Orlando Magic Will Officially Keep the Chicago Bulls’ 2023 Draft Pick

The Chicago Bulls pick in the 2023 NBA Draft will officially head to Orlando.

Originally traded alongside a 2021 lottery-protected first-rounder, Wendell Carter Jr., and salary filler for Nikola Vucevic, Tuesday night’s draft lottery officially placed this year’s pick at No. 11 overall. The 2021 pick landed No. 8 overall, allowing the Magic to take high-upside youngster Franz Wagner.

Sending two lottery picks out is never an easy pill to swallow, but the 11th pick is at least somewhat bearable when we consider the Bulls were at risk of conveying an even higher selection for much of the year.

Also, for what it’s worth, the Bulls can now officially move on from the Nikole Vucevic trade. They will move forward with only one of their future first-rounders elsewhere (2025 was traded to San Antonio for DeMar DeRozan) and with an extra lottery-protected one from the Trail Blazers. With big decisions to make this offseason on the future of Vucevic (UFA) and DeRozan (up for an extension), it’s at least helpful to have a clearer idea of what their future assets look like.

Chicago entered the night with a 91.5 percent chance for this pick to land in the pockets of the Magic. With that being the case, there’s really no use in feeling disappointed in the outcome. Now, can you feel disappointed with the team’s recent play and the fact the front office put the organization in this position in the first place? Absolutely! I know I am!

I guess all we can do now is look toward free agency. Maybe the team will have a pre-draft trade or draft night surprise that throws them back in the first round. But, for now, the Bulls will not be a part of the festivities on June 22nd (yes, they are also without a second-rounder).