Chicago Bulls Lock In 2026 Lottery Odds & Move Closer to Adding First-Round Pick

The Bulls' loss to the Mavericks on the final day of the season secured their spot in the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery.

Apr. 13, 2026 at 4:55am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented basketball game, with players' forms broken down into overlapping planes of color and the court fading into the background, conveying the conceptual idea of a team in transition and seeking a new path forward.The Bulls' disappointing season finale loss to the Mavericks secures their lottery position, setting the stage for a crucial offseason as the franchise seeks to rebuild through the 2026 NBA Draft.Chicago Today

The Chicago Bulls finished the 2025-26 season with a 31-51 record, their fewest wins since the 2020-21 campaign. By losing to the Dallas Mavericks in their season finale, the Bulls locked in their lottery odds for the 2026 NBA Draft, giving them a 20.3% chance at a top-4 pick and a 4.5% chance at the top overall selection. The Bulls also moved closer to securing a second first-round pick in 2026 via a lottery-protected pick from the Portland Trail Blazers.

Why it matters

The Bulls' inability to consistently make the playoffs in recent years has put the organization in a difficult position, stuck in the middle and unable to make a definitive push forward. Locking in their lottery odds and potentially adding a second first-round pick in 2026 could provide the team's new front office with valuable assets to help rebuild the roster and chart a clearer path back to contention.

The details

The Bulls' loss to the Mavericks on the final day of the season secured their spot as the 9th-worst team in the league, giving them a 20.3% chance at a top-4 pick and a 4.5% chance at the top overall selection in the 2026 NBA Draft. This was a better outcome than if they had won and lost a coin flip with the Milwaukee Bucks for the 9th spot, which would have dropped their odds by over 6%. Additionally, the Bulls' lottery-protected pick from the Portland Trail Blazers is now locked in at the 8th spot in the West, increasing the chances that pick conveys to Chicago in 2026.

  • The Bulls finished the 2025-26 season with a 31-51 record.
  • The Bulls lost to the Dallas Mavericks 149-128 on the final day of the season.
  • The 2026 NBA Draft Lottery will take place in May 2026.

The players

Chicago Bulls

An NBA franchise based in Chicago, Illinois that competes in the Eastern Conference.

Dallas Mavericks

An NBA franchise based in Dallas, Texas that competes in the Western Conference.

Portland Trail Blazers

An NBA franchise based in Portland, Oregon that competes in the Western Conference.

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What’s next

The Chicago Bulls will await the results of the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery in May to see where they will be selecting in the 2026 NBA Draft. They will also continue their search for a new front office leadership team to help guide the franchise back to contention.

The takeaway

The Bulls' disappointing 2025-26 season has put them in a position to potentially add valuable assets through the 2026 NBA Draft, including a high lottery pick and a potential second first-rounder via the Portland Trail Blazers. This could provide the team's new front office with the resources needed to accelerate their rebuilding efforts and chart a clearer path back to the playoffs.