Category: Bulls NBA Draft

Bulls NBA Draft Prospect Profile: Dalton Knecht

As the Chicago Bulls prepare for the offseason, the 2024 NBA Draft will mark a crucial point for them. After three years of mediocrity with their current core, Arturas Karnisovas finally admitted that the current roster isn’t working. Now, the Bulls …

As the Chicago Bulls prepare for the offseason, the 2024 NBA Draft will mark a crucial point for them. After three years of mediocrity with their current core, Arturas Karnisovas finally admitted that the current roster isn’t working. Now, the Bulls should be looking to plan for the future, and that will start with who they are able to select in the upcoming draft.

The emergence of Coby White as a potential star this season was monumental for the Bulls, as they now have a guy they can partially build around moving forward. Ayo Dosunmu falls under that same category, as he also enjoyed a great 2023-24 season. But they cannot do it alone, and the Bulls will need to add some young talent around them if they want to brighten their future.

Tennessee wing Dalton Knecht could be a guy they look to target. Some mock drafts have the 23-year-old being off the board by the time Chicago’s pick comes around, but his shooting and scoring ability make him a very intriguing fit for the Bulls.

The NBA Mock Draft ESPN posted on April 17 has Knecht going to the Houston Rockets at pick nine.

“The Rockets turned the page on their rebuilding process by hiring head coach Ime Udoka and making a splash in free agency last summer, indicating they could look at more ready-made players with this pick considering the plethora of youth already on the roster,” wrote Jonathan Givony. “Shooting will likely be a priority for Houston this summer, and the dynamic perimeter game of the nearly 23-year-old Knecht — who made 40% of his 3s this season — could be attractive with this pick.”

Bleacher Report’s NBA Mock Draft on April 22 has Knecht falling to the Utah Jazz with the eighth pick.

“Despite the loss to Purdue, Dalton Knecht added another special scoring performance to a resume that already shows 30-40-point games against Kentucky, Auburn, North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida,” wrote Jonathan Wasserman. “He put up 37 points in the Elite Eight off mostly signature shotmaking that scouts deem translatable, given his size, stroke and general shooting versatility. He seemingly has an ideal skill set for a complementary role at the next level, where he can space the floor, curl off screens and take dribble handoffs into pull-ups or drives.

“Turning 23 years old this month, Knecht will have some skeptics who worry about age for a lottery pick. But most teams won’t be overly picky in 2024. The idea of adding a plug-and-play scorer with a valued core skill and professional approach will look appealing outside the top five.”

In the mock draft posted by No Ceilings on April 9, Knecht goes to the Memphis Grizzlies at seven.

“Despite being burdened with a heavy offensive load and heaps of defensive attention, Knecht managed to knock down 42.4% of his threes during conference play this season,” wrote Maxwell Baumbach. “Chase him off the line, and he may put someone on a poster. Knecht registered 27 dunks this past season. That’s an excellent mark for a wing, but it’s even more impressive when taking into account that he both missed time and played through injury.

“While he may be older, Knecht may also boast more upside than his fellow graduate peers, as he’s a late bloomer who didn’t finish growing until college and just completed his first high-major season. Defensively, Knecht needs to make improvements, but Tennessee wasn’t worse with him on the court on that end.”

This is a weird draft. It’s been heralded as the worst draft in a long time, but Knecht seems like a great player. The question is, should the Bulls want to grab someone a bit younger?

Knecht has a great NBA skill set. With his shooting and ability to score in bunches, he makes a ton of sense for the Bulls in terms of his on-court fit. But if the Bulls want to plan for the future, drafting someone a bit younger could make some sense.

That said, at this point, the Bulls should just want to grab the best player available. If Knecht falls to the Bulls at pick 11, they should definitely seriously consider snagging the Tennessee product.

Bulls should be jealous of Bears’ opportunity with Caleb Williams

The Chicago Bulls front office should be jealous of the Chicago Bears and Caleb Williams.

