Presented by Nationwide Insurance Agent Jeff Vukovich
The Bulls did not Draft Cooper Flagg on Wednesday.
But they increased their ability to potentially put themselves in a position to do so. And by selecting Matas Buzelis with the 11th pick in the first round of the NBA’s two-day NBA Draft, they continued the potential rebuild that management may smooth over as a restructure that began with the Alex Caruso trade for Josh Giddey last week.
Make no mistake: Not only is Zach LaVine available for trade, but the Bulls are open for business. And with growing rumors that DeMar DeRozan will be elsewhere next season, whether through a sign-or-trade or simply walking into unrestricted free agency, the buzzword is no longer competitive.
It’s Cooper.
The Bulls need to finish in the bottom 10 next season to keep the protected first-round pick they owe the San Antonio Spurs in the DeRozan sign-and-trade acquisition starting in August 2021. That’s the month Artūras Karnišovas and his staff remade the Bulls. with a vision that led the Eastern Conference until Lonzo Ball’s left knee required the first of multiple surgeries.
The front office, already cashing in on a rebuild centered on Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr. and others he inherited upon being hired, had tried to remain competitive after a playoff season. Instead, the Bulls failed to get out of the Play In tournament in two consecutive seasons.
And now, with adding a dynamic guard with potential in Giddey, drafting a 19-year-old in Matas Buzelis and all signs pointing to the Bulls re-signing Patrick Williams in restricted free agency, a youth movement could be in the works. on going.
The Bulls liked Ron Holland II, according to sources, who went to the Detroit Pistons with the fifth overall pick. But Buzelis was widely expected to disappear with the Bulls’ 11th pick.
In fact, after holding talks to move up in the draft with Donovan Clingan as a potential target or return with another local kid, Terrence Shannon Jr., as a possibility, the Bulls fully expected someone high on their draft board to be available at the position. number 11.
That someone is Buzelis, a 6-foot-9 forward who was born and raised in Chicago, played for Hinsdale Central for one year and played for G League Ignite last season.
Buzelis spoke with KeynoteUSA Sports Chicago in March about the hypothetical of playing for the Bulls.
“I would feel good about it,” he said then. “Local hero! It would be fun to play for Chicago. He just watched them when he was younger, watched Derrick Rose play. It would be a great experience. … We went to games frequently when the Grizzlies played because one of my dad’s clients, who he works with, plays for the Grizzlies.”
Providence guard Devin Carter, long linked to the Bulls, was available. Given that he is projected to be more out-of-the-box than Buzelis, it’s another sign that the Bulls are playing the long game here.
“I’m ready to work,” Buzelis said on the KeynoteUSA broadcast.
There will be plenty of opportunities in what is suddenly a youth movement with Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, Dalen Terry and Julian Phillips also on the roster.
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