CHICAGO BULLS MISS OUT ON COLLINS MURRAY-BOYLES: A DEFENSIVE GAME-CHANGER THEY ALMOST HAD

Leading up to the 2025 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls focused on addressing a weak wing rotation that had been a recurring problem for the franchise, dating back to the selection of rising star Matas Buzelis with the 11th overall pick in 2024.

While Buzelis showed promise as a versatile forward, he alone was insufficient to revamp Chicago’s thin wing unit, which has long been considered a key area of need by the front office and analysts alike.

Entering the 2025 Draft, the Bulls reportedly eyed three prospects to fill this gap: Collin Murray-Boyles, Derik Queen, and Noa Essengue, each representing different strengths and skill sets for the franchise’s long-term vision.

Draft day unfolded with typical volatility. Brooklyn selected BYU’s Egor Demin at eighth overall, while the Toronto Raptors scooped up Murray-Boyles immediately afterward, leaving Chicago to select French wing Noa Essengue with the 12th pick.

Derik Queen, now thriving with the New Orleans Pelicans, has impressed early in his career, averaging 12.5 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game, putting him on track for an All-Rookie First Team selection and demonstrating his well-rounded game.

Despite Queen’s statistical production, he is not the optimal fit for Chicago’s specific needs, which were centered on elite defensive versatility and the ability to complement Matas Buzelis on the perimeter and interior.

Similarly, Essengue has had limited opportunities this season, appearing in only two games for the Bulls, and has yet to demonstrate the immediate defensive impact that Chicago desired from their draft pick.

Collin Murray-Boyles, on the other hand, represents the ideal candidate for the Bulls’ defensive needs, possessing the versatility to guard multiple positions and the physical tools necessary to thrive alongside Buzelis in the Windy City.

While Murray-Boyles may not post the same counting statistics as Queen—averaging 7.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2.0 assists—his defensive impact is elite, making him a perfect fit for Chicago’s frontcourt defensive scheme.

Murray-Boyles averages 0.7 blocks and 0.9 steals per game, slightly less than Queen, but his overall defensive rating and impact metrics are far superior, reflecting his ability to influence the game beyond the box score.

He ranks second among all qualified rookies in defensive rating at 108.0, and even among all NBA players with at least 30 games played, he ranks 31st, demonstrating the magnitude of his early-career defensive impact.

With Murray-Boyles on the floor, Toronto’s defensive efficiency improves by 5.0 points per 100 possessions, placing him in the 85th percentile and showing the tangible value he brings to team defense at both ends of the court.

Throughout his rookie season, the Raptors have trusted him with a wide range of matchups, defending both perimeter-oriented wings such as Jalen Johnson and Michael Porter Jr., as well as elite big men like Ivica Zubac and Joel Embiid, his most frequent opponents.

At 6-foot-7 with a 7-foot wingspan and 245 pounds, Murray-Boyles possesses the ideal frame to pair with Buzelis, who, at 6-foot-9 and roughly 200 pounds, profiles as a small forward with shot-blocking potential and the ability to guard power forwards in certain matchups.

This combination could have allowed the Bulls to deploy a defensive duo that mirrors the versatility of Toronto’s Scottie Barnes and Murray-Boyles pairing, which has wreaked havoc on opposing offenses and anchored one of the league’s top defenses.

The potential synergy between Murray-Boyles and Buzelis would have balanced defensive responsibilities, with Murray-Boyles taking on aggressive perimeter defense while Buzelis protected the weak side, creating a complementary and highly disruptive duo for opponents.

Chicago’s front office cannot fault themselves entirely for missing Murray-Boyles, as he was selected three picks before their turn, but the franchise must acknowledge the lost opportunity to secure a player who could have had immediate defensive influence.

Murray-Boyles’ impact in Toronto is already significant. In just his fourth professional month, he is averaging 10.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 1.3 steals, and 1.3 blocks per game, showing a well-rounded contribution that would have bolstered Chicago’s rotation immediately.

The Bulls now must wait for Essengue to develop into a contributor, which could take nearly a year, highlighting the contrast between what they received versus what could have been achieved with Murray-Boyles in their lineup.

Defensively, Murray-Boyles’ presence would have eased Buzelis’ burden, allowing Chicago to match up more effectively against elite wings and stretch forwards, including the likes of Giannis Antetokounmpo, Paolo Banchero, and other Eastern Conference stars.

The Raptors have already demonstrated the potential of a pairing like Murray-Boyles and Barnes, combining wingspan, anticipation, on-ball and off-ball pressure, turnovers creation, and blitzing schemes that disrupt opposing offenses consistently.

Chicago fans and analysts can only imagine the potential of a similar setup, pairing Murray-Boyles’ defensive instincts with Buzelis’ developing skill set, floor spacing, and weak-side shot-blocking ability to create a formidable two-way combo.

Ultimately, while the Bulls drafted Essengue and Queen remains elsewhere, the narrative of what could have been with Murray-Boyles