The Chicago Bulls blew a massive call back in 2006, and the scars are still visible today. Fresh details from a recent podcast expose just how close the franchise came to securing a future legend. Former Nets assistant GM Bobby Marks dropped the story on ESPN’s The Hoop Collective. In the 2006 NBA Draft, Chicago sat on the number two overall pick, per Marks’ account. Instead of pulling the trigger on the best available talent, they traded back to the fourth spot just to grab Tyrus Thomas.
The Mistake That Never Ends
History hasn’t been kind to this move.
LaMarcus Aldridge was on the board at number two, yet the Bulls passed. Aldridge racked up 18 seasons in the league. He earned seven All-Star selections and made five All-NBA teams. Meanwhile, Tyrus Thomas didn’t even finish his rookie contract with Chicago. The team shipped him out at the 2010 NBA trade deadline. They swapped a future star for a player who couldn’t stick.
According to Pippen Ain’t Easy, the Nets actually held the 22nd and 23rd picks that year. Chicago could have slid down to those spots to snag Marcus Williams or Josh Boone. But the real question is what would have happened if they stayed put. If the Bulls kept the number two pick, they’d have Aldridge today. If they traded back to the 16th spot, they might have grabbed Kyle Lowry. Lowry became a six-time All-Star and won a championship in 2019.
A Lost Opportunity for the Guard Rotation
That draft timing was tricky for Chicago. The roster already featured Kirk Hinrich, Ben Gordon, and Chris Duhon in the backcourt. That rotation felt set in stone. Adding another guard might have looked redundant at the time. Lowry proved he could fit alongside anyone, though. It took him nine seasons and three teams to reach his first All-Star game in 2015 (a date that still stings). The Bulls missed out on that entire growth trajectory.
Bobby Marks noted that the Nets were offering a future first-round pick during the talks. That deal would have handed Chicago more assets for the long haul. Taking a swing at Thomas was a huge risk. The result? A miss on both Tyrus Thomas and LaMarcus Aldridge. The front office swung hard and missed the ball completely.
Why the Front Office Got It Wrong
People often forget how ugly this trade looks in hindsight. The 2006 draft isn’t viewed as a top-tier class, but it held talent. Aldridge was the clear standout. He built a career the Bulls never saw from Thomas. Thomas never finished his rookie deal. He was gone before he could make a real impact.
Per analysis from Pippen Ain’t Easy, the Bulls could have secured Kyle Lowry if they moved back to the 16th spot. That selection would have added a future champion to the roster. Instead, the team stuck with a plan that failed. They traded a sure thing for a question mark. The numbers don’t lie: Aldridge made the All-Star team seven times. Thomas didn’t make a single one.
Chicago needs to learn from this history. They can’t keep trading away future stars for short-term fixes. Every draft day decision matters. This one cost the franchise an All-Star for 18 years. Fans remember the names. They remember the missed chances. The front office must do better next time. The 2025 draft is coming up in June.
