Did The NBA Just Make The Bulls’ Rebuild Look SMARTER?! 👀🐂

The NBA just changed the economics of tanking, and that could completely change how Bulls fans should judge Bryson Graham’s rebuild. 👀🐂
On today’s episode of Locked On Bulls, Haize and Pat The Designer break down the NBA’s new anti-tanking lottery system and why it may make Chicago’s offseason strategy look much smarter than it did under the old rules.
Beginning with the 2027 NBA Draft, the league’s new 3-2-1 lottery structure significantly reduces the reward for finishing at the very bottom of the standings. The three worst teams will have only a 5.4% chance at the No. 1 pick, while teams finishing fourth through 10th from the bottom will hold 8.1% odds.
That creates a completely different rebuilding environment.
The guys discuss whether the Bulls’ decision to add veterans like Norman Powell, Buddy Hield, and Nic Claxton while continuing to develop Caleb Wilson, Matas Buzelis, Dailyn Swain, Noa Essengue, and Josh Giddey actually fits the modern NBA better than intentionally bottoming out.
Haize and Pat also react to Wizards guard Bub Carrington publicly acknowledging that Washington held back while pursuing the No. 1 pick and AJ Dybantsa and what that says about the old tanking model compared to where the league is heading now.
The biggest question becomes simple: should the Bulls even care about being bad anymore?
If Chicago can develop Caleb and Matas in competitive games, stay out of the NBA’s bottom three, and still preserve lottery upside if they miss the postseason, then winning 30 to 35 games may be far more valuable than chasing 20 wins.
But there is another side.
What happens if the Bulls are actually good?
If Chicago is hovering around .500 near the trade deadline, should Bryson Graham keep veterans like Powell and Hield and let the team chase the postseason? Or should the front office still prioritize long-term assets and sell high?
Topics Include:
- NBA’s new anti-tanking lottery system
- How the 3-2-1 lottery structure changes rebuilding
- Why finishing bottom three may no longer make sense
- Are the Bulls rebuilding the right way?
- Bryson Graham’s offseason strategy
- Norman Powell, Buddy Hield, and Nic Claxton helping the young core
- Developing Caleb Wilson and Matas Buzelis in competitive games
- Wizards tanking comments from Bub Carrington
- Is the Play-In still bad for rebuilding teams?
- What should the Bulls do if they are around .500 at the trade deadline?
- Tanking vs. competitive development
The Bulls may not be trying to skip the rebuilding process. They may simply be adapting to a league where being terrible no longer gives you the best path to elite draft talent.
🎙️ Tune in to Locked On Bulls as Haize and Pat debate whether the NBA’s new lottery rules actually make Bryson Graham’s plan look smarter and whether Bulls fans need to rethink what a successful rebuild looks like.

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