Presented by National Insurance Agent Jeff Vukovich
The Bulls did not draft Cooper Flagg on Wednesday.
But they have increased their ability to put themselves in a position to do so. And by selecting Matas Bouzelis with the 11th pick in the NBA’s two-day NBA draft, they continued the soft-shoe rebuilding of management that began last week with the trade of Alex Caruso for Josh Gidde.
Make no mistake: Zach LaVine is not only open to a trade, but the Bulls are open to a trade. And with the growing buzz that DeMar DeRozan will be somewhere else next season, whether it’s a sign or a trade or simply walking in unrestricted free agency, the buzzword competition isn’t a contest.
It’s Cooper.
The Bulls must finish 10th next season and owe a protected first-round pick to the San Antonio Spurs in DeRozan’s trade-and-trade buyout starting in August 2021. It’s the month that Arturas Karnisovas and his crew renew the bulls. Lonzo Ball had a vision of leading the Eastern Conference until his left knee required the first of several surgeries.
Management has already cashed in on the rebuild they inherited when they hired Laurie Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr. and others and tried to stay competitive after one season. Instead, the Bulls failed to make it out of the Play In Tournament in two straight seasons.
And now, with the addition of a flexible guard in Giddy, the drafting of 19-year-old Matas Bouzelis and the Bulls re-signing Patrick Williams in restricted free agency, all signs point to a youth movement starting.
The Bulls liked Ron Holland II, who went to the Detroit Pistons with the fifth overall pick. Bouzelis, however, was widely expected to lose the Bulls’ 11.Th Choosing
In fact, after having discussions about moving Donovan Clingan in the draft as a target or as an option with another local boy, Terrence Shannon Jr., the Bulls fully expected someone on their draft board to be available at No. 11.
One is Bouzelis, born and raised in Chicago, who played for Hinsdale Central for one year and for the G League Ignite last season.
Bouzelis spoke with NBC Sports Chicago in March about speculation about playing for the Bulls.
“I feel good about that,” he said. “Hero of the country! It will be fun to play for Chicago. I was watching them when I was young, watching Derrick Rose play. It will be a dope experience. … We usually go to games when the Grizzlies play because one of my dad’s clients that he works with plays for the Grizzlies.
Providence guard Devin Carter, long associated with the Bulls, was in attendance. Given that he’s projected to be more plug-and-play than Bouzelis, it’s another sign that the Bulls are playing the long game here.
“I’m ready to go,” Bouzelis said on the ESPN broadcast.
With Kobe White, Ayo Dosunmu, Dalen Terry and Julian Phillips suddenly there will be a lot of opportunity in the youth movement.
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