Chicago Bulls
Needs: Talent in general
Picks: 4, 15, 38, 56
The Chicago Bulls don’t have a lot on the roster, both in terms of talent and sheer numbers. They have ten players under contract for next season, but two of those are team options that would allow them to shed those salaries if desired. They have Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey as their core building blocks, which tells you everything you need to know about where they are as a franchise. They are likely to add Caleb Wilson to that core with the fourth pick, and Wilson and Buzelis would represent an intriguing blend of athleticism and skill at the forward spots. The Bulls need to continue adding talent to the roster and cannot afford to skip steps in their rebuild. They also own the 15th pick, and several talented prospects should still be available. Labaron Philon, Morez Johnson, and Christian Anderson are all players Chicago could consider with their second first-round selection. If the Bulls decide to address their frontcourt size and rim protection, Aday Mara could also receive consideration.
A really interesting aspect of Chicago’s offseason will be its plans for Collin Sexton. Sexton is a score-first guard who doesn’t provide a great deal of playmaking, and as a free agent the Bulls could choose to bring him back or let him walk. For a team still searching for talent, retaining him would make sense, even if it is ultimately as a future trade asset. It also wouldn’t be surprising to see Chicago explore the market for Patrick Williams, who has yet to fully deliver on the promise that made him the fourth overall pick in 2020. Ultimately, this is a team not expected to contend for anything meaningful for a few years, so the more young talent it can accumulate over the next couple of drafts, the brighter the future becomes.
Cleveland Cavaliers
Needs: Perimeter defense
Picks: 29
The Cleveland Cavaliers’ aggressive moves last season effectively locked them into an all-in approach. They entered the year believing they were positioned to dominate the Eastern Conference but ultimately fell short of expectations. In response, they traded a younger asset for James Harden in hopes that his experience and offensive firepower would elevate them in the playoffs. Instead, opposing guards consistently targeted Harden defensively, and Cleveland came up short of its ultimate goals.
Harden and Donovan Mitchell form one of the league’s most dangerous offensive backcourts, but the perimeter defense can be problematic. Evan Mobley remains an incredibly talented player, combining length, mobility, and skill, yet there is still a sense that he has not fully translated those tools into franchise-altering impact. Meanwhile, rumors surrounding Jarrett Allen continue to circulate. Part of that stems from Cleveland’s limited collection of trade assets, but Allen’s name is one of the few that could realistically bring back meaningful value.
Without significant cap flexibility and armed with only the 29th pick, Cleveland’s options are limited. The Cavaliers can either run back a roster that remains highly competitive or explore more dramatic changes centered around Allen. A full rebuild appears highly unlikely, so the expectation is that most of the core returns. If Allen is moved, however, Cleveland would need to find another way to compensate for the defensive presence and interior stability he provides. At No. 29, prospects such as Koa Peat and Joshua Jefferson could receive strong consideration if either falls to their selection. Peat would bring toughness, versatility, and defensive flexibility to the frontcourt, while Jefferson’s all-around game, rebounding, passing ability, and defensive instincts would fit well within Cleveland’s team-oriented approach. Both players possess the type of winning qualities and positional versatility that could strengthen the Cavaliers’ rotation and help address some of their defensive concerns on the perimeter.
Detroit Pistons
Needs: Shooting, secondary playmaker
Picks: 21
The Detroit Pistons took a major step forward last season, emerging as one of the Eastern Conference’s top teams. Cade Cunningham ascended into stardom, while Jalen Duren made a significant leap, with both players earning All-NBA recognition. Duren is a restricted free agent, meaning Detroit can and almost certainly will match any offer he receives. Once that happens, the Pistons will have their point guard and center positions secured for the foreseeable future.
However, the playoffs exposed some weaknesses. Duren struggled with consistency, and the team’s lack of shooting became a major issue. Detroit ranked near the bottom of the league in three-point attempts and often relied heavily on Duncan Robinson simply to keep adequate spacing on the floor. Tobias Harris and Kevin Huerter were two of the roster’s other primary shooters, and both are free agents. Bringing back one or both would help create more room for Cunningham to operate.
