The Chicago Bulls might be ready to shock the basketball world.With the 12th pick in the upcoming NBA Draft, league insiders say the Bulls have already made up their minds—and their choice is raising more than a few eyebrows. Instead of targeting a well-known name expected to be available in the mid-first round, the team appears to be eyeing a less conventional prospect that few expected to go this high.
While draft boards are filled with more popular names like Kyle Filipowski, Isaiah Collier, and Dalton Knecht, Chicago is reportedly focused on a prospect projected to go much later. This has sparked speculation that the front office is willing to take a risk—perhaps seeing long-term potential others have overlooked.
“This isn’t a consensus pick by any means,” an anonymous scout told reporters. “But sometimes, the boldest moves end up being the smartest ones.”
After several seasons stuck in mediocrity, the Bulls may be signaling a new direction—less concerned with immediate impact and more focused on long-term upside.
While nothing has been confirmed, rumors suggest the Bulls could be targeting prospects like Baylor Scheierman, Carlton Carrington, or international talent Nikola Đurišić. These players have impressive skillsets but haven’t been viewed as lottery locks—until now.
“There’s a feeling this could be like when Utah grabbed Donovan Mitchell earlier than expected,” said one NBA executive. “People questioned it then, but look how that turned out.”
So far, the Bulls’ leadership hasn’t commented publicly, but reports say the team has halted workouts for other top prospects—indicating they may already be locked in.
If the rumors hold true, this pick could be either a game-changing steal or another questionable move in a long line of draft-day surprises.
Whatever happens, one thing’s for sure: when the Bulls are on the clock at No. 12, the basketball world will be watching closely.