NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MAY 15: Nikola Vucevic #9, Lauri Markkanen #24, and Patrick Williams #44 of the ... [+]
Getty ImagesChicago Bulls general manager Marc Eversley wasn’t able to replicate Arturas Karnisovas’ luck from last year. The Bulls stayed at No. 8 in the 2021 NBA Draft Lottery proceedings, meaning that first-round pick goes to the Orlando Magic due to the Nikola Vucevic trade right before the deadline. Chicago also owes its 2023 first-round pick to the Magic, with the same protections on it as the 2021 pick.
The Bulls entered Tuesday night’s lottery with a 20.3% chance of moving into the top four and keeping that selection, as well as a 4.5% chance of getting the No. 1 pick. They had a 34.5% chance of staying at No. 8.
The lottery went chalk until the No. 7 Toronto Raptors moved up to No. 4. The Detroit Pistons won the No. 1 pick and the right to draft consensus top pick Cade Cunningham out of Oklahoma State, so Chicago will have to deal with him for a long time. Another Central Division team in the Cleveland Cavaliers moved up to No. 3. The Magic also wound up with the No. 5 pick, giving them two picks in the top eight.
So, this was a rough night for the Bulls after a rough finish to their season. Karnisovas got aggressive and pulled the trigger on the Vucevic trade in order to give Zach LaVine an All-Star running mate and make a push for the postseason, but they fell short due to a number of factors. LaVine’s ankle injury and positive Covid-19 test helped nuke that push, and Chicago also struggled to build chemistry with all the new players amid a weird season.
The poor finish and these lottery results will lead to some fresh questioning of the Vucevic trade, which also saw the Bulls send away Wendell Carter Jr. and Otto Porter Jr. while bringing on Al-Farouq Aminu, who’s exercising a player option worth over $10 million for 2021-22. It’s fair to think Chicago gave up too much in the deal, but LaVine and Vucevic should make for a formidable offensive pairing with more chemistry and better health. A jump into playoff contention should be the expectation, especially with the right moves around them.
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The Bulls do still have the No. 38 pick, and they could try to trade into the draft to get another pick or more. However, much of the focus will turn to free agency as Karnisovas looks to retool this roster. Losing this pick is definitely a bummer, but the odds were against them and this front office must get creative in order to improve as LaVine gets set to hit unrestricted free agency in 2022.
There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to creating meaningful cap space. Thaddeus Young and Tomas Satoransky have partially guaranteed deals. A big decision has to be made on Lauri Markkanen’s future, though most believe he’ll be going elsewhere. Daniel Theis and Garrett Temple are veteran free agents. Chicago needs an upgrade at point guard, especially with Coby White out for a while after shoulder surgery, and Lonzo Ball is expected to be a target, among others. The Bulls have the option to use cap space for a LaVine renegotiation and extension as well.
The Bulls could also operate as an over-the-cap team depending on how things shake out. This would give them the option of using exceptions to sign players. Trades and sign-and-trades are possibilities as well, and there will surely be plenty more Ben Simmons speculation. Patrick Williams will be a key player to watch moving into the future, whether as a trade chip or as a rising star.
For now, the Bulls will lick their wounds after a disappointing lottery. But this front office will not sulk and will get back to work in preparation for a crucial offseason, even without a first-round pick in hand.
The Link LonkJune 23, 2021 at 08:51AM
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jasonpatt/2021/06/22/chicago-bulls-get-no-lottery-luck-send-2021-nba-draft-pick-to-orlando-magic/
Chicago Bulls Get No Lottery Luck, Send 2021 NBA Draft Pick To Orlando Magic - Forbes
https://news.google.com/search?q=Send&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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