Entering the NBA Draft Lottery on Monday night, the Chicago Bulls only held a 1.7% chance to receive the number one pick in the draft and an 8% to pick in the top four. The lottery balls unfortunately did not bounce in their favor. As a result, the Bulls will stay put in their initial draft position and will be selecting 12th overall in June.
Bulls Fall Victim To Bad Lottery Luck Again
Implications for the Bulls
In an unreal twist, the Mavericks received the number one pick and now get the opportunity to draft Duke phenom Cooper Flagg with the selection. It is a stunning development in Dallas, one that brings hope back for the fans after the disastrous reception to the Luka Doncic trade in February.
Furthermore, what stings most for the Bulls is that they shared the same draft odds as the Mavericks. After the play-in concluded, the Bulls and Mavericks both wrapped their seasons up with a 39-43 record. A coin flip determined who would receive an advantage in the lottery odds. After flipping the coin, the Mavericks came away winning the coin toss and earned an extra 0.1% odds at the number one pick. That 0.1% made all the difference, as the Mavericks are now in the driver’s seat for Flagg to help rebirth the franchise.
Losing out on the opportunity to draft Flagg is crushing, as he is one of the best NBA draft prospects in recent years. Flagg is an exceptional shot blocker and defender. He excels at getting rebounds in the paint, holds generational athleticism, and has a well-rounded offensive skill set. Flagg will enter the Mavericks with immediate expectations of stardom from fans.
What makes the Mavericks’ lottery ascension especially devastating for the Bulls is that it is the largest jump by a team in NBA history. The Mavericks officially moved up 10 spots from their previous position, a scenario that seemed impossible at the start of the calendar year.
Additionally, the Bulls also miss out on a top-four selection, where star prospects like Rutgers’ Dylan Harper and Baylor’s V.J. Edgecombe project to be selected. Seeing the Bulls whiff on yet another draft lottery is beyond frustrating for the fanbase.
Last Word
With general manager Arturas Karnisovas refusing to commit to a full rebuild, the Bulls remain in NBA purgatory for yet another season. As a result, the Bulls front office will need to make some important decisions this offseason involving their young core. After the results of Monday’s lottery, it continues to complicate matters.
A recent mock draft from ESPN predicts that the Bulls select BYU guard Egor Demin with their 12th overall selection. Maryland center Derik Queen and Illinois guard Kasparas Jakucionis are potential options for the Bulls to select as well. With the lottery under way, the Bulls now have a little over a month to ramp up their scouting and decide who they want to draft 12th overall.
Photo credit: © David Banks-Imagn Images
The post Bulls Fall Victim To Bad Lottery Luck Again appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.