The Chicago Bears are set to select Caleb Williams with the first pick in the 2024 NFL Draft on Thursday night. The USC quarterback is heralded as a generational talent who is slated to change the course of the franchise. The Chicago Bulls haven’t had that chance in years. And it’s the front office’s fault. Elias Schuster of Bleacher Nation is none too pleased.

“The opportunity the Bears have in front of them makes the Chicago Bulls’ obsessor in me extremely jealous,” Schuster wrote. “Not only are they about to select a generational talent at the most important position in the league, but they are also in that spot because of their front-office leader! Ryan Poles pulled off a miraculous trade last season to set this organization up for long-term success. Meanwhile, the Bulls front office has continued to risk the future for immediate gratification. And despite what Arturas Karnisovas said in his end-of-season press conference, I still fear this is the path that they’ll continue down.”

Williams’ game-changing talent should help the Bears surge into the future, meanwhile, the Bulls are going to get left in the dust once again.

The Bulls’ front office has been brutal.

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NBA Mock Draft sees Bulls select Purdue big man Zach Edey with pick 11

In a recent NBA Mock Draft, the Chicago Bulls pick Purdue’s Zach Edey with the 11th pick.

This offseason is an important one for the Chicago Bulls as they look to shake up their roster and move forward past their current core, which Arturas Karnisovas finally admitted isn’t working. As they plan for the future, the 2024 NBA Mock Draft will provide them a chance to add young talent. In No Ceilings’ latest mock draft, they have the Bulls selecting Purdue center Zach Edey with the 11th pick.

“Edey may not seem like a traditional home run swing, but for a team like Chicago that wants to stay competitive, Edey’s unique talents and tools could fit their play style and give them a weapon X of sorts,” wrote Corey Taluba.

The 7-foot-4 big man lost in the National Championship to UConn this past season. His last two years with the Boilermakers were nothing short of dominant.

Some question whether or not he’ll be effective at the NBA level, but Taluba believes the Bulls can afford to take on his unique style of play.

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Bulls should land ‘one of the better prospects’ in 2024 NBA Draft

The Chicago Bulls should be looking to snag a top prospect in the 2024 NBA Draft.

The Chicago Bulls are about to head into a crucial offseason. They should be ready to shake up their roster and, more specifically, get young as they prepare for a future led by Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu, and others. Zach Buckley of Bleacher Report believes they should be able to secure one of the top prospects in this year’s draft.

“Barring a trade, the Bulls will only get one crack at the 2024 draft—their second-round pick belongs to the Philadelphia 76ers—but it should be a pretty good one,” Buckley wrote. “They are currently slated to land the No. 11 pick, but there’s a chance that will change during the draft lottery. More specifically, there’s a two percent chance they land the No. 1 pick and a 9.4 percent chance they climb into the top four, per Tankathon.com. Even if they stay where they’re at, though, they should be able to get one of the better prospects in this class.”

With guys like Colorado’s Cody Williams and Tennessee’s Dalton Knecht potentially in the range of the Bulls’ draft pick, Chicago should be able to grab someone that can help them moving forward.

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Latest NBA Mock Draft sees Bulls select 6-foot-9 Colorado forward

In a recent NBA Mock Draft, the Chicago Bulls select Colorado forward Cody Williams.

The Chicago Bulls need to switch up their roster this summer. The trade market will be the main place for them to do so, but the NBA Draft will be just as important. If they want to brighten their future, they should be looking to add more young talent. Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report has them selecting Colorado forward Cody Williams in his latest NBA Mock Draft.

“Cody Williams’ draft range remains wide within the lottery entering the pre-draft process,” Wasserman wrote. “He could go in the top five to a patient team that values the two-way wing archetype and wants to bet on more creation and shooting development. He could also slide into the Nos. 10-14 range if enough teams see too lengthy a project based on low-volume perimeter shotmaking and limited off-the-dribble game.

