NBA DRAFT LOTTERY GT, 12 MAY 2025, 6 PM CT, CHICAGO, ESPN

[Dan Z]

Mock drafts:

Tankathon has the Bulls selecting Jase Richardson
NBADraft.net has the Bulls picking Asa Newell

EDIT: NBADraft.net hasn't updated the lottery results.

Those are basically the only 2 guys being talked about in the top 15 that I absolutely do not want. I more or less really like everyone else.

Is there a player that you hope the Bulls are able to get?

I've wanted the Bulls to draft Kasparas Jakucionis, but I bet he'll be gone by the time the 12th pick comes along.

[WindyCityBorn]

The NBA hates us. I refuse to believe crap isn’t rigged. Lose Luka and get Flagg. Complete BS.

[Coldchi]

Controversial: I am glad that Reinsdorf didn’t get bailed out.

Wait so your hate for the owner is stronger then your love for your team ... hummm

[Coldchi]

That's your counterpoint? One referee caught betting 18 years ago so obviously the NBA is rigging the lottery?

And that's all you got to refute it? Before Donaghy was caught, people said the EXACT same thing about NBA refs being compromised. People like you wrote it off as conspiracy theory. Turned out to be absolutely true. You have no idea what happens behind closed doors, don't act like you do and talk down to others about it.

That is one moderately paid NBA referee. The NBA is a $100b organization made up of 30 billionaires who all have a vested interest in their teams succeeding.

Yep because billionaires who hire a commissioner (plausible deniaabliity) would never do things nefarious things to make more money.

[MisterRoy]

The NBA hates us. I refuse to believe crap isn’t rigged. Lose Luka and get Flagg. Complete BS.

Means to an end. Force Jerry to sell the team cause sh** ain’t fair.

[Dan Z]

Flagg
Harper
Bailey
Edgecomb
Johnson
Maluach
CMB
Essengue

I only need 4 more guys lol

If the Bulls made an effort to maximize their pick how far up do you think they end up in the draft?

[League Circles]

Flagg
Harper
Bailey
Edgecomb
Johnson
Maluach
CMB
Essengue

I only need 4 more guys lol

If the Bulls made an effort to maximize their pick how far up do you think they end up in the draft?

What do you mean by "made an effort to maximize their pick?"

Ask the players to slack off?

Make some specific trade that was on the table that they didn't?

Ask Billy to throw games?

[DuckIII]

Mock drafts:

Tankathon has the Bulls selecting Jase Richardson
NBADraft.net has the Bulls picking Asa Newell

EDIT: NBADraft.net hasn't updated the lottery results.

Those are basically the only 2 guys being talked about in the top 15 that I absolutely do not want. I more or less really like everyone else.

Is there a player that you hope the Bulls are able to get?

I've wanted the Bulls to draft Kasparas Jakucionis, but I bet he'll be gone by the time the 12th pick comes along.

So lets start with the following assumption: In some order, Flagg, Harper, Ace, VJ and Tre Johnson go top 5. That's not a lock, but I'm pretty confident all 5 of those guys can safely be taken off the board for the 12th pick.

So here is who I like of the rest, not in order:

KJ
Kon
Essenge
Fears
Maluach
Demin
CMB
Queen
Bryant
Fleming
Riley
Saraf

That's 12 more guys that I like beyond the consensus top 5. And I like them all more than I like Newell or Richardson.

But I don't like them all equally. The ones that would really excite me would be, in order KJ (I consider him a top 6 talent in this draft), CMB, Maluach and Demin. They all have very unique attributes and, other than Maluach who is raw, the other 3 play with extremely high BB IQs and might be the 3 best passers in the draft. I am putting a high emphasis offensively on shooting (duh) and especially ball movement, creativity, and "doesn't stick in my hands-ness". With Giddey, lets just get out and run with smart guys who share it and see what happens. That's what I want. Run and gun the **** out of it.

Maluach is an exception just because he's unique and guys like him are becoming more important to roster construction. We also have about the worst interior D you are going to find.

We aren't gonna be contenders, but we could think about the game differently and be novel and entertaining. I could live with that until we get a FO interested in patient, sustainable team building.

The ones I'm meh about at 12, even though they made my list, are Saraf, Fleming and Bryant. But again, if any of these guys on my list get their name called at 12, I'm fine with it.

[Dan Z]

Flagg
Harper
Bailey
Edgecomb
Johnson
Maluach
CMB
Essengue

I only need 4 more guys lol

If the Bulls made an effort to maximize their pick how far up do you think they end up in the draft?