The other major concern is the offensive burden Cunningham carries. Ausar Thompson is an outstanding defender, but his offensive limitations place much of the shot creation responsibility on Cade’s shoulders. Daniss Jenkins was a strong find, but the Pistons still need another player capable of creating offense for both himself and teammates. Without that, the non-Cunningham minutes become difficult to survive. The 21st pick could provide a solution, with players such as Bennett Stirtz, Meleek Thomas, and Christian Anderson all offering different forms of shot creation. Detroit should also remain active in pursuing additional shooting through free agency or the trade market. If either falls to their selection, Morez Johnson and Aday Mara could also be intriguing options. Johnson would provide physicality, rebounding, and energy in the frontcourt, while Mara offers elite size, rim protection, and interior scoring ability. Both could help strengthen Detroit’s frontcourt depth and lessen some of the burden on Duren over the course of a long season.
Indiana Pacers
Needs: Tyrese Haliburton healthy, shooting guard
Picks: None
The Indiana Pacers took a major gamble last season, trading both their first-round pick and restricted free agent Benedict Mathurin to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for Ivica Zubac. The move has not aged particularly well, especially with the Clippers now holding what became the fifth overall selection in this draft.
That said, it is not all bad news. A core featuring Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam, and Zubac remains highly intriguing. Assuming Haliburton fully recovers and regains his pre-injury form, Indiana has enough talent to return to playoff contention. The bigger concern is replacing Mathurin’s scoring punch on the wing. Andrew Nembhard is a quality player and valuable connector piece, but ideally he is not your primary scoring option at shooting guard. A player in the mold of Norman Powell would be an excellent fit if Indiana can find a way to add that type of scorer.
This is still a franchise that reached the NBA Finals just two years ago before injuries derailed its momentum. A bounce-back season is certainly possible, but it cannot be taken for granted. Zubac is a very good player and fills a significant need, yet if Indiana struggles out of the gate next season, there will inevitably be questions about whether surrendering what turned into the fifth pick was the right decision. Sometimes teams simply get unlucky, but betting away a future top-five selection is always a risky proposition.
Milwaukee Bucks
Needs: A Giannis resolution
Picks: 10
I don’t know what will happen this offseason with the Milwaukee Bucks, but I do know it will be evaluated on one criterion and one criterion only: what happens with Giannis Antetokounmpo. The relationship between star and team appears severely strained, if not completely broken. The organization has indicated that a decision could come by draft night, and it seems determined to avoid a scenario where it risks losing him for nothing. However, by being so public about the situation, Milwaukee has also weakened its leverage. Teams around the league understand the Bucks are under pressure.
Miami remains heavily involved, as does Boston. Beyond that, many teams appear hesitant to make an all-out push. Golden State would love to add Giannis, but Milwaukee would have little interest in taking on Jimmy Butler’s contract. Portland has been aggressively linked to the situation, though Antetokounmpo has little reason to view the Trail Blazers as an ideal destination, making them more likely to serve as a facilitator in a larger deal. The Lakers would undoubtedly have interest, but their collection of trade assets is limited.
So what will Milwaukee do? If the Bucks keep Giannis, it is safe to assume the 10th overall pick could become a trade chip used to acquire veteran help. Myles Turner also publicly voiced some frustrations this past season, creating at least some uncertainty about that relationship moving forward. If Milwaukee trades Giannis, expect a full embrace of a youth movement. That would likely mean veteran pieces such as Turner, Kyle Kuzma, and Bobby Portis becoming available as the franchise pivots toward a long-term rebuild.
If Milwaukee keeps the pick, Nate Ament could be one of the most intriguing options on the board. With Giannis Antetokounmpo’s departure appearing increasingly likely at some point this summer, the Bucks may be forced to begin thinking about a new foundation for the franchise. Ament’s combination of size, skill, shot-making ability, and long-term upside could give Milwaukee a young player to develop around as it enters a new era. Hannes Steinbach would also be a strong option, bringing toughness, rebounding, interior scoring, and a high basketball IQ, while Brayden Burries and Labaron Philon could receive consideration if they remain on the board. The direction Milwaukee takes on draft night will ultimately depend on whether it is building around Giannis or preparing for life after him, but Ament may offer the type of upside swing that makes the most sense if a rebuild is on the horizon.
