The up-and-down Chicago Bulls are coming off their worst loss of the NBA season to the Miami Heat on Sunday, and with a 24-26 record, are now precariously close to being lapped by both the 24-27 Atlanta Hawks and the 22-28 Charlotte Hornets. There’s a chance Chicago falls out of the play-in tournament running entirely. If that does happen, the 2026 NBA Draft boasts a supposedly loaded arsenal of young talent.
Thursday’s trade deadline should firmly establish how Chicago approaches the draft. The Bulls could have two first-round picks at their disposal, should Portland manage to make the playoffs. For now, the 23-27 Trail Blazers are the No. 10 seed in the West.
Center Jayden Quaintance has long been considered one of the best big man prospects heading into this summer. However, he’s grappling with swelling in his surgically repaired knee, and has been shut down entirely since Jan. 7. Pundits may still think highly of him, but as a weary Bulls fan, this writer is knocking him down several pegs.
Our latest draft is built around numbers from Tankathon. This time, we have Chicago selecting a star from our own backyard.
6-foot-6 Illinois guard Keaton Wagler has been rising quickly. He followed up his 46-point outburst over Purdue with efficient, 20-point-plus scoring nights against Washington and Nebraska.
On the year, Wagler has been averaging 18.1 points while slashing .479/.438/.816, 5.0 rebounds, and 4.2 assists a night. The freshman’s stock has been on the ascent as the year has gone on, and he could find himself right within Bulls’ drafting range.
NBA Mock Draft — February 2, 2026
The Lottery
- Sacramento Kings: Darryn Peterson, SG, Kansas
- Atlanta Hawks (via New Orleans Pelicans): Cameron Boozer, PF, Duke
- Indiana Pacers: AJ Dybantsa, SF, BYU
- Brooklyn Nets: Caleb Wilson, PF, North Carolina
- Washington Wizards: Kingston Flemings, PG, Houston
- Utah Jazz: Tounde Yessoufou, SF, Baylor
- Memphis Grizzlies: Koa Peat, PF, Arizona
- Milwaukee Bucks: Nate Ament, F, Tennessee
- Dallas Mavericks: Braylon Mullins, SG, UConn
- Memphis Grizzlies: Mikel Brown, Jr., PG, Louisville
- Portland Trail Blazers: Hannes Steinbach, PF, Washington
- San Antonio Spurs (via Atlanta Hawks): Yaxel Lendeborg, PF, Michigan
- Oklahoma City Thunder (via Los Angeles Clippers): Jayden Quaintance, C, Kentucky
- Chicago Bulls: Keaton Wagler, SG, Illinois
Mid-Round Picks
15. Memphis Grizzlies (via Orlando Magic): Darius Acuff, Jr., PG, Arkansas
16. Miami Heat: Thomas Haugh, PF, Florida
17. Golden State Warriors: Cameron Carr, SF, Baylor
18. Oklahoma City Thunder (from Philadelphia 76ers): Labaron Philon, PG, Alabama
19. Toronto Raptors: Chris Cenac, Jr., C, Houston
20. Cleveland Cavaliers (via Atlanta Hawks): Bennett Stirtz, PG, Iowa
Late First-Rounders
21. Charlotte Hornets (via Phoenix Suns): Joshua Jefferson, F, Iowa State Cyclones
22. Los Angeles Lakers: Meleek Thomas, G, Arkansas
23. Minnesota Timberwolves: Christian Anderson, G, Texas Tech
24. Boston Celtics: Patrick Ngongba, C, Duke
25. New York Knicks: Karim Lopez, F, New Zealand Breakers
26. Oklahoma City Thunder (via Houston Rockets): Henri Veesaar, C, UNC Tar Heels
27. Denver Nuggets: Dash Daniels, SG, Melbourne United
28. Cleveland Cavaliers (via San Antonio Spurs): Dame Sarr, SF, Duke
29. Detroit Pistons: Flory Bidunga, C, Kansas
30. Washington Wizards (via Oklahoma City Thunder): Aday Mara, C, Michigan Wolverines
