Chicago Bulls 2024 NBA Draft Lottery Preview

We're keeping the NBA Draft Lottery previews rolling! This time, we feature the Chicago Bulls!

Maxwell: Stephen, as a Chicagoan, I'm in shambles. It's not a great time to live here as a sports fan. The Cubs are just okay. The White Sox are a disaster. There's a glimmer of hope for the Bears, but they're generally terrible. The Blackhawks have a generational talent, but we’re still cheeks. The Chicago Sky are off to an uneven start and the Bulls have been mired in mediocrity for an eternity at this point. As a father, I would love to raise a Basketball Sicko, but I'm afraid for my daughter's future. When Michael Jordan retired, I had to turn elsewhere. I latched onto Allen Iverson and Tim Duncan. I'd love for my daughter to have a Michael Jordan type figure in Chicago basketball, but it appears most likely that she'll have to turn elsewhere, just like her father before her. At least on the men’s side. Angel Reese, we’re counting on you.

Before we get into our targets, I think it's important to focus on philosophy. The Bulls have generally been a more conservative operator and haven't wielded the power that typically comes from being a Big Market franchise. Their biggest free agent signings are more along the lines of Carlos Boozer than LeBron James. While they got aggressive with the Vucevic trade, they're often more content to stand pat and run it back than shake things up. For that reason, I want the Bulls to be aggressive with this pick. I get it—the 2024 draft class is perceived as having few potential stars, and even some of those potential stars have gnarly flaws. However, it's time to move. The Bulls can't keep "decent player"-ing their way into the 6-10 seed range. I mean, they have, but it's off-putting. 

The DeMar DeRozan situation is up in the air. Coby White broke out, but with the amount of elite guard talent in the NBA, I'm still not sure he's a cornerstone guy. Patrick Williams still feels more conceptual than I'd like at this stage in the game. Remember Lonzo Ball? It feels like the optimal window to trade Alex Caruso at his peak value came and went. I say all this to say...I'm not worried about drafting over anybody. I don't know what this roster construction is meant to achieve, and I don't know what the vision is supposed to be.

I want to see a winner's mentality on draft night. In my book, it's time to swing for big, gaudy outcomes, even if they may be unlikely. Something's gotta give. Worst case, a guy stinks and we stay where we are. But I need that glimmer of hope. Where are you at with things, Stephen?

Stephen: As someone who cares for you–and our guy, Corey—it makes me sad to see this storied franchise that is among the top teams in total NBA Championships be in their current state. Or, for them to stay in a state they have been in for a while. You’re right; the Bulls are in a bleak position. I don’t think they have done a bad job in terms of process, for what it’s worth. They drafted a very good player in Lauri Markkanen. They drafted Daniel Gafford in the second round. They drafted Wendell Carter Jr. Coby White has turned into a really good guard. Patrick Williams has been a solid player, but he just feels like the next Chicago player to find success elsewhere. The draft hasn’t really been a negative for the team–it’s just been how they address Free Agency and the trade market that has led the organization to this point. Over-valuing players that have been solid for a long time seems to be their approach to those areas but, in the draft, they seem to find players that can contribute and that don’t ever really bust.

If you’re looking for players that have some high-end outcomes, there may still be a few in play when Chicago is on the clock with the 11th pick. Carlton Carrington could be the guy who has the type of ceiling that could result in that gaudy outcome you’re desperately looking for. He began his freshman season at Pittsburgh with some double-doubles. You can’t get more gaudy than that. As the season progressed, some of the numbers went down but he averaged 13.8 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 4.1 APG while posting splits of 41/32/79. “Bub” Carrington will still be 18 on draft night, too. His ability to operate the pick-and-roll was among the elite in all of college hoops. He has a good bag, which helps him get to his spots. He ranked in the 85th percentile in the mid-range area, and played with tremendous poise for his age.

His defense managed to improve over the course of the season. His numbers weren’t spectacular on that end, but there is reason to believe that with his positional size (6’3.75” with a 6' 8” wingspan) and a frame that looks like it will build well in the league, he can become solid on that end. He also rebounded well on the defensive end. I realize that there is the presence of Coby White but if you’re looking for a winning mentality, are you truly going to avoid drafting a point guard of the future because of him? Personally, I don’t see why both can’t be on the team but I would still go for Bub to give this team some real upside.

