Tag: 2024-25 chicago bulls

Colorado small forward’s fit with the Chicago Bulls as their No. 11 2024 NBA draft pick explored

An excellent shot from beyond the arc (41.5%) at low volume, his good free throw efficiency (71.4%) suggests it will translate at the NBA level.

Should the Chicago Bulls consider drafting former University of Colorado small forward Cody Williams? A 19-year-old native of Gilbert, Arizona, the Buffalo alum is a freshman who stands at 6-foot-7.75 with a 7-foot-1 wingspan, and weighs a wispy 178 lbs that will need to bulk up to play in the Association.

An excellent shot from beyond the arc (41.5%) at low volume, his good free throw efficiency (71.4%) suggests it will translate at the NBA level. However, Williams needs to turn the ball over less, improve his defense and rebounding, and increase his shot attempts at the next level. Projected to go in the 2024 NBA draft more or less around where Chicago will be picking (No. 11 overall), Williams is a worthwhile gamble for upside for the Bulls.

The hosts of the “CHGO Bulls” podcast recently sat down to break down his fit and potential for Chicago’s first round pick.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear what they had to say about the idea of using that selection on Williams.

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The Chicago Bulls have officially hired former Wizards coach Wes Unseld, Jr. as their lead assistant coach

Unseld served as the Wizards’ top coach from 2021 until this current NBA offseason.

The Chicago Bulls have officially hired former Washington Wizards head coach Wes Unseld, Jr. as their lead assistant coach for the 2024-25 season, with Unseld bringing a high level of experience to helm Bulls head coach Billy Donovan’s bench.

Unseld served as the Wizards’ top coach from 2021 until this current NBA offseason. Previously, he has had assistant coaching stints for the Denver Nuggets, Orlando Magic, Golden State Warriors, and, under his father as general manager, the Wizards at the start of his coaching career. He also played as a small forward for the Johns Hopkins Blue Jays before making the leap to the other side of the clipboard.

The hosts of the “Locked On Bulls” podcast, Haize and Pat the Designer, sat down to take a closer look at the hire and what it means for the Bulls next season.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear what they had to say.

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The Chicago Bulls need a blockbuster trade – that gets rid of Zach LaVine’s contract

It might not be the sexiest move out there, but by now it is very clear that the UCLA alum is not part of the Bulls’ future.

The Chicago Bulls need a blockbuster trade to materialize this offseason, one that gets rid of Zach LaVine’s contract. It might not be the sexiest move out there, but by now it is very clear that the UCLA alum is not part of the Bulls’ future. And between his injury history and the cost of his current deal, it makes little sense to hang onto him beyond the NBA’s 2024 offseason.

To such an end, Bleacher Report NBA analyst Zach Buckley recently weighed in on the notion, and he seems as fervent as most Chicago fans in wanting a divorce from LaVine.

“As tricky as he is to trade given his huge contract, detailed injury history and lack of team success, Chicago seems determined to do everything in his power to find him a new home,” he writes.

“If Chicago can find a taker, it shouldn’t need much in return,” suggests Buckley. “Some draft considerations would be nice, though anything more than a protected first-round pick seems optimistic. …  As far as incoming players go, plug-and-play veterans at any of the frontcourt spots should work.”

This might not be the sort of returns one would hope for, but given Chicago’s situation and LaVine’s context, merely resetting the roster would be a reward enough for the Bulls.

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Indiana big man, Colorado forward seen as good fits for Chicago Bulls’ first round pick

No. 11 overall could end up being used on a frontcourt player based on this projection.

The 2024 NBA draft is still several months away in the summer to come, but NBA draft experts have already been hard at work trying to project which ball clubs will end up taking which prospects in the 2024 cohort. And now that the league has finished the 2024 NBA draft lottery in Chicago to determine which teams will pick where in the lottery of this year’s draft, we have a better idea of which players might be available.

The Chicago Bulls, slated to select their first round pick at No. 11 overall, have been seen as great landing spots for University of Indiana big man Kel’el Ware and University of Colorado forward Tristan Da Silva by some draft analysts.

The hosts of the “Locked On Bulls” podcast, Haize and Pat the Designer, took a deep dive into these two players’ potential fit with the Bulls.

Check it out in the clip embedded above to hear what they had to say.

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Who might the Chicago Bulls draft at No. 11 overall this summer?

Is there any chance a player like University of Connecticut guard Stephon Castle or Tennessee wing Dalton Knecht could fall to Chicago’s range?

Who might the Chicago Bulls draft at No. 11 overall this summer in the 2024 NBA draft? Could it be one of the prospects currently mocked by the experts to go in the Bulls range like University of Southern California point guard Isaiah Collier, University of Colorado shooting guard Cody Williams or Baylor small forward Ja’Kobe Walter?

Or might they reach a bit on a raw project with upside, like Cholet forward Tidjane Salaun or Purdue center Zach Edey? And is there any chance a player like University of Connecticut guard Stephon Castle or Tennessee wing Dalton Knecht could fall to Chicago’s range?

NBC Sports Chicago’s K.C. Johnson, Kevin Anderson, and Tony Gill for the latest episode of their “Bulls Talk” podcast in which they dial in on Chicago’s draft prospects selecting at No. 11 overall in the 2024 draft.

