All of Chicago is anxiously waiting to hear who will head the new regime in the front office. Whether that’s keeping Billy Donovan but moving him up the ranks, big-game hunting for Bob Myers, or granting someone their first opportunity at leading basketball operations, hopefully with a fresh perspective on building a team from scratch, the entire summer revolves around one move from the franchise. With the draft slated for June 23rd and 24th, the upcoming lottery selection on May 10th, and free agency opening on June 30th, the Bulls need to move quickly in hiring their next man. They are likely currently building a short list of potential hires based on Michael Reinsdorf’s criteria, outlined in his latest press conference. In the meantime, here’s who many are saying the Bulls will take regardless of who’s in charge, and why the sudden jolt up the big board.
Yaxel Lendeborg Is This Year’s March Madness Riser
Michigan’s tournament run did more than bring the Wolverine nation its second NCAA National Championship. The veteran leader, Yaxel Lendeborg, who led the team in scoring this season and was the driving force throughout the tournament, saw his name accelerate to the top of NBA draft projections. After entering March Madness as a mid-first round pick, he’s now a surefire top ten selection, with the Chicago Bulls slot circled. After spending his first two collegiate seasons with UAB in the American Athletic Conference, he transferred to Michigan and immediately rose to prominence. Through his three years in the NCAA, he averaged 15.5 points, 9.5 rebounds, and shot over 51% from the field, including 36.4% from downtown across 112 career games.
2026 NBA Mock Draft pt. 2 pic.twitter.com/MtBsrhnowx
— Underdog (@Underdog) March 30, 2026
Every year, someone benefits from a tremendous run in March. With the nation looking on, those who rise to the occasion and display the leadership, competitiveness, and skill set it takes to make a deep run in the tournament with the highest stakes of the year quickly prove they’re ready for the professional stage. While Lendeborg certainly turned some heads, he is already 23 years old, which can and should deter some potential landing spots, including Chicago.
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Age Isn’t Just A Number
The picture of who the Bulls are keying in on will get much clearer once a front office is hired. Any potential newcomer should have the same goal in mind: draft young, develop alongside Matas Buzelis and Josh Giddey, and aim for a 3-5 year project. Lendeborg may be an instant impact player and fit well alongside Buzelis and Giddey on the court, but already being 23 years old means he’s about 20 days away from being the oldest of the trio, already has the least experience of the three, and by the time he’s acclimated to the professional game, he’d be mid to upper 20s. Due to his career timeline alone, the Bulls should avoid this selection and opt for someone younger.
Updated NBA Mock Draft, per @BleacherReport
1. Kings, Darryn Peterson
2. Wizards, AJ Dybantsa
3. Hawks (via Pelicans), Cameron Boozer
4. Pacers, Caleb Wilson
5. Nets, Kingston Flemings
6. Jazz, Keaton Wagler
7. Mavs, Mikel Brown Jr.
8. Grizzlies, Darius Acuff Jr.
9. Bucks,… pic.twitter.com/A2eEUX9NLC— NBA Retweet (@RTNBA) February 17, 2026
Nate Ament, Keaton Wagler, or Brayden Burries would all fit equally well as the older Michigan Wolverine while also aligning better with the rebuild timeline. Grabbing a 19 or 20-year-old means developing into a contributor by the age of 23, which is the perfect outlook next to Buzelis.
The Chicago Bulls are on the clock at pick number nine. Who’s your selection?
