With only a handful of games remaining in the regular season, the Chicago Bulls are shifting their focus squarely toward the 2026 NBA Draft. The team holds its own first-round pick, currently projected inside the lottery. This year’s draft class is considered deep in the top range, giving Chicago a strong opportunity for a high-upside selection if the ping-pong balls cooperate.
Projections currently slot the Bulls in the top-10 range, with a 20.3% chance of landing a top-four pick and a 4.5% shot at the No. 1 overall selection. In the latest Bleacher Report mock draft released during the Sweet 16, Zach Buckley has Chicago selecting at No. 9 and taking Kentucky forward Jayden Quaintance.
A High-Upside Big Man to Anchor the Frontcourt
At 6-foot-10 and 255 pounds, the still-young Quaintance (he won’t turn 19 until July) brings intriguing athleticism and defensive potential to a Bulls roster that currently lacks big men under contract for next season. His college career has been limited — just 28 games across two seasons due to a significant ACL tear late in his freshman year at Arizona State, which severely curtailed his sophomore campaign at Kentucky. Despite the setbacks, his per-game averages stand at 8.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists, 2.4 blocks, and 1.0 steals in 25 starts.
Buckley highlighted the appeal in his mock draft analysis:
“While Quaintance’s college career technically spanned two seasons, he’s still sitting on just 28 career appearances. An ACL tear suffered late last season effectively wrecked his availability for this one, and it also denied the hoops world to see what, if any, skill improvements he might have had. That said, his upside remains enticing for a lot of reasons, not the least of which that he’s younger than most freshmen (he won’t turn 19 until July). His healthy version looks like a spring-loaded rim-runner with more passing and handling than the archetype normally offers.
“Teams in need of a sure thing might stay away, but the rebuilding Bulls could welcome the chance to take on his development in hopes of filling their 5 spot for the foreseeable future.”
Quaintance’s profile fits the classic high-ceiling lottery big: explosive athleticism around the rim, strong rebounding instincts, and elite shot-blocking timing. In his healthy freshman season at Arizona State, he earned Big 12 All-Freshman and All-Defensive honors while setting program freshman records in blocks and showing the ability to produce double-doubles. His length, motor, and instincts make him a disruptive presence on the defensive end — exactly the kind of “defensive wall” a rebuilding team like Chicago has been missing.
Offensively, he projects as a lob threat and rim-runner with flashes of passing and ball-handling that go beyond the typical big-man mold. While questions remain about his full recovery and long-term offensive polish, the Bulls’ current roster construction — heavy on guards and light on frontcourt talent — makes investing in a developmental center a logical step.
Perfect Timing for a Rebuild
The Bulls enter this offseason with a clear need at the 5. Selecting Quaintance would inject youth, size, and defensive versatility into the lineup, potentially forming a foundation alongside existing pieces as the team continues its rebuild. His youth gives Chicago time to develop him patiently, turning raw tools into a reliable two-way contributor.
Of course, the final draft position will depend on the lottery results and how the remaining games shake out. But if the projection holds and the ninth pick materializes, Jayden Quaintance represents a high-reward gamble on a physically gifted, still-teenage prospect who could patrol the paint in the Windy City for years to come.
The league better get ready — the Windy City may have just found its new defensive anchor.