“He did finish the year on a high note in a loss to Marquette, looking more aggressive with drives, hitting a three and delivering some impressive defensive sequences. Despite lacking the traditional skill set of a go-to scoring wing, he found different ways to pick up buckets from on and off the ball. At 6’9”, he showed he can defend guards. And he should have “knows how to play” written on most scouting reports. He’ll go to a team that chooses not to overthink the tape that shows a raw offensive player.”

Williams, whose brother Jalen is helping lead the one-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder, just wrapped up an impressive freshman season with the Buffaloes.

He averaged 11.9 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 1.6 assists while shooting 55.2% from the field and 41.5% from behind the three-point line.

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Bulls to take intriguing French forward in new mock draft

While he may not have the physical gifts or talents of Wemby, he is still an intriguing prospect.

The 2024 NBA draft is a distant event to most fans of the Chicago Bulls. But for folks who earn a living projecting the NBA draft, it is actually pretty late in the game of assessing each year’s crop of draft prospects. And the folks over at the Ringer have a target in mind for the Bulls’ first round pick of the 2024 draft, a 6-foot-8 French forward currently playing in Europe for JL Bourg in the LNB Pro A league that produced Victor Wembanyama.

That player would be 19-year-old Zaccharie Risacher, and while he may not have the physical gifts or talents of Wemby, he is still an intriguing prospect for Chicago to consider. Compared to Michael Porter, Jr. by the Ringer, Risacher can play up or down from his natural 3 position, and is a dangerous catch-and-shoot marksman.

He does struggle to finish at the rim at a level that concerns, and his long-distance shot needs more volume to feel confident that it is as good as we hope it is.

But even before his breakthrough this season as a jump shooter, he was serviceable enough. And with his solid defensive chops and his slashing attacks, the ceiling on Risacher is high, and the floor not terribly low.

While there are a few wings with higher floors likely to be had later in the draft, if Risacher is still on the board, the Bulls should pull the trigger and draft him.

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Providence guard Devin Carter listed as fit for Bulls in NBA Draft

The Chicago Bulls were listed as a good team fit for Providence guard Devin Carter.

As the Chicago Bulls plan for the offseason, there will be a few crucial points for them to focus on. Free agency won’t be nearly as important as the trade market, which may be the most vital area for the Bulls, but on top of it all, they’ll have to make good decisions in the 2024 NBA Draft.

Adding quality young talent to play alongside Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu is a must for the Bulls, who need to be planning for the future. There are a bunch of players who could be good fits next to their core, and the front office needs to hit.

Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report wrote a scouting report for Providence guard Devin Carter, listing the Bulls as a good team fit.

“Dangerous in both ball-screen and spot-up shooting situations,Carter can play on and off the ball,” Wasserman wrote. “He’s still more wired to score than play-make, and NBA coaches will likely hesitate to use him as a primary decision-maker. He’ll operate as a combo guard from the 2 spot.

“The big question is how much of his game will translate to the NBA given his late-blooming skills and physical/athletic limitations. If the scoring outbursts don’t carry over, he’ll play a versatility role similar to Brandin Podziemski’s with his shotmaking, secondary creation, outlier rebounding and defense.

“He could look more like Derrick White if he provides more of a reliable scoring punch and he emerges as a perimeter stopper.”

Adding a two-way talent like Carter would be great for the Bulls.

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NBA Mock Draft sees Bulls take Duke guard with No. 11 pick

In a recent NBA Mock Draft, the Chicago Bulls selected Duke guard Jared McCain with the 11th pick.

As the Chicago Bulls prepare for the offseason, they need to have their eyes on two key things – the NBA Draft and the trade market. Free agency won’t matter as much for the Bulls this year, as rumors have indicated that they plan on trying to trade Zach LaVine. And if that’s the case, one can assume that they may try to take a step away from the current core.

But even if they don’t, adding new young talent to this team is crucial. Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu look like potential stars in the making and Patrick Williams looked solid before his injury, but outside of that, there isn’t much to look forward to on the roster moving forward.

