After another sub-.500 campaign, the Chicago Bulls are set to make some changes this offseason.
One major decision likely to happen is determining who will play center for the foreseeable future - currently, the spot is occupied by 2x All-Star, Nikola Vucevic.
With Vucevic still under contract through the end of next season, the upcoming NBA draft presents an ideal opportunity for the Bulls to look for help in the middle. In Zach Buckley's latest mock draft for Bleacher Report, he has Chicago selecting Maryland freshman Derik Queen at No. 12.
Queen, one of the most talented center prospects available, showcased a level of offensive versatility (scoring & playmaking) and defensive potential that makes him an enticing player at the next level.
Though he's a little undersized at 6-foot-10, Queen plays a bit bigger than his size and has a mean streak on the glass (averaged 9 rebounds per game in 2024-25) that should translate perfectly on a team like Chicago.
With someone like Queen in the fold, the Bulls could potentially shop Vucevic's expiring contract for another player and/or draft capital, especially to teams on the cusp of contention.
From there, Chicago could accelerate its rebuild by continuing to surround more pieces around their new draft pick, along with young standouts like Matas Buzelis and (restricted free agent) Josh Giddey.
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After floundering towards mediocrity for three straight seasons, Chicago's No. 1 offseason priority should be to establish a true direction for the franchise.
Though he still needs to polish up all areas of his game, a core featuring Queen in the middle is very enticing. His upside as a go-to (post) scorer and playmaker could push the Bulls back into relevance before too long.
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