Chicago Sports Today

Chicago Sports News continuously updated

Bulls Latest Rumors Clearing Up Draft Picture

by

In just over three weeks, 59 prospects will be selected in the 2025 NBA Draft. Barring a trade, the Chicago Bulls will pocket two of those players. With the 12th overall pick, the hope is that they can acquire a longtime starter, if not star. With their 45th overall pick, expectations will be more tempered, even though several second-rounders have gone on to have outstanding careers.

That being said, the Bulls draft picture is starting to get clearer. At least, if the latest round of rumors are true.

Bulls Latest Rumors Clearing Up Draft Picture

As the Bulls continue to look for a trade partner who’ll take on Nikola Vucevic, it’s possible that they could consider adding a center through the draft.

If they do, it likely won’t be Maryland freshman Derik Queen. The big man really is quite talented, averaging 16.5 points, 9.0 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.1 steals per game in 2024-25. However, he “still isn’t on the Bulls’ radar because of growing concerns about his athletic ability and how that fits with Billy Donovan’s up-tempo pace,” per Chicago Sun-Times reporter Joe Cowley.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

With that in mind, Queen underwhelmed at the 2025 NBA Draft Combine. He had the worst lane agility time (12.45 seconds), the second-worst shuttle run time (3.27 seconds), and the second-worst three-quarter sprint time (3.52). He was even tied for the worst standing vertical leap (23.5 inches) and max vertical leap (28.0 inches).

If a team is willing to let him be their version of Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun, it could work. However, Queen isn’t the smoothest option for an uptempo offense. Thus, he truly may not be right for Chicago.

Instead, the Bulls “are zoning in on” BYU point guard Egor Demin, per Cowley.

May 13, 2025; Chicago, Il, USA; Egor Demin (80) participates in the 2025 NBA Draft Combine at Wintrust Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Banks-Imagn Images

Recently, Last Word on Basketball assessed the freshman’s fit with Chicago, finding him to be a potential replacement for impending free agent Josh Giddey. Indeed, there’s plenty of overlap between Demin and Giddey, both of whom are giant floor generals. However, Demin is a better defender and Giddey is a more refined shooter.

Paging Drake Powell?

The Bulls “would prefer to draft somebody in the frontcourt or the wing,” according to Chicago Sports Network insider K.C. Johnson. Given that bit of information, it’s intriguing that Johnson also notes that UNC freshman wing Drake Powell is “one guy whose name that is rising a little bit.” Even without Powell having connections to Bulls starting guard Coby White, he’d be a solid pickup.

https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

Powell didn’t have the season he wanted or many expected as a top-15 recruit in the vaunted ESPN 100. Nevertheless, he’s been too under the radar for a league that’s supposed to place a premium on 3-and-D wings. After shooting 37.9 percent from 3 in 2024-25, he tested and interviewed well at the draft combine.

The North Carolina native could have a long and relatively steady NBA career, no matter where he’s picked.

© Eakin Howard-Imagn Images

The post Bulls Latest Rumors Clearing Up Draft Picture appeared first on Last Word On Basketball.