The Chicago Bulls are back on the clock Wednesday for the 2024 NBA Draft.
The first round of the draft will begin at 7 p.m. CT in New York City and continue with the second round on Thursday. The event will be broadcast on ABC and ESPN.
After trading Alex Caruso for Josh Giddey last week, the Bulls are clearly poised to make changes as they attempt to improve — and maybe even overhaul — their roster after missing the playoffs for two straight seasons.
Here’s everything to know about the Bulls on draft night.
1. Where do the Bulls pick?
The Bulls have the No. 11 pick in the first round of this year’s draft after an unlucky draw at the lottery did not move them up in draft standing.
The Philadelphia 76ers own the Bulls’ second-round pick in the draft, which is No. 41 overall.
2. What are the Bulls’ biggest needs?
By trading for Giddey, the Bulls already checked off a key item on their off-season to-do list: identifying and acquiring a playmaker who can operate as a backup plan if Lonzo Ball is not able to return to form this season. The point guard has been sidelined for two full seasons after undergoing meniscus and knee cartilage transplants. No NBA player has ever returned from either procedure, which makes urgency a necessity for the Bulls in filling this role.
Now, the Bulls are back to the basics with their needs: boost size in the frontcourt and improve perimeter shooting.
3. Who will the Bulls take with the No. 11 pick?
This is one of the least congruous draft years in recent memory. The 2024 draft class is less shallow than many predicted, but the outlook for most of these young players is less clear than in past years featuring surefire stars like Victor Wembanyama, Chet Holmgren or Anthony Edwards. This means predictions are similarly lopsided, with few big boards lining up in the top 10 or even the top five.
The Bulls have been tied to a few different names over the past four weeks — notably Providence product Devin Carter and Kentucky’s Rob Dillingham.
Both of these top names are guards, which is an interesting prospect given that the Bulls are becoming increasingly top-heavy in a guard unit already including Giddey, Zach LaVine, Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu and Dalen Terry (not to mention Ball, who is technically still in the mix as he attempts to return from injury). But the Bulls are also in the middle of a transitional period as they potentially shop out LaVine, which means the group might not have reached its final form.
Carter is a growing 3-point shooter who could help the Bulls improve that outside production while also contributing immediately to the defense, which will be an area of concern after Caruso’s departure. Dillingham is a crafty, multi-level scorer who shot 44.4% from 3 for Kentucky but his size at 6-foot-1 could raise some concerns.
Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht is a prospect who should be on the Bulls’ draft board as a small forward who can still make an impact from behind the arc. Ron Holland from the G League is an intriguing option if the Bulls are interested in looking for more of a hybrid of their needs in an athletic small forward, although his shooting could perpetuate previous draft weaknesses in the last two selections made by the Chicago front office.
If the Bulls look to their frontcourt instead, they could eye Connecticut’s Donovan Clingan or Purdue’s Zach Edey. Clingan should be the first big off the board in this draft, but if he’s available later — or if the Bulls are willing to make a move up — he should immediately elevate rim protection. Edey has been a bigger question mark throughout the draft process, but his 7-foot-5 frame can’t be denied — and his footwork and touch around the rim improved consistently during his last season in college.
In this year’s draft, it’s clear there isn’t one right answer for most teams when they get on the clock. And given the uncertain nature of this first round, the Bulls need to go into Wednesday night with a litany of backup plans to shore up at least one of their needs on draft night.
4. Could the Bulls take Terrence Shannon Jr.?
The Bulls reportedly held workouts for a small group of players that included Illinois guard Terrence Shannon Jr., who received a not-guilty verdict on June 13 for a rape case that served as a decisive factor in his ability to be drafted this season. Shannon was predicted as a top-25 draft pick before his December arrest and still excelled in his senior year after contesting a six-game suspension by the university, averaging 23 points and 2.3 assists per game.
Shannon is projected to fall into the low 20s in this draft, but he could make sense for the Bulls. He’s a lengthy shooting guard who would help fulfill two main areas for the Bulls in defense and perimeter production. And the Bulls have a strong relationship with Brad Underwood’s Illinois program.
If the Bulls are locked into taking a three-and-D guard — and if their other top options at the position are taken earlier in the round — Shannon could be an option at the No. 11 pick. But this is likely a tertiary option for the Bulls with other guards like Carter, Dillingham and even USC’s Isaiah Collier on the board.
5. Could the Bulls trade up (or down) on draft night?
Mobility is key in an unpredictable draft and trading up is still on the table, especially as the Bulls decide their top priorities for draft night. Even the No. 1 pick has been floated by Atlanta since the draft lottery, hinting at the overall valuation of this year’s draft class in the eyes of many executives.
The Bulls were previously reported to have interest in a trade up to secure Connecticut center Donovan Clingan, who is generally considered one of the top two centers in the draft alongside Duke’s Kyle Filipowski. But the hit-or-miss quality of this group likely means it makes the most sense to stay put and grab the best option on the board at No. 11.
