Revisionist history was made for professional sports drafts. “Oh, why didn’t you pick this guy that turned out better than that guy?” Probably would’ve if the future had been that clear to begin with.
That’s where the Chicago Bulls and the rest of the NBA find themselves during the Eastern Conference Finals. Tyrese Haliburton is leading the Indiana Pacers to the NBA Finals, probably, and he’s a regret for every team that didn’t choose him out of Iowa State.
NBA reporter Nick Friedell recently said some Bulls front office members were “very, very high” on Haliburton in 2020, but their voices didn’t win out.
The Bulls instead picked the raw Patrick Williams out of Florida State, and while he’s still in Chicago, it hasn’t worked out.
The Pacers weren’t the team that drafted Haliburton, either. The Sacramento Kings took him 12th overall, and it was only after Hali established himself in the league that Indiana traded Domantas Sabonis for him in a deal that looks like a steal.
The full 11 picks before Haliburton:
- No. 1 Anthony Edwards (MIN)
- No. 2 James Wiseman (GS)
- No. 3 LaMelo Ball (CHA)
- No. 4 Patrick Williams (CHI)
- No. 5 Isaac Okoro (CLE)
- No. 6 Onyeka Okongwu (ATL)
- No. 7 Killian Hayes (DET)
- No. 8 Obi Toppin (NYK)
- No. 9 Deni Avdija (WAS)
- No. 10 Jalen Smith (PHX)
- No. 11 Devin Vassell (SAS)
Ironically, the eighth pick there, Toppin, is now Haliburton’s teammate on the Pacers as they try and knock off the Knicks team that drafted Toppin.
Edwards, of course, is still alive in the Western Conference, although the Thunder are likely about to eliminate him.
That’s really not a great top-10. Avdija redeemed himself with a strong 2025, but that was away from the Wizards across the league in Portland.
Ball has been a strong talent, as expected. Wiseman and Hayes were huge busts.
Haliburton looks like he’ll go down as one of the best players in this draft, and he was right there for the taking.
But the Kings got him, then made the silly move to give him up for an old-school big guy, and the rest is history.
