The Chicago Bulls are still scrapping for a foothold in the NBA Play-In Tournament. But across the country, a different crucial battle is taking place as college teams vie for the NCAA championship.
The NCAA Tournament is a prime opportunity for NBA executives to scout talent ahead of the draft. And few other front offices are under a harsher microscope this March than the Bulls, whose main prize for trading Zach LaVine was the ability to recoup their draft pick from a prior swap with the San Antonio Spurs.
So what do the Bulls need? A new point guard? Center? Shooting specialist? The answer is any — and all — of the above.
The Bulls don’t have one clear need because their roster necessitates an overhaul. That means the front office isn’t limited to a single position group while narrowing their options. That much flexibility can be a blessing and a curse for the Bulls, whose draft position could fluctuate massively after the draft lottery in May.
This year’s draft is a blockbuster. Players such as Cooper Flagg, Dylan Harper and Ace Bailey drove up interest — and, for some teams, drove down performances — well before the first games. And this draft class is deceptively deep, which means the Bulls could have access to a serious prospect even if they remain at No. 10.
However, if the Bulls somehow advance through the play-in tournament, they will automatically drop to the No. 15 pick — an area of the draft at which talent becomes even murkier. Regardless, this is a crucial draft as the Bulls embark on a rebuild after parting with the majority of its centerpiece stars in the last year.
Who could be the next star in Chicago? Here are five players to watch.
The next star center for the Bulls might just be playing for Duke. Maluach, 18, already measures 7-foot-2 with a reported wingspan of 7-6. But it’s not just his size that stand outs. Maluach is an efficient finisher at the rim with nimble athleticism and a defensive motor that jumps off the screen.
Maluach isn’t a guarantee. He’s young and untested with plenty of unknowns still left in his game, which is why he could slip low enough for the Bulls to snag him, even without a high lottery pick this year. How he performs with the Blue Devils in March could define his draft value in May.
While you’re watching Duke to scout Maluach, keep an eye on the perimeter, where Knueppel has been making a strong impression alongside a stacked freshman class. Knueppel’s shot is his most appealing trait — he’s shooting 39.2% from behind the arc and averaging 14.4 points.
Knueppel isn’t the most impressive athlete despite being an appropriate size for an NBA wing. But if he can elevate his intelligent playing style in the tournament, he could become yet another Duke player to be a high draft pick.
Plenty of fans in Chicago will already be watching Jakučionis, who represents the heart of the Illini’s hopes in this tournament. The Bulls love to keep a player close to home — and even without the Illinois connection, Jakučionis will be a tempting prospect if he’s still available.
Jakučionis has not been immune to the inconsistency that has wracked the Illini’s roster this season. But at his best, he offers an excellent package of on-ball skills. Most of all, Jakučionis plays with a creativity that could pair seamlessly with 2024 draft pick Matas Buzelis, creating a clear vision for the Bulls offense on the wing.
The Bulls currently have a bevy of point guard options, including Lonzo Ball, Josh Giddey and Coby White. But if they’re looking to completely overhaul the position, Fears could be a clear primary option this spring.
Fears is another local kid, a Joliet native who played his first two years at Joliet West before transferring to a prep academy in Arizona. Although he isn’t exactly a pass-first point guard, Fears has a sharp ability to pair his aggressive scoring ability with his court vision to average 17 points and 4.1 assists.
If the Bulls are still looking for a center and can’t scoop up Maluach, Queen could be a solid secondary option. Queen is a brawny, physical big who muscled through opponents to average 19.5 points and 10.8 rebounds this season. He’s efficient on the ball and could become elite in the post, where his footwork has already been promising as a freshman.
The big unknown: Can Queen improve his shot to an NBA caliber? He functionally did not take 3-pointers — and shot a dismal 14.3% from behind the arc — for the Terrapins. Queen’s finishing at the rim is comfortably consistent, but this lack of multiple levels to his scoring could be a hindrance in the draft.
