The Bulls’ Most Frequently Mocked Draft Pick Takes the Floor Tonight
Over the last month, as Chicago’s draft positioning becomes clearer, mock drafts for the 2026 NBA Draft have become more frequent than any other type of news. With 10 games remaining in the regular season, the Bulls have an over 60% chance of selecting between picks 7 and 10. While this isn’t moving the needle with a franchise-altering player, this is widely considered one of the most stacked draft classes in recent memory, which bodes well for a franchise that cannot escape the mid-level draft pick range. Most years, this would mean grabbing a role player off the bench as the best-case scenario, but this summer, it might mean selecting a starting-caliber plug-and-play option. Of the dozens of mock drafts released during the month of March as the college game heats up, this is the most commonly-tied youngster to be drafted by Arturas Karnisovas’s group.
Tune In To Arizona Tonight
When plucking the dozen highest-traffic mock drafts from the leaders in sports media, three of the top four feature the same name headed to the Windy City. Bleacher Report, The Athletic, and Sports Illustrated all project Brayden Burries to hear his name announced on draft night. This is an instant head-scratcher for Chicago fans, and it has nothing to do with the talent or upside. Burries is an elite three-level scorer, is only 20 years old, and has only elevated his play as the stakes have grown for Arizona. The confusing part from the fans’ perspective is the decision to grab another guard. This trade deadline featured adding five guards, including a few young options to invest in long-term alongside Josh Giddey. While most of them are on expiring contracts and may be playing their final 10 games in a Chicago Bulls uniform, the goal at the deadline was to find at least a few of them worth investing in. According to these media outlets, Karnisovas views them only as bench pieces or as invalid solutions for the future running mate to Giddey.
Arizona star freshman Brayden Burries on the road at #13 BYU:
34 MIN
29 PTS
5 REB
4 AST
1 BLK
3 STL
7-13 FG
2-3 3PT
13-14 FTWho does Burries remind you of?? pic.twitter.com/E01QBmNwvR
— MBB Performances (@mbbperformances) January 27, 2026
Over his last nine outings, five of which were tournament games in either the Phillips 66 Big 12 Tournament or the NCAA Tournament, he’s averaging over 18 points per game and 3.6 assists while shooting 52.8% from the field and 38.5% from three-point range. These numbers are an instant translation to an elite scoring threat alongside the facilitating Giddey. If you exclude his fluke outing against Iowa State, where he only scored three points, he’d be shooting almost 56% from the field and over 40% from deep, and posting 21 points per night.
Two Reasons To Watch Arizona Closely
If the Bulls don’t opt to add another guard, or he’s already selected due to his rapidly improving performances, one of the next most likely candidates to be drafted there is Koa Peat. He also represents the University of Arizona, but is a much different player. This addition would mean gaining a lengthy forward with a high defensive motor and solid rebounding prowess, plugging a 19-year-old into Chicago’s frontcourt depth. This pick aligns well with the archetype that Karnisovas has favored in the past, and would fit the mold he’s commonly decided to draft. Whether it’s Burries or Peat, the majority of mock drafts currently have the Bulls plucking from Tommy Lloyd’s roster, and they’re worth following in the NCAA Tournament.
Arizona freshmen Koa Peat was unreal vs the defending National Champs in Florida:
30 points
7rebounds
5 assists
3 steals
1 block
11/18 FGAbsolutely dominated Florida on both ends was quite unbelievable to watch in real time. pic.twitter.com/YlnX802oDt
— Arman Jovic (@PDTScouting) November 4, 2025
Watch the Wildcats take on the Arkansas Razorbacks, and another top prospect, Darius Acuff Jr., and you be the judge on whether or not the Bulls should add one of these young talents.