Chicago Bulls Losing Streak: Betting Impact and Draft Outlook
Written by: Danny Burke
Published: Mon Feb 23, 2026, 3:53 pm ET
Read Time: 6 minutes
nba
Nine straight losses, twelve of their last 13 and an overall record of 24-34. This is the current picture of the Chicago Bulls. What used to be one of the NBA's most accomplished franchises has continued to operate like it has never sniffed success.
From questionable trade deadline transactions to sloppy play, this team is a mess. But it is nothing new. The front office has been unorganized and reckless for years, and the organization has been stuck in purgatory for the better part of a decade.
With the postseason picture fading, the focus now shifts. Chicago's slide is not just frustrating for fans, it carries real implications for bettors and for the franchise's draft positioning. As the losses pile up, spreads, totals and player prop markets adjust, while lottery odds quietly become part of the equation.
The question is no longer just how bad the Bulls have been. It is how this stretch should shape expectations going forward, both on the court and in the betting market.
For additional information on picks, props, moneylines, and more on today's slate, take a look at our NBA Picks Page or our NBA Odds Page.
How Bad Have the Bulls Been?
Nine straight losses and 12 in their last 13 is self-explanatory, but the underlying numbers show just how steep the drop-off has been.
Since January 26, when the Bulls' four-game winning streak ended at home against the Lakers, here's where they rank:
Efficiency Differential: 29th
Offensive Pts/Poss: 29th
Offensive eFG%: 23rd
Defensive Pts/Poss: 26th
Defensive eFG%: 27th
Prior to that January 26 loss, here's where they stood:
Efficiency Differential: 20th
Offensive Pts/Poss: 14th
Offensive eFG%: 6th
Defensive Pts/Poss: 20th
Defensive eFG%: 17th
They were not setting the league on fire, but they were capable of putting a competitive product on the floor.
Anyone with even the slightest bit of basketball common sense understood this roster was headed for the same Play-In path that has defined this organization since the format began in 2020-21. What the Bulls have been operating under is the definition of insanity: repeating the same formula year after year while expecting different results.
But hey, as long as attendance numbers stayed intact, there did not seem to be much urgency inside the front office. That is, until those numbers finally dipped this season. Executive vice president of basketball operations Arturas Karnisovas and general manager Marc Eversley then took initiative at the trade deadline, making several moves that at least signaled a shift in direction.
Turning Point Trades
If there were banners handed out for accumulating second-round picks and as many guards as possible, Chicago would need to clear space in the United Center rafters.
In total, the Bulls acquired eight second-round picks at the deadline, failing to secure a single first-round selection in return.
Nikola Vucevic was dealt to Boston in exchange for Anfernee Simons and a 2026 second-round pick. Coby White was moved to Charlotte in a package centered around Collin Sexton, Ousmane Dieng and multiple second-round selections, though a failed medical ultimately reduced the final draft compensation.
The frontcourt was reshuffled again when Dieng was rerouted to Milwaukee for Nick Richards. Kevin Huerter, who was on an expiring contract, was traded to Detroit for Jaden Ivey. Ayo Dosunmu was also moved, with Rob Dillingham as the primary incoming piece. Chicago also swapped Dalen Terry for Guerschon Yabusele.
The moves were necessary, but they came a year or two late. Instead of selling high, Chicago waited until the value dipped and the return reflects it. The Bulls now have a crowded guard room, a thin frontcourt and not a single first-round pick to show for moving core pieces. No true cornerstone asset was acquired in return.
Perhaps that is what they are hoping to secure in this year's draft. The Bulls control their own first-round pick and could also receive Portland's, though that selection is top-14 protected through 2028. If the Trail Blazers miss the postseason and land in the lottery, the pick would not go to Chicago.
Most fans have checked out by this point in the season, but if there is something left to root for, it is the losing streak to continue and for Portland to sneak into the postseason.
Betting the Bulls
Chicago's overall record is not just disappointing, their performance against the spread has not offered much relief either. The Bulls are 26-32 ATS this season and just 2-11 against the number over their last 13 games.
In regards to the total, they are 28-30, meaning they've hit more unders than overs this season. In this 13 game debacle, eight of those games have gone over the total.
If you are looking to attack scoring props, well, good luck. With the roster reshuffled and roles still evolving, consistency will be difficult to find. Unders on name-brand players may hold more value if pricing continues to reflect past production rather than current form.
For overs, there may be more opportunity in secondary markets. Rebounding props for role players are worth watching, especially with the frontcourt thinned out and more minutes going to wings and guards who are being asked to fill those gaps.
The market will continue adjusting to Chicago's nightly spreads, but it may take time for pricing to fully reflect how volatile this new roster is. Since the revamped rotation has taken the floor together, the Bulls have dropped six straight games by an average margin of 12.3 points per contest.
This doesn't mean you should be blindly fading the Bulls. It's still important to fully assess each matchup within its proper context – market adjustments, injury news and everything else that goes into your handicapping process.
But what's evident is that this team is in a state of disarray, which we need to continue to be cognizant of going forward. That simultaneously leaves this team in a state of the unknown, but could also provide significant betting edges based on their market prices.
Tread lightly, and keep an eye on which role players are seeing an increase in playing time and whether or not there's a correlation in their props. That's the way I'll be monitoring and betting this team for the remainder of the year.
Still Didn't Get Your NBA Fix?
Follow me on X @dannyburke5 for all my picks, analysis and plenty more. Also be sure to follow Betting News on 'X' and Twitch to catch us on stream! Betting News is also on TikTok! Follow us for more picks and news every day and check out our Free Expert Picks for every major sports league.
More NBA News
NBA Betting News
2026 NBA Finals | Spurs vs. Knicks: Game 4
NBA Betting News
2026 NBA Finals MVP Odds: Race Tightens After Spurs' Game 3 Win
NBA Betting News
2026 NBA Finals | Spurs vs. Knicks: Game 3
NBA Betting News
2026 NBA Mock Draft: Predicting the Top Five Picks
Get FREE Picks and Props Weekly
Sign up for
THE WEEKENDER NEWSLETTER
Check Out All of Our Betting Resources at Betting News
Danny Burke is a betting analyst with a decade of sports media experience. He got his start at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, sharing picks on the local ESPN affiliate. After college, he hosted shows for VSiN in Las Vegas before returning to Chicago to launch 'Rush Hour', the first daily sports betting show from an Illinois casino. He also co-hosted 'Props and Locks' on Fox32’s Bears pregame show and ran 'Bet On, Chicago' on WLS-AM 890.
This site contains commercial content. We may be compensated for the links provided on this page. The content on this page is for informational purposes only. Betting News makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the information given or the outcome of any game or event.