As long as the Reinsdorks run this team it will be a terrible joke. Look at what these clowns did to the White Sox. The worst record in the history of baseball.
There’s not a lot of “great” in this, it there is definitely players who can be good, especially in the late lottery. I think it’s similar to the 2020 draft with a small tier at top then the rest of the lottery being kind of interchangeable as far as “someone might break out.” I was saying often that someone would be a star. Of course, I didn’t know who, cuz if I did, I’d be a GM.
That year, it was Tyrese Halliburton, taken 12th. But Deni Avdija, Obi Toppin, Devin Vassell, and Aaron Nesmith are all viable players. Maxey was taken 21st.
I like Thomas Sorber a lot, but that’s more for a specific role for San Antonio or OKC, but I could see someone like Carter Bryant or Joan Beringer or anyone else becoming awesome.
I think the Bulls will be super weird and take Darik Queen or Kasparas Jakucionis.
I don't think queen or jakcionis would be weird for the bulls...to me it's the opposite...I think it would be typical of the bulls. queen has some upside, but I think he will suffer all the same weaknesses as vuc, having an outdated game and role that requires him to be an efficient floor spacer. I don't know if he has the intangibles to really survive all the other forwards we will see in the same mold as him.
Jak just seems like a high floor low ceiling guy. If we draft him I'd assume Ayo is at least gone....he seems more like insurance for the bulls moving one of their many guards.
I don't "love" anyone we're likely to get in this draft.
In generalized terms:
Favorable:
1. Coward - Everyone seems to like his personality and work ethic, great athlete, good looking shot. Injury issues seem transient. He's probably the closest I have to "a guy". Reminds me a bit of Jimmy. I think I've settled on him as my top choice.
***EDIT***: 2. Noa Essengue.... see below.
3. CMB - Obviously the shot is the question, but he's pretty solid in every other respect, and again, everyone raves about him. I'd be happy with him.
I'm going with Coward because his athleticism and shooting and the way he's talked about makes me think he could really blow up.
Mildly favorable:
Maluach- I don't think his stats and athleticism line up with the way he's talked about as this instinctive player. I think he's incredibly raw and while he's got the work ethic to learn, that's a huge amount of time to sink into a guy who I don't see as a fundamentally important player. I think he's a lot closer to Zach Collins or Mark Williams than to Derrick Lively or Rudy Gobert.
Newell- Not much talked about, but he can shoot and his athleticism is really good. Undersized if you look at him as a 4, but coaches like him and he can defend wings. As a PF, he makes a lot of sense. Good in transition. The weakness is probably that he can't dribble. If he can catch though, maybe he's Gafford with a shot? Huge hands. Maybe he's similar in some ways to Pat but with a higher motor, or even Taj Gibson physically.
Sorber- Seems like a better version of Derik Queen. Sounds like the injury is healed. Coaches are more positive on him than Queen. Still looks like maybe he needs to lose more weight. Maybe a Julius Randle sort of guy?
Pretty negative
Ace Bailey- Seems like a dummy. Also, his athletic and physical testing was nothing special at all.
Carter Bryant- Combines the worst features of Dalen Terry and Pat Williams into one player. Would not take this guy.
Derik Queen- I'd describe him as a honey trap. Even if he produces numbers, I think making an offense around him is going to be like making an offense around Vuc. Will it be an "NBA offense" in which he puts up big numbers? Yep. Will you win? Nope.
Egor Demin- Maybe he's just like Matas was last year and masking an effective shooting stroke, but he doesn't look like it to me, he doesn't look as physical as Giddey (who you can somewhat use to play as a forward defensively) and he turns it over a ton.
I very much feel like on an island on Egor, which probably means he is going to suck. I think all he really lacks is consistent shooting, if he showcased that he would probably be an easy top 5 pick this year. I believe in his passing and I think he's going to be a huge asset for offenses at the next level just on his passing alone.
