The Worst Draft Mistakes In Chicago Bulls History

Since 1966, the Chicago Bulls have become a franchise with a rich history and home to some of the game’s greatest players. During the 80s and 90s, During the 60s and 70s, greats like Norm Van Lier, Jerry Sloan, and Artis Gilmore called the Windy City home and became legends of the sport. 

During the 80s and 90s, Jordan mania swept Chicago and the world. Michael Jordan and the Bulls would go on to win 6 NBA championships in the 90s while greats like Scottie Pippen rose to stardom. It has been 24 years since the Bulls’ last championship, and it was 25 years before they won their first one after joining the NBA. Is there something that could have been done about that?

In the latest installment of every NBA team’s worst draft mistakes, we will take a look at the draft history of the Chicago Bulls over the last 56 years. This will determine if had the Bulls gone a different direction on various draft nights, they could have possibly added more NBA championships to their trophy case. For years, the Bulls selected picks at the top of the draft with numerous successful playoff runs. During their down years were when few but critical mistakes were made.

These are the worst draft mistakes in Chicago Bulls’ history.

Clem Haskins (1967 NBA Draft) – 3rd Overall Pick

Better Available Pick: Walt Frazier – 5th Overall Pick

In just their second draft in existence, the Chicago Bulls made a mistake that perhaps altered the direction of their franchise. With the 3rd overall pick in 1967, the Bulls decided to go with guard Clem Haskins out of Western Kentucky. Haskins’ performance on the court wasn’t all that bad on the court for Chicago, and by 1970 he was averaging 20.3 PPG and 7.6 APG. The Bulls then decided to trade Haskins for Jim Fox, and a draft pick just 3 seasons into Haskins’ career. He played just 6 more seasons for the Suns and Bullets before retiring in 1976.

The debacle of mishandling Clem Haskins’ career could have been avoided had they drafted the man who was selected 2 picks later, Walt Frazier. By 1970, Frazier was helping the Knicks win an NBA championship behind one of the most clutch and memorable Finals performances of all time. He was a consistent All-Defensive player and an All-Star who helped the Knicks win another NBA title in 1973. As one of the 10 greatest point guards in NBA history, Walt Frazier could have put the Bulls on an entirely different trajectory.

Ralph Simpson (1972 NBA Draft) – 11th Overall Pick

Better Available Pick: Julius Erving – 12th Overall Pick

In 1972, the Bulls had the 11th overall pick and decided on 6’5 guard/forward hybrid Ralph Simpson out of Michigan State. Much like the player, the Bulls should have selected, Simpson spurned Chicago for the ABA and would not make his NBA debut until 1977 with the Detroit Pistons. Simpson would be an All-Star in the ABA 5 times but not once in the NBA, as his production dipped significantly once he made the jump. Simpson played 4 seasons in the NBA with 3 different teams and averaged 8.4 PPG.

Now, Julius Erving probably makes his jump to the ABA 99 times out of 100. There is a part of me that likes to think that Erving would have stayed in Chicago if they had a point guard like, let’s say, Walt Frazier. That’s right, the possibility of Erving and Frazier teaming up with the Bulls seems like something that would have been possible, considering how great Frazier was by ‘72. Erving would go on to be one of the greatest players of all time, and I cannot help but think he would have more than 1 NBA championship with Frazier by his side.

Scott May (1976 NBA Draft) – 2nd Overall Pick

Better Available Pick: Adrian Dantley – 6th Overall Pick

The final piece to the puzzle in the 1970s for the Chicago Bulls could have come a bit later on in 1976. In the 1976 NBA Draft, the Bulls selected Scott May with the 2nd pick. May was a big small forward out of Indiana who had high hopes for his career as the second selection overall. May would have a decent first 2 seasons averaging 14.6 PPG and 13.4 PPG, respectively. He would play 5 seasons in Chicago and averaged 10.8 PPG and 4.1 RPG. May would play two more seasons before going over to Italy to play for an extended period of time.

Still lurking in the draft’s selection pool at the time was a pure scorer and star, Adrian Dantley. Dantley was an incredible three-level scorer who would go on to play in 6 All-Star Games and win 2 scoring titles. In his prime, Dantley averaged 30.0 PPG or better 4 seasons in a row from 1981 through 1984 with the Utah Jazz. Along with his other accomplishments, Dantley was also Rookie of the Year in 1977 and made 2 All-NBA Teams in his career.

Will Perdue (1988 NBA Draft) – 11th Overall Pick

Better Available Picks: Dan Majerle – 14th Overall Pick, Rod Strickland – 19th Overall Pick

There is just something about the Chicago Bulls and picking with the No. 11 selection. In 1988, Chicago missed out on 2 possibly key championship pieces when they selected Will Perdue with the 11th pick. Yes, Perdue was a part of 4 NBA championships and played 7 of his 13 professional seasons with the Bulls. However, Perdue’s career-high was 8.0 PPG, and he was mostly a minutes eater off the bench. In his runs to the 4 titles in Chicago, Perdue’s best performance was 5.0 PPG and 4.8 RPG in 1993.

Yes, they won with Will Perdue, so this move doesn’t cost them as much as the others. However, could you imagine how much more unstoppable they would have been in the 90s with Dan Majerle or Rod Strickland? Majerle was an All-Defensive guard/forward who was Michael Jordan’s rival in his epic series against the Suns in 1993. Strickland was one of the most skilled point guards in basketball at the time and was good for 17.0-18.0 PPG and 9.0-10.0 APG. The Bulls made it happen regardless, but the trio of Jordan, Pippen, and Strickland could have been special in even bigger ways.

