The Bulls have a large number of guards on the roster, but if they come across an elite guard prospect, should they add them into the mix?
Would the Chicago Bulls be happy on draft night walking away with a former McDonald's All-American? Or one of the best perimeter defenders who went back to school to work on the other parts of his game? In this piece we take a look at several options should the Bulls look to add a guard to an already talented group that will at least contain Josh Giddey, Tre Jones, and Rob Dillingham next season.
Mikel Brown Jr. - Louisville- 6-foot-5, 20 years old: 18.2 PPG, 4.7 APG, 34.4% from 3-point range/7.6 attempts per game
If the Bulls first pick land inside the top-10 but just outside of the top-four, Louisville guard Mikel Brown Jr. will surely be one of the names near the top of Chicago's board. Regardless of whether you consider Brown Jr. a legitimate playmaking, point guard or more of an off-ball scorer, he is among the best "high-ceiling" prospects in what is shaping up to be a loaded 2026 NBA Draft class.
Through 21 games, the 6-foot-5 freshman is averaging 18.2 PPG on a 57.7% True Shooting, with that percentage being boosted by some high-volume 3-point shooting and great free throw shooting (84.4% on 5.8 free throw attempts per game). Brown Jr. is a shifty scorer, capable of getting anywhere he wants to on the floor as a pick-and-roll ballhandler, in isolation settings or coming off of screens.
Brown Jr. has many similarities to former Bulls combo guard Coby White, with the biggest and most crucial difference being that Brown Jr. has an (unofficial) 6-foot-7 wingspan. Where White struggled defensively next to Giddey, it is much easier to imagine Brown Jr. and his larger frame and longer wingspan helping him become a defensive playmaker at the NBA level. He is averaging 1.7 steals per 40 minutes this season for a Louisville Cardinals team that is 26th in the nation Adjusted Defensive Efficiency per KenPom.
Labaron Philon - Alabama - 6-foot-4, 20 years old: 21.5 PPG, 4.8 APG, 39.4% from 3-point range/5.7 attempts per game
Labaron Philon is one of the rare "shorter" guards--by NBA standards--that would have next to no questions about their fit in Chicago. Yes, Giddey already exists as the lead ballhandler and playmaker in Chicago, but no one would mistake him for a defensive ace on the perimeter. In fact, a lot of the problems with Giddey in lineups can come from the fact that he usually can not guard smaller, or at the very least, quicker guards. With Philon in the lineup, it would be no question who is guarding the other teams PG, leaving Giddey to guard the slower backcourt mate or take on a wing or big man assignment depending on the matchup.
Philon returned to Alabama after a solid freshman season to show that he expanded on his game, and so far, so good on that front.
Regarded as one of the better perimeter defenders in the nation, Philon has shown that he is capable of shouldering a large offensive load as well. This is a skill that wouldn't be necessary in Chicago, but the versatility added by possessing it would be extremely beneficial. In his last game prior to this piece being written--a 98-88 loss to Georgia--Philon posted 26 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, and 1 turnover over 34 minutes of playing time.
At the NBA level, Philon will likely be most successful putting pressure on perimeter players on both sides of the floor. His ability to be a bulldog on defense, and a true inside-out threat on offense (6.0 FTA per game) would make him a seamless fit with the Bulls.
Braylon Mullins - UConn - 6-foot-6, 20 years old: 12.1 PPG, 1.3 APG, 38.2% from 3-point range/6.3 attempts per game
Braylon Mullins feels like the prototypical NBA 2-guard: decent size, aggressive and accurate shooting from deep, and the potential to guard up a position on defense. Mullins is our second McDonald's All-American on the list--the other being Mikel Brown Jr.--and has one the nicer looking jump shots in the class.
Don't let the raw numbers fool you, Mullins is an elite prospect with a high basketball-IQ. His numbers are a reflection of simply playing his role on a UConn team complete with experienced talent and shotmakers. But when Mullins is feeling it and allowed to really let loose with the UConn Huskies, the results speak for themselves.
Mullins only needs a slither of daylight to unfurl his quick release jumper. He also uses his length to finish floaters with ease when the defense closes out too hard on his jump shot. His mixture of elite craftiness, length and shooting ability would be a massive boost to the Bulls offense. And Mullins' length would make the trio of he, Giddey and Matas Buzelis a viable one defensively.