Egor is another honey trap, just like Queen. Or, like Giddey, who he's constantly compared to. If he's a good offensive player who can't guard anyone on defense and can't shoot well, so he has to have the ball in his hands, that doesn't strike me as a player you want to build around unless he's just unfathomably good at what he's good at.
I agree the shot needs to be at least passable, but also - I do believe he's an elite passer. A great deal of his turnovers werent because his passes were off target, but more his targets weren't expecting them. His ft numbers were mostly fine in college and his form doesn't look broken to me so I think the shooting potential is there.
Carter Bryant didn't start in college? So many interesting players in this draft, I'll be mad if we draft the one that didn't start in college... again.
No he did not. Between that and his weak free throw shooting and the fact that he's an "old" freshman (he's basically as old as Dalen Terry was as a sophomore) but shares his remarkable aversion to shooting, I see a big chance his positive looking things (college 3pt %) are kind of a mirage and his high foul rate isn't gonna go away anytime soon, especially if he has to guard NBA 3s. Which he will because he'd be well undersized as a 4.
I can't tell much with him. The level of competition he's playing against isn't good, and lately he's hardly played. But his measurables and production rates are good, and the bottom line is he was barely 18 and played 60 games of real basketball against grown men and looked decent.
I think I'd probably take him over CMB after thinking on it some more.
I'm typically terrible at this...but here's my big board
1. Flagg - no brainer, if there's a path to get him somehow the bulls do it..I trade the entire roster to build around him
2. Vj - I know everyone has harper as their second choice but I think vj has the intangibles to be a star in this league
3. Harper - what's not to like about a 6'6 guard
4. Maluach - this is honestly mostly due to need, but maluach is just the best big on the board and gives the bulls something they sorely lack immediately.
5. Trey - the guy can shoot and every team needs shooting. He's the best shooter in the draft and has the potential to be much much more
6. Egor demin - I don't care what anyone says, he has everything you can't teach and the things he struggles at can be taught. His baseline is a very tall, smart, elite passer. That's a win.
7. Kon - after trey, I think he's the next best shooter and while a more difficult path, I think he also can be much more than a shooter
8. Ace - okay so he's not 6'10. 6'8 is still good size. Okay he's not the sharpest knife, but his instincts are elite. Okay he's been an idiot in the draft process...but maybe it works out for the bulls that way?
9. CMB - elite athlete, terrific motor, good defender. hes probably closer to Craig than Phillips or Terry, and the bulls still could use thet
10. Bryant - 3 and D is valuable if not boring
11. beringer - from here on out I think everyone else is a project or not needed. Beringer has potential but should be a serviceable defender from day 1 as a big. Bulls need another big.
12. Danny Wolf - I think he's the most unique player in the draft. He's certainly a pf at the next level but he's got shake like a guard. Shit makes no sense - will it actually translate.... I dunno, but could you imagine if it did?
Hnorable mention to coward and queen who both seem like players who will find roles in the NBA.
Of all the centers I think I like Joan Beringer the best. If the Bulls are gonna run then lets get a center who can move, run, and play defense. Danny Wolf would also be interesting, he's the stretchiest player, and in a system where the ball is moving I can seem him being fun.
All the centers available seem big but plodding. Queen is interesting but the Zach Randolph comparison is crazy for this team. Maluach has "cardio" as a listed weakness. Sorber is another plodder.
In an NBA that just saw the paciest team make it to the finals, lets draft the paciest big man and let his value appreciate while we phase out Vuc.
I wonder if the Nets would package 22, 26 and 27 for the Bull's 12 (+ Terry or Carter)? There are some interesting guys who might drop into the twenties - Wolf, McNeeley, Clayton. Just on the theory that more bites at the apple is a good thing if you're already out of the running on elite players.
I like moving down, but Bulls have too many players, they've got to turn lots of players into better players. But yeah, if Wolf is the man, lets not draft him at 12.
I think that's a good theory, though I think draft tiers have a much better player at #12 slipping, right?