To hear which prospects they like best and who they think may be available, check out the clip embedded above.

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Could Jerami Grant make sense as a Chicago Bulls trade target?

Grant’s talents will be wasted on a team that will likely take far longer to get back towards being a winning team than the Bulls will.

Could veteran Portland Trail Blazers forward Jerami Grant make sense as a Chicago Bulls trade target? The Trail Blazers are neck deep in a rebuild, and Grant’s talents will be wasted on a team that will likely take far longer to get back towards being a winning team than the Bulls will.

And we don’t expect Portland to be all that thrilled with paying his not-small contract over that period, either. A move to reduce the hit on their cap sheet that also brings back assets for their stage of their roster building that makes sense for both ball clubs would be likely to be well-received.

“There has to be a universe in which the Bulls cobble together a multi-team swap sending (Zach) LaVine to a third team, Grant to Chicago and long-term assets to the post-Damian Lillard Portland Trail Blazers,” writes Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley.

“That’s not Chicago’s only path to a deal,” suggests the B/R analyst. “Lonzo Ball’s expiring contract plus filler and a couple of draft assets might make Portland think.”

“Grant … isn’t the primary scoring option he’s been on a few bottom-feeders in recent years, but he’s an athletic, defensively versatile forward who can shine in a tertiary offensive role,” and this latter proposal just might make sense for both teams.

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Should the Chicago Bulls try to trade for New York Knicks big man Mitchell Robinson?

The Bulls front office is going to need to find a starting center for the future sooner rather than later.

Should the Chicago Bulls try to trade for New York Knicks big man Mitchell Robinson? With veteran Bulls big man Nikola Vucevic looking like he might be on the downside of his prime years based on what we saw from him with Chicago last season, the Bulls front office is going to need to find a starting center for the future sooner rather than later.

But Bleacher Report’s Zach Buckley thinks Chicago might be able to entice the New York Knicks into parting ways with Robinson with the right offer. If the Knicks re-sign Isaiah Hartenstein, “they might need to find a way to unload Robinson.”

“The Bulls would sacrifice some scoring in the process, but they’d become more dynamic at—and especially above—the rim,” he adds.

“Chicago might have to part with some draft considerations in the deal, but it shouldn’t take a premier pick,” writes Buckley. “There is some risk with Robinson’s health woes, obviously, but the reward could be substantial.”

If it did not require Chicago burning multiple firsts to get Robinson and Vooch off the roster, we’d be quite elated for such a move for the Bulls.

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DeMar DeRozan admits he’s happy in Chicago as his Bulls free agency heats up

“The city is great,” said DeRozan.

As more time passes each day, it is starting to look like the Chicago Bulls have a good chance of bringing back veteran wing DeMar DeRozan. Recently, the Compton native made an appearance on the popular Fan Duel NBA show “Run it Back,” where the 6-time All-Star opened up about where he is in the process of his free agency with the Bulls.

“The city is great,” said DeRozan in the interview, hinting very loudly about his future with Chicago. “I love the city, the organization been great—it’s definitely a place I would love to return to, and take care of unfinished business.”

If DeRozan was hoping for some leverage regarding where he wants to be moving forward, he more or less just blew that leverage to smithereens.

But Chicago will be in a much worse position without him, so wearing his heart on his sleeve may not hurt the 15-season vet all that much at the bargaining table.

Especially if he has an offer or two in his back pocket.

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Who are the best options in the 2024 NBA draft for the Chicago Bulls?

The Bulls can find some talent at No. 11 overall.

Who are the best options in the 2024 NBA draft for the Chicago Bulls? The Bulls are selecting at No. 11 overall after a bit of mediocre luck in the 2024 draft lottery, but can still find some solid talent that late in the draft with some luck on their side.

Could it be G League small forward Ron Holland? Or maybe it could be University of Kentucky combo guard Reed Sheppard? And what about Baylor shooting guard Ja’Kobe Walter or University of Southern California point guard Isaiah Collier? Or would possibly University of Tennessee small forward Dalton Knecht be more the sort of prospect the Bulls’ front office is after in this draft?

The hosts of the “Locked On Bulls” podcast, Haize and Pat the Designer, took a deep dive into the players projected to fall in Chicago’s range of the lottery in their latest episode. Check it out for yourself in the clip below!

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Can the Chicago Bulls land Stephon Castle or Matas Buzelis at pick No. 11?

It’d likely take luck, but it’s not out of the question.

Can the Chicago Bulls find a way to land University of Connecticut champion floor general Stephon Castle or Lithuanian small forward Matas Buzelis with their No. 11 pick of the 2024 NBA draft?

Buzelis, a 19-year-old sometimes compared to Orlando Magic star swingman Franz Wagner, is an intriguing option who might be around that late in the lottery. Castle is an elite defender who has solid court vision and questions about his jumper who might slide a bit, but perhaps not this far…we think? But either of these prospects would make sense for the Bulls to select if available when Chicago is on the clock.

The hosts of the “CHGO Bulls” podcast dialed in on both players as potential Bulls draft targets, talking about what it would take to land them and how they might fit.

Take a look at the clip embedded above to hear if either are the sort of player you want Chicago to draft.

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