Stacey King (1989 NBA Draft) – 6th Overall Pick

Better Available Pick: Shawn Kemp – 17th Overall Pick

Once again, the selection of Stacey King with the 6th pick in 1989 didn’t hurt, or help, their chances at a championship. King made his debut during the 1989-90 season, where he played all 82 games and averaged 8.9 PPG and 4.7 RPG. The following season, the Chicago Bulls would be champions which they would also be in 1992 and 1993. King played 4 and a half seasons with the Bulls as a bench player for 3 NBA championships. He averaged 6.6 PPG and 3.3 RPG during his time with the Bulls. King would retire in 1997 after spending 8 seasons in the league.

Down the draft board, just a little bit could have been yet another future star to put next to Jordan and Pippen. Shawn Kemp was selected with the 17th pick by the Seattle SuperSonics. He would go on to be one-half of one of the best duos in the NBA at the time, who made multiple deep runs into the playoffs and made a Finals appearance in 1996. Kemp would go on to make 6 All-Star teams and 3 All-NBA Teams averaging 19.6 PPG and 11.4 RPG at his peak. He was one of the strongest and most athletic power forwards up to that point in NBA history and could have been the perfect addition to the dynasty Bulls, who went on to win 6 NBA titles.

Eddy Curry (2001 NBA Draft) – 4th Overall Pick

Better Available Pick: Jason Richardson – 5th Overall Pick

After the Bulls’ successful run during the 1990s, it was a trying time in Chicago as they tried to rebuild after the departures of their championship core. With the 4th overall selection in 2001, the Bulls selected Eddy Curry, a hometown high school standout who made his NBA debut at 19 years old. Curry was the right choice at the time, but it quickly fell apart. Curry produced fairly well on the court in the first 3 seasons with the Bulls and averaged 16.1 PPG in his 4th season. However, the writing was on the wall for him when it came to discipline and effort. The bulls traded him to the Knicks in 2005, making him the first lottery pick they traded away since Stacey King.

Taken right after Curry with the 5th pick by the Warriors was Jason Richardson. Although he was never an All-Star, Richardson could have been a much bigger piece than Curry for the Bulls. Richardson was an athletic showstopper on both offense and defense, and when he wasn’t throwing down ferocious dunks, he could shoot from the outside and play more than decent defense, especially off the ball. Richardson would peak at over 23.0 PPG, which the Bulls in 2001 could have used big time.

James Johnson (2009 NBA Draft) – 16th Overall Pick

Better Available Pick: Jrue Holiday – 17th Overall Pick

In 2009, the Bulls were still in the middle of the pack when it came to their draft position. In 2009, Chicago decided to select James Johnson out of Wake Forest. Johnson has carved himself out a nice 14-year career as a defender/enforcer for 10 different teams. With the Bulls, Johnson lasted just 103 games before being traded to the Toronto Raptors in 2010-11. Johnson averaged 3.8 PPG and 1.9 RPG with the Bulls over that span and 7.7 PPG and 3.6 RPG overall.

Selected just one pick after Johnson is one of the best perimeter defenders in the NBA in 2022-23 and an NBA championship-winning point guard in Jrue Holiday. For a few seasons, Holiday struggled to get adjusted until he earned his first All-Star selection during his 4th season. Holiday has always been a solid scorer and playmaker but what has separated him from many in his draft class is his ability on the defensive side of the ball. Holiday takes no issue with switching onto shooting guards or small forwards when he is on the court, making their lives a nightmare with his quick hands and even quicker feet. In 2022-23, Holiday is averaging 19.1 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 7.4 APG, and 1.5 SPG. The Bucks look poised to make another run at an NBA title while the Bulls are going backward.

Denzel Valentine (2016 NBA Draft) – 14th Overall Pick

Better Available Pick: Pascal Siakam – 27th Overall Pick

The 2016 NBA Draft marked yet another season in which the Bulls found themselves selecting in the middle of the draft. With the 14th pick, they selected Denzel Valentine out of Michigan State. Valentine was a forward/guard hybrid who never fully adjusted to the NBA. Things looked promising for Valentine in his 2nd season when he averaged 10.2 PPG and 5.1 RPG, but things fell apart over the next 3 seasons. Valentine failed to get much playing time or produce at a high level and was let go after the 2021 season by the Bulls. The 2021-22 season was his last one active in the NBA, as he split 24 games with the Jazz and Cavaliers.

Little did anyone, including the Bulls, know what was looming at the end of the first round. Somehow, 26 other NBA teams missed out on future NBA champion and All-NBA Team selection Pascal Siakam. Through 6 seasons in the NBA, Siakam has proved to be one of the most talented players in the league, especially at the power forward position. Siakam won an NBA title with the Raptors in 2019 and the NBA’s Most Improved Player award. He earned his first All-Star appearance the following season in 2020 and a selection to the All-NBA Second Team. In 2021-22, Siakam was named to the All-NBA Third Team with 22.8 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 5.3 APG, and 1.3 SPG. In 2022-23, Siakam is currently averaging 24.6 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 7.0 APG, and 1.0 SPG. The Bulls could have used him once or twice since 2017.

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