In a recent NBA Mock Draft concocted by Jonathan Wasserman of Bleacher Report, the Bulls picked up Duke guard Jared McCain with the 11th pick.

“Eight three-point makes against James Madison gave Jared McCain another bump in the draft’s shooter rankings,” Wasserman wrote. “He’s now up at 41.5 percent from deep on the year with a balanced shot distribution chart of spot-up, off-screen and pull-up jumpers.

“But stellar pick-and-roll play with his pacing, floater touch, finishing craft and passing IQ also adds an extra element of creation and playmaking for McCain to generate offense with.

“Despite lacking ideal size or plus athletic traits, he has an easy-fit game with his on/off-ball skill set. Positive energy and passion are bonuses with teams likely to covet McCain’s character and intangibles.”

Adding McCain’s ball-handling and shooting would be huge for the Bulls.

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New mock draft has Chicago Bulls taking controversial wing

The talent is there — but so is the baggage.

It might be a bit early to start thinking about Chicago Bulls draft prospects even before the 2024 NCAA Tournament is even over. But for the analysts who make their living by projecting the NBA draft like Bleacher Report’s Jonathan Wasserman, this is the thick of their high season.

And for the 2024 NBA draft. Wasserman has a prospect in mind for a player he sees the Bulls taking 12th overall. We’ll avoid the implications of what it would mean for Chicago’s postseason aspirations if they did indeed draft from that position, but we have some reservations about the prospect he has in mind for Chicago.

That would be Illinois’ Terrence Shannon Jr., a 23-year-old combo wing who plays like Kelly Oubre, Jr. if you squint enough. “There isn’t a prospect in the draft with a more dangerous one-two punch of explosive slashing and perimeter shot making,” writes Wasserman.

“He’s made real strides this season, optimizing his speed and quickness to create advantages, easy-basket chances and trips to the line,” adds the draft expert. “And he took another step forward with his jumper, drilling 38 catch-and-shoot 3s and 30 off the dribble.”

However, as Wasserman notes, Shannon has a pending case against him for sexual assault. Should he be unambiguously cleared in a court of law, the pick might make sense.

But anything less than that should be avoided like the plague, as the stain he would carry would far offset anything he could bring to the team on the court.

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NBA Mock Draft sees Bulls select South Carolina forward with 12th pick

In a recent NBA Mock Draft, the Chicago Bulls selected South Carolina forward Collin Murray-Boyles.

A rough start to the season made it seem as though the Chicago Bulls were doomed, but as the year has gone on, their potential future plans have gotten brighter and brighter. Not only have they pushed their way back into the Play-In race, but Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu have emerged as solid building blocks.

Now, as they prepare for the offseason, their sights need to be set on adding more young talent to help White and Dosunmu. At the same time, they should be looking to add guys who can develop into solid players themselves, as they don’t have great young talent on the roster outside of White and Dosunmu.

A recent NBA Mock Draft from No Ceilings has them selecting a guy who could fill both of those distinctions: Collin Murray-Boyles out of South Carolina.

“South Carolina’s Collin Murray-Boyles has been one of the most productive freshmen in the 2024 class,” wrote Corey Tulaba. “The 6’7” lefty with a rumored 7’2” wingspan has some Julius Randle in his game, merging physicality and finesse. Murray-Boyles is a crafty interior scoring presence with playmaking feel who can face-up and attack or seal his man and finish on the block. Defensively he can move his feet and switch out to the perimeter while offering enough rim protection that he could play some minutes at the five. Murray-Boyles’s lack of perimeter shooting ability won’t fill an immediate need for a Bulls team in the bottom ten of distance shooting, but taking a swing on a young, talented forward who has been killing the advanced stats models is a worthy swing in the backend of the lotto for a middling team that needs an influx of young talent.”

Murray-Boyles isn’t a shooter, but he’s the type of versatile forward who could be an intriguing piece in a Bulls lineup that features a solid amount of offensive creation already.

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