2025 NBA Draft Recap: Noa Essengue, Lachlan Olbrich, and Other Moves

The Chicago Bulls selected Noa Essengue with the 12th overall pick in the first round and Lachlan Olbrich with the 55th pick in the second round. They traded down ten spots from the 45th pick to acquire the 55th pick, along with cash considerations from the Los Angeles Lakers. Aside from this minor trade, the Bulls’ draft night was relatively uneventful as they selected Essengue, a player they had reportedly expressed interest in.

However, there has been growing speculation that the Chicago Bulls’ front office possibly declined a significant trade offer from the New Orleans Pelicans. The supposed trade involved moving down from the 12th pick to the 23rd pick and acquiring a 2026 unprotected first-round pick. 

Speculation by Bulls fans arose after Pelicans’ Head of Basketball Operations Joe Dumars revealed that he began making calls to move up in the draft, starting with the Toronto Raptors at nine, and eventually finding a deal at 13 with the Atlanta Hawks, who were only one pick after the Chicago Bulls.