CHICAGO (670 The Score) — The Bulls have landed the 12th overall pick in the 2025 NBA Draft after they didn't find any luck in the lottery.
That was the expected outcome, as the Bulls entered the NBA Draft Lottery at McCormick Place West on Monday evening with an 85% chance to land the 12th selection. Coming off a 39-43 season, the Bulls held a 1.7% chance to land the No. 1 overall pick and an 8% chance to move up into the top four.
The Mavericks landed the No. 1 overall pick and the right to draft Duke star Cooper Flagg. That was a development that will sting for the Bulls, as they lost a tiebreaker drawing to the Mavericks in April for the pre-lottery 11th slot, which ended up vaulting to the No. 1 slot. The Spurs landed at No. 2, the 76ers at No. 3 and the Hornets at No. 4.
Because the Bulls didn’t get lucky and move into the top four, they’ll now choose from the second or perhaps third tier of prospects in the NBA Draft, which will begin June 25. The Bulls selected at No. 11 overall in 2024, taking forward Matas Buzelis, who flashed a good deal of potential as a rookie.
"We're going to come and be ready next year and be a better team," said Buzelis, who represented the Bulls on stage at the lottery.
"All these guys are talented. Whoever we pick, I know they're going to come here and work hard."
Unlike a handful of other teams, the Bulls didn’t attempt to tank in pursuit of Flagg or other top prospects. Chicago dealt star guard Zach LaVine to Sacramento just before the trade deadline but retained its other veterans, including center Nikola Vucevic. The Bulls put an emphasis on improving and competing in the final months of the regular season and did just that in going 15-5 to close the regular season against competition that often wasn’t as invested in winning that night as Chicago was.
The Bulls were then blown out by the Heat in their opener in the play-in tournament. It marked the third straight year that Chicago was eliminated in the play-in round.
The first round of the NBA Draft will be held June 25. The Bulls also hold the 45th overall pick in the second round.
Cody Westerlund is an editor for 670TheScore.com and covers the Bulls. Follow him on Twitter @CodyWesterlund.