Chicago Bulls fans are in a mild conundrum right now.

On one hand, Josh Giddey and Coby White are helping carry the team closer to a potential playoff—not postseason—berth. A date with the Cleveland Cavaliers or Boston Celtics in the first round would be the first time Chicago advanced that far since the 2021-22 season.

On the other hand, the Bulls need more than just Giddey, White and Matas Buzelis if they hope to become what the Cavs and Celtics have, powerhouses in the Eastern Conference. Missing the playoffs and landing higher in the draft lottery could give the franchise a stronger chance at adding another impact prospect.

Postseason seasoning or a late-lottery draft choice? Neither is ideal, but that’s where the Bulls are at the moment. If that’s the case, the team—and the fans—should be scouting players who could go in the middle-to-late first round or early second round. Here are a few.

3 NBA draft prospects Bulls fans should watch in the NCAA Sweet 16

You’ll find a common theme running through this trio.

Sion James, G/F, Duke

Sion James wasn’t a starter for the Blue Devils early this season. But head coach Jon Scheyer reached the point where he couldn’t keep the 22-year-old off the floor.

James will not be an elite shot creator or scorer at the NBA level. He may never become anything more than average at either. His three-point shooting has improved over each of his five college seasons, however (four at Tulane, one at Duke), especially on catch-and-shoot opportunities.

His true strengths are on defense, which is exactly what the Bulls should be looking to improve this offseason.

James was named to the ACC All-Defense Team in his first year at the high-major level. His strong 6-foot-5 frame, together with his length, athleticism, aggressiveness and tenacity, gives him the floor of a defense-first role player in the NBA.

Oklahoma City Thunder guard Lu Dort is a fair comparison, especially if James’ shot keeps improving. With Giddey’s and White’s lack of defensive ability, adding someone like James to the backcourt mix would begin transforming Chicago’s defense.

JT Toppin, F, Texas Tech

Like James, Toppin probably won’t develop into anything more than a tertiary scorer in the pros. He’s more of an old school, back-to-the-basket big but only stands 6-foot-9. What he does have is a sweet touch inside the paint, especially with his left hand, and high-level explosiveness that comes with a quick second jump. That’s allowed him to average 9.2 rebounds during his two seasons in the Big 12.

That same trait has also helped him average 1.9 and 1.4 blocks during his freshman and sophomore seasons, respectively. He also has quick, smart hands that can poke into passing lanes and cause deflections or strip the ball from players driving to the rim.

He’s an athletic, high-energy, defense-first rebounder who can run in transition and leap for lobs near the rim, especially with his craftiness inside. Think a slightly less explosive Robert Williams III, but without the litany of injuries.

Adou Thiero, wing, Arkansas

Thiero hasn’t played in over a month, but his scouting report as a long, athletic, slashing wing is relatively complete anyway. There’s a chance he returns for the Razorbacks’ matchup with Toppin and the Red Raiders or a potential Elite 8 game if John Calipari’s team continues to advance as the only double-digit seed left in the tournament.

Thiero followed Calipari from Kentucky to Arkansas and became the team’s leading scorer this season as a junior. He averaged 15.6 points and 6.0 rebounds on 55 percent shooting. More critically for Bulls fans, he also swiped 1.7 steals and blocked nearly a shot per game.

The 20-year-old is long and strong with a quick first step and an innate determination to get to the rim. His jump shot, frankly, looks broken, which limits his upside, but like James and Toppin, what he does best is what Chicago needs most.

Thiero’s athleticism, strong frame and 7-foot wingspan allow him to guard 1 through 4 on most nights. His physical traits and ability to attack the basket make him difficult to stop in transition. Slide Thiero’s size and defensive versatility into Donovan’s offense that loves to run teams into the ground on the fastbreak, and the Bulls have a ready-made role player with some upside still to unlock.