficiency per KenPom.

In Chicago, Burries can conceivably pickup whichever assignment Giddey can't, while providing strong rebounding as well. Burries averaged 6.6 rebounds per 40 minutes over his freshman season. If Chicago ends up snagging Burries with the ninth pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, it would be as ideal of an outcome as you could wish for as Bulls fan in a situation where the team don't move up in the draft order.