Dallas Mavericks Win NBA Draft Lottery, Bulls Settle for 12th Pick

The Chicago Bulls finished the 2024-25 NBA season with a 39-43 record, identical to the Dallas Mavericks, but lost a crucial tiebreaker that resulted in the Mavericks winning the No. 1 overall draft pick, which they are expected to use to select Duke forward Cooper Flagg. Despite having only a 1.7% chance at the top pick, the Bulls remained committed to competitive integrity and avoided tanking, finishing strong with a 15-5 run but ultimately securing the No. 12 pick in the draft lottery. Bulls President of Basketball Operations Artūras Karnišovas emphasized developing talent through meaningful games rather than sacrificing long-term potential for a higher draft position, though the outcome was disappointing for the franchise and its fans. The top four picks after Dallas were San Antonio, Philadelphia, and Charlotte, while the Bulls will need to be strategic in selecting from the second or third tier of prospects in the upcoming draft on June 25. The Bulls have shown promise in recent drafts, such as last year's selection of Matas Buzelis at No. 11, and remain optimistic about improving their roster moving forward. However, the team's third consecutive play-in tournament loss highlights ongoing challenges despite their efforts to compete rather than tank.