But anyway I think Bulls theory is instead to have lazer focus on someone and burn assets. I shouldn't have said there's zero rumors with the Bulls bc there is a Jake Fischer report that they'll trade up
I’m predicting chaos in the lottery tonight. We’re going to see at least two players jump up which will lead to a quite a few players sliding down to where the Bulls are picking.
5 Fears. This is probably the first surprise but if I were them, I’d go for upside and Fears is like a basketball savant. Maybe he’s just Jamal Crawford at worst but he’s exciting and they need talent and excitement and can afford to take this swing. Especially when the alternatives aren’t so great.
6. Wizards. Guessing they take Tre since they traded Poole yesterday. I’m not a Tre guy, he does nothing at all besides shoot. He’s got Dog McDogmut disease. I think if I were them I’d swing on Coward, or if that’s too risky for them, Jak or Demin, whichever they feel more comfortable with. I don’t like either of them that much.
7. If I were them I’d take Ace but the Pelicans supposedly love Queen
8. Maluach? Figure they need everything and have time to burn.
9. Jak another oversized Passy guy. Maybe they like Demin better, but either would seem to work for them. Again I’d take Coward because he seems to fit with everyone.
10 Suns will trade this pick… to Boston… who takes Coward. Don’t know how it works. Randomly who says no to Jaylen Brown for Devin Booker?
The most important thing for the Bulls to come out of the draft with is a guy who can't make jump shots in an empty gym. Even better if he had good measurables combined with minimal production in college, particularly if he came off the bench for a team that lost in the first weekend of the tournament. That's the AKME sweet spot of basketball talent acquisition, guys where you have to imagine them having basic skills you'd expect a high school starter on a good team to have.
As long as the Reinsdorks run this team it will be a terrible joke. Look at what these clowns did to the White Sox. The worst record in the history of baseball.
I think the only thing that could get me excited about tonight’s draft is a meteor colliding into Reinsdorf’s house
There’s not a lot of “great” in this, it there is definitely players who can be good, especially in the late lottery. I think it’s similar to the 2020 draft with a small tier at top then the rest of the lottery being kind of interchangeable as far as “someone might break out.” I was saying often that someone would be a star. Of course, I didn’t know who, cuz if I did, I’d be a GM.
That year, it was Tyrese Halliburton, taken 12th. But Deni Avdija, Obi Toppin, Devin Vassell, and Aaron Nesmith are all viable players. Maxey was taken 21st.
I like Thomas Sorber a lot, but that’s more for a specific role for San Antonio or OKC, but I could see someone like Carter Bryant or Joan Beringer or anyone else becoming awesome.
I think the Bulls will be super weird and take Darik Queen or Kasparas Jakucionis.
I don't think queen or jakcionis would be weird for the bulls...to me it's the opposite...I think it would be typical of the bulls. queen has some upside, but I think he will suffer all the same weaknesses as vuc, having an outdated game and role that requires him to be an efficient floor spacer. I don't know if he has the intangibles to really survive all the other forwards we will see in the same mold as him.
Jak just seems like a high floor low ceiling guy. If we draft him I'd assume Ayo is at least gone....he seems more like insurance for the bulls moving one of their many guards.
I don't "love" anyone we're likely to get in this draft.
In generalized terms:
Favorable:
1. Coward - Everyone seems to like his personality and work ethic, great athlete, good looking shot. Injury issues seem transient. He's probably the closest I have to "a guy". Reminds me a bit of Jimmy. I think I've settled on him as my top choice.
***EDIT***: 2. Noa Essengue.... see below.
3. CMB - Obviously the shot is the question, but he's pretty solid in every other respect, and again, everyone raves about him. I'd be happy with him.
I'm going with Coward because his athleticism and shooting and the way he's talked about makes me think he could really blow up.
Mildly favorable:
Maluach- I don't think his stats and athleticism line up with the way he's talked about as this instinctive player. I think he's incredibly raw and while he's got the work ethic to learn, that's a huge amount of time to sink into a guy who I don't see as a fundamentally important player. I think he's a lot closer to Zach Collins or Mark Williams than to Derrick Lively or Rudy Gobert.