One player who isn’t really discussed as a high-ceiling guy, but could be the guy with their pick, is Kyle Filipowski. If the Bulls are believers in their gauntlet of guards–and they are going to continue to be invested in them–one area they can stand to improve in is their frontcourt. Nikola Vucevic hasn’t been the answer that Chicago hoped he would be. Andre Drummond has been nice, but is a Free Agent. Patrick Williams is in trade rumors as I’m typing this. Adding a big man who has an offense that is rare among his size could be the youth movement Chicago fans are looking for.

Kyle measured in at 6’10.75” without shoes at the combine and weighed in at 229.8 pounds. The Bulls adding “Flip” could help their creative guards, as he can finish around the rim and has the game to extend to the three-point line. Kyle finished in the 61st percentile at the rim, and in the 99th percentile in shots from the rim to 17 feet. He has a number of moves that allow him to finish contest shots with a very good touch. The shot just doesn’t match the percentage that we saw this season; it’s just too pretty for him to be a 35% shooter from distance. That percentage is an improvement from last season, which could mean that it’ll improve–especially with a much more spaced-out court in the pros. 

His playmaking for his position isn’t other-worldly, but it is definitely above average. He finished with an assist percentage of 18.4–which was among the top five for all forward/centers within his class. The plus playmaking he could give Chicago would be a step in the right direction for a more advanced style of offense. I wouldn’t get too locked in to what position he will play; he can complement a lesser-shooting center or four-man. He could also help the Bulls play five out with Vuc. 

I’m doing all I can at this range to give you, Corey, and the rest of Bulls Nation some hope here, Maxwell. How do you like these couple of options? Have any better ideas? 

Maxwell: I’ve got some other guys in mind. First, I’m going to lead off with Ron Holland. He’s been slipping on boards lately. Look, I get it. He shot 24% from three. His 30.6% mark on pull-up twos isn’t the greatest indicator, either. It’s going to take him some time to sniff respectability from beyond the arc, if he ever does. Plus, he had a negative assist-to-turnover ratio. He’s too content to charge into traffic without a plan, and he doesn’t have the handle craft to play through that.

But I need an attempt at raising the ceiling. Could it be that Ron Holland is just Derrick Jones when he’s not scorching hot from the corners? Yup. But what if Ron Holland DOES start to shoot? And while his assist-to-turnover mark was negative overall, he posted a positive figure during the “regular season” part of the G League schedule once he acclimated. I don’t think his feel is broken. Also, his first step from a standstill is devastating. He’s going to find ways to pressure the rim.

Plus, we haven’t even talked about his defense or rebounding yet. Sure, he needs some refinement. But his stop-start acceleration, motor, and vertical explosiveness give him a variety of ways to make plays and create transition opportunities. Given his measurables, tools, and want-to, it’s hard to imagine that he won’t be a net positive on that end. Given the shortcoming the Bulls have defensively at other positions, that alone could make him helpful. I get that the Holland pick could go wrong, but if it goes right, it changes everything.

Ready for my other home run swing? Zach Edey. I get it—he’s not that fast, he’s not going to switch, and transition might be an issue for him. But you know what else is an issue? Trying to find defenders who can slow down a 7’4” guy who weighs 300 pounds and has a 7’10” wingspan. Edey’s touch, ambidexterity, and willingness to figuratively shove his opponent into a locker make him a near-unstoppable interior force. He’s a selfless, calculated, and physical screener. If nothing else, he’s going to do the dirty work to get other guys open, dominate the glass, and supply extreme rim gravity. 

I think the defense might be better than we’re expecting, too. He carried a gigantic usage load at Purdue and played an ungodly amount for a man his size. He’s got real stamina, he deters drivers, and he won’t have to worry about foul trouble nearly as much at the next level. His movement patterns, agility, and flexibility have continuously improved. I truly don’t think he’ll be toast, and I think he may actually be pretty solid on that end. 

For that reason, I think he’s got a pretty safe floor. At worst, he’ll be a change-of-pace big. Realistically, I think he’s a bruising starter along the lines of Ivica Zubac or Jonas Valanciunas. But I also think there’s a non-zero chance that his interior dominance scales up. He’s giant even by NBA standards, and that matters. The mere possibility of that makes it worth a try for me. 

The Bulls have been at a crossroads for a while. Unfortunately for Bulls fans, the response has been to say, “what if we just stay parked at this intersection?” In my opinion, it’s time to move. I’m not fully confident in Holland or Edey reaching their optimal outcomes. But the mere possibility that they could get the car rolling makes it worth a try.