The Chicago Bulls’ latest stretch told a familiar story — effort in spurts, but not enough execution when it mattered. Back-to-back losses to the Oklahoma City Thunder and Memphis Grizzlies pushed the Bulls further into uncomfortable territory, where every game feels less about wins and more about what this team is becoming.
Mar 28, 2026; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Memphis Grizzlies forward Cedric Coward (23) collects a rebound between Chicago Bulls guard Tre Jones (30) and guard Josh Giddey (3) during the fourth quarter at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn ImagesAgainst both OKC and Memphis, the issues were consistent. Defensive lapses at key moments, inconsistent scoring runs, and an inability to sustain momentum. This isn’t about one bad game anymore — it’s a pattern. And when patterns show up this late in the season, they start to define you.
The Bulls aren’t just losing games — they’re revealing their ceiling.
Draft Focus Begins to Take Shape
With losses stacking up, the conversation naturally shifts toward the future. One name that continues to surface is Nate Ament. The intrigue around Ament isn’t just about talent — it’s about fit.
The Bulls need length, versatility, and players who can impact both ends of the floor without needing the offense built entirely around them. Ament checks a lot of those boxes. The question isn’t just whether he’s talented enough — it’s whether the Bulls are finally ready to prioritize that type of player in their roster construction.
Draft positioning is no longer a side conversation. It’s becoming central to how this team is evaluated over these final games.
Mar 28, 2026; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Chicago Bulls head coach Billy Donovan talks with forward Matas Buzelis (14) during the fourth quarter against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn ImagesMatas Buzelis’ Voice Matters More Than Ever
Even as the losses pile up, something else is developing — leadership. Matas Buzelis stepping up and publicly supporting Billy Donovan isn’t just a throwaway quote. It’s a signal.
When a young player who is clearly becoming a focal point of the team speaks on coaching stability, it matters. It tells you where the locker room might stand, and it hints at what kind of culture is being built — or at least attempted.
Billy Donovan’s future in Chicago has been a growing question, but hearing support from a rising cornerstone like Buzelis complicates the conversation. It’s no longer just about wins and losses. It’s about alignment between coaching and the players expected to carry this team forward.
And that’s where things get interesting.
Because if the Bulls are shifting toward a younger core, voices like Buzelis aren’t just part of the future — they help shape it.
The Bulls are in that in-between space right now. Not good enough to compete, not fully committed to tearing it down. But with every loss, the direction becomes harder to ignore.
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