Newell- Not much talked about, but he can shoot and his athleticism is really good. Undersized if you look at him as a 4, but coaches like him and he can defend wings. As a PF, he makes a lot of sense. Good in transition. The weakness is probably that he can't dribble. If he can catch though, maybe he's Gafford with a shot? Huge hands. Maybe he's similar in some ways to Pat but with a higher motor, or even Taj Gibson physically.
Sorber- Seems like a better version of Derik Queen. Sounds like the injury is healed. Coaches are more positive on him than Queen. Still looks like maybe he needs to lose more weight. Maybe a Julius Randle sort of guy?
Pretty negative
Ace Bailey- Seems like a dummy. Also, his athletic and physical testing was nothing special at all.
Carter Bryant- Combines the worst features of Dalen Terry and Pat Williams into one player. Would not take this guy.
Derik Queen- I'd describe him as a honey trap. Even if he produces numbers, I think making an offense around him is going to be like making an offense around Vuc. Will it be an "NBA offense" in which he puts up big numbers? Yep. Will you win? Nope.
Egor Demin- Maybe he's just like Matas was last year and masking an effective shooting stroke, but he doesn't look like it to me, he doesn't look as physical as Giddey (who you can somewhat use to play as a forward defensively) and he turns it over a ton.
I very much feel like on an island on Egor, which probably means he is going to suck. I think all he really lacks is consistent shooting, if he showcased that he would probably be an easy top 5 pick this year. I believe in his passing and I think he's going to be a huge asset for offenses at the next level just on his passing alone.
Egor is another honey trap, just like Queen. Or, like Giddey, who he's constantly compared to. If he's a good offensive player who can't guard anyone on defense and can't shoot well, so he has to have the ball in his hands, that doesn't strike me as a player you want to build around unless he's just unfathomably good at what he's good at.
I agree the shot needs to be at least passable, but also - I do believe he's an elite passer. A great deal of his turnovers werent because his passes were off target, but more his targets weren't expecting them. His ft numbers were mostly fine in college and his form doesn't look broken to me so I think the shooting potential is there.
https://open.substack.com/pub/truehoop/p/draft-cedric-coward-second-overall?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=2bo
Carter Bryant didn't start in college? So many interesting players in this draft, I'll be mad if we draft the one that didn't start in college... again.
No he did not. Between that and his weak free throw shooting and the fact that he's an "old" freshman (he's basically as old as Dalen Terry was as a sophomore) but shares his remarkable aversion to shooting, I see a big chance his positive looking things (college 3pt %) are kind of a mirage and his high foul rate isn't gonna go away anytime soon, especially if he has to guard NBA 3s. Which he will because he'd be well undersized as a 4.
Also favorable should be Noa Essengue.
I can't tell much with him. The level of competition he's playing against isn't good, and lately he's hardly played. But his measurables and production rates are good, and the bottom line is he was barely 18 and played 60 games of real basketball against grown men and looked decent.
I think I'd probably take him over CMB after thinking on it some more.
I'm typically terrible at this...but here's my big board
1. Flagg - no brainer, if there's a path to get him somehow the bulls do it..I trade the entire roster to build around him
2. Vj - I know everyone has harper as their second choice but I think vj has the intangibles to be a star in this league
3. Harper - what's not to like about a 6'6 guard
4. Maluach - this is honestly mostly due to need, but maluach is just the best big on the board and gives the bulls something they sorely lack immediately.
5. Trey - the guy can shoot and every team needs shooting. He's the best shooter in the draft and has the potential to be much much more
6. Egor demin - I don't care what anyone says, he has everything you can't teach and the things he struggles at can be taught. His baseline is a very tall, smart, elite passer. That's a win.
7. Kon - after trey, I think he's the next best shooter and while a more difficult path, I think he also can be much more than a shooter
8. Ace - okay so he's not 6'10. 6'8 is still good size. Okay he's not the sharpest knife, but his instincts are elite. Okay he's been an idiot in the draft process...but maybe it works out for the bulls that way?
