The Chicago Bulls are widely expected to be one of the NBA's weakest teams entering the 2026-27 season, a direct result of their full commitment to a youth-centered rebuild.
Analysts have placed Chicago in the league's bottom tier because the roster is exceptionally young. The team flipped half its players at last season's trade deadline. They've since drafted Caleb Wilson, Dailyn Swain, Noa Essengue and Matas Buzelis with top-15 picks over three years. Veterans Norman Powell and Nic Claxton were added this summer for experience, but the core is built for development, not immediate wins. The Bulls' 31-51 record from last year is likely to get worse.
Updated lottery rules create a tricky balance. Teams with the three worst records now get only two ping pong balls, reducing their odds for the top pick. Finishing with the fourth to tenth worst records grants three balls. So, the Bulls are incentivized to win enough to avoid the bottom three, a zone General Manager Bryson Graham clearly wants to escape. "The Bulls should be good enough to avoid that fate, after adding veterans Norman Powell and Nic Claxton in the offseason," said ESPN analyst Zach Kram. He noted their primary goal remains developing Buzelis and rookie Caleb Wilson.
The end of the previous season highlighted the team's inconsistencies. You can review the full season schedule on our schedule page.
All eyes are on the young frontcourt. Matas Buzelis and Caleb Wilson represent the future. Their growth, alongside potential leaps from guard Josh Giddey, will dictate the pace of this rebuild. Powell and Claxton were signed specifically to mentor these prospects and provide stable minutes. The team's success won't be measured in wins alone. It will be measured in player development and avoiding the draft lottery's new relegation zone. Other teams like Sacramento, Brooklyn, the LA Clippers and Milwaukee also face difficult seasons, but Chicago controls its own 2027 draft pick, giving it a key asset.
The Bulls open their 2026-27 season on October 21 against the Toronto Raptors. It marks the official start of a long-term project where patience from fans and the front office will be essential.