9. CMB - elite athlete, terrific motor, good defender. hes probably closer to Craig than Phillips or Terry, and the bulls still could use thet
10. Bryant - 3 and D is valuable if not boring
11. beringer - from here on out I think everyone else is a project or not needed. Beringer has potential but should be a serviceable defender from day 1 as a big. Bulls need another big.
12. Danny Wolf - I think he's the most unique player in the draft. He's certainly a pf at the next level but he's got shake like a guard. Shit makes no sense - will it actually translate.... I dunno, but could you imagine if it did?
Hnorable mention to coward and queen who both seem like players who will find roles in the NBA.
Of all the centers I think I like Joan Beringer the best. If the Bulls are gonna run then lets get a center who can move, run, and play defense. Danny Wolf would also be interesting, he's the stretchiest player, and in a system where the ball is moving I can seem him being fun.
All the centers available seem big but plodding. Queen is interesting but the Zach Randolph comparison is crazy for this team. Maluach has "cardio" as a listed weakness. Sorber is another plodder.
In an NBA that just saw the paciest team make it to the finals, lets draft the paciest big man and let his value appreciate while we phase out Vuc.
I wonder if the Nets would package 22, 26 and 27 for the Bull's 12 (+ Terry or Carter)? There are some interesting guys who might drop into the twenties - Wolf, McNeeley, Clayton. Just on the theory that more bites at the apple is a good thing if you're already out of the running on elite players.
I like moving down, but Bulls have too many players, they've got to turn lots of players into better players. But yeah, if Wolf is the man, lets not draft him at 12.
I think that's a good theory, though I think draft tiers have a much better player at #12 slipping, right?
But anyway I think Bulls theory is instead to have lazer focus on someone and burn assets. I shouldn't have said there's zero rumors with the Bulls bc there is a Jake Fischer report that they'll trade up
Why do I feel like AK's going to trade Coby and #12 for Brooklyn's #8 and pretend that that's somehow a good deal?
I’m predicting chaos in the lottery tonight. We’re going to see at least two players jump up which will lead to a quite a few players sliding down to where the Bulls are picking.
For the draft itself I think
3 VJ
4 Kon
5 Fears. This is probably the first surprise but if I were them, I’d go for upside and Fears is like a basketball savant. Maybe he’s just Jamal Crawford at worst but he’s exciting and they need talent and excitement and can afford to take this swing. Especially when the alternatives aren’t so great.
6. Wizards. Guessing they take Tre since they traded Poole yesterday. I’m not a Tre guy, he does nothing at all besides shoot. He’s got Dog McDogmut disease. I think if I were them I’d swing on Coward, or if that’s too risky for them, Jak or Demin, whichever they feel more comfortable with. I don’t like either of them that much.
7. If I were them I’d take Ace but the Pelicans supposedly love Queen
8. Maluach? Figure they need everything and have time to burn.
9. Jak another oversized Passy guy. Maybe they like Demin better, but either would seem to work for them. Again I’d take Coward because he seems to fit with everyone.
10 Suns will trade this pick… to Boston… who takes Coward. Don’t know how it works. Randomly who says no to Jaylen Brown for Devin Booker?
11 CMB to Blazers.
12. Bulls take Carter Bryant and make me sad.
The most important thing for the Bulls to come out of the draft with is a guy who can't make jump shots in an empty gym. Even better if he had good measurables combined with minimal production in college, particularly if he came off the bench for a team that lost in the first weekend of the tournament. That's the AKME sweet spot of basketball talent acquisition, guys where you have to imagine them having basic skills you'd expect a high school starter on a good team to have.
Here's Ricky's take, for your consideration
###
Bulls draft wish list:
Pipedream: Khaman Maluach
I'm pumped: Collin Murray-Boyles, Noa Essengue
Can easily talk myself into it: Derik Queen, Kasparas Jakucionis, Thomas Sorber, Cedric Coward
I'm bummed: Demin, Wolf, Beringer, Newell