What do you mean by "made an effort to maximize their pick?"

Ask the players to slack off?

Make some specific trade that was on the table that they didn't?

Ask Billy to throw games?

Okay, don't answer my question.

Look at what teams like Utah did. Rest players late in games, milk injuries, etc. Utah even got fined for it.

I know the result ended up being the 5th pick, but they had a goal and went after it.

[boozapalooza]

If Giddey doesnt hit the half court shot….the 11 slot is ours….

[Dan Z]

Those are basically the only 2 guys being talked about in the top 15 that I absolutely do not want. I more or less really like everyone else.

Is there a player that you hope the Bulls are able to get?

I've wanted the Bulls to draft Kasparas Jakucionis, but I bet he'll be gone by the time the 12th pick comes along.

So lets start with the following assumption: In some order, Flagg, Harper, Ace, VJ and Tre Johnson go top 5. That's not a lock, but I'm pretty confident all 5 of those guys can safely be taken off the board for the 12th pick.

So here is who I like of the rest, not in order:

KJ
Kon
Essenge
Fears
Maluach
Demin
CMB
Queen
Bryant
Fleming
Riley
Saraf

That's 12 more guys that I like beyond the consensus top 5. And I like them all more than I like Newell or Richardson.

But I don't like them all equally. The ones that would really excite me would be, in order KJ (I consider him a top 6 talent in this draft), CMB, Maluach and Demin. They all have very unique attributes and, other than Maluach who is raw, the other 3 play with extremely high BB IQs and might be the 3 best passers in the draft. I am putting a high emphasis offensively on shooting (duh) and especially ball movement, creativity, and "doesn't stick in my hands-ness". With Giddey, lets just get out and run with smart guys who share it and see what happens. That's what I want. Run and gun the **** out of it.

Maluach is an exception just because he's unique and guys like him are becoming more important to roster construction. We also have about the worst interior D you are going to find.

We aren't gonna be contenders, but we could think about the game differently and be novel and entertaining. I could live with that until we get a FO interested in patient, sustainable team building.

The ones I'm meh about at 12, even though they made my list, are Saraf, Fleming and Bryant. But again, if any of these guys on my list get their name called at 12, I'm fine with it.

That sounds like a good plan to me.

[dice]

And that's all you got to refute it? Before Donaghy was caught, people said the EXACT same thing about NBA refs being compromised. People like you wrote it off as conspiracy theory. Turned out to be absolutely true. You have no idea what happens behind closed doors, don't act like you do and talk down to others about it.

That is one moderately paid NBA referee. The NBA is a $100b organization made up of 30 billionaires who all have a vested interest in their teams succeeding.

Yep because billionaires who hire a commissioner (plausible deniaabliity) would never do things nefarious things to make more money.

they tend not to do foolish things that would cost them 100x more money if discovered

conspiracy theorists tend not to have any idea how it could actually be carried out. EVERY PERSON approached would have to stay silent whether agreeing to participate or not. which is a goddamn stupid risk to take

- cheapskate donald sterling's clippers won the lotto three times

- small market bucks won lotto twice. as did the t-wolves. as did the pels. as did the pathetic bullets/wizards

- the hawks won it last year w/ 3% chance. what a destination

- the jersey nets won it twice. what a destination

- any particular reason the kings won in '89?

- the magic won it FOUR times, only one of which has a credible conspiracy motive (pairing webber w/ shaq)

- this year is the first time the mavs have EVER improved their position in the lotto. on the flip side, the small-market spurs landed HOF talents tim duncan, david robinson AND wemby. now the league pivots to choose the mavs rather than a wemby/flagg pairing? ok

- was the league really eager to kickstart the pistons when they won the lotto in 2021? did they change their minds when the team fell to #5 in 3 consecutive lottos despite winning a total of only 64 games?

it's random, folks

[GoBlue72391]

Read on Twitter

What the hell is akekekeing?

[othawhitemeat]

Assuming someone like KJ does not slide, give me Clayton Jr. - 6'4 w shoes on, guy that can score anywhere and can pass.

[kodo]

If Giddey doesnt hit the half court shot….the 11 slot is ours….

That was a great win though, and he's part of the future.
A meaningless W was like the Blazers in one of the last games of the year. 5 point win and it was all Vucevic with 31 points. Just no point to it, he's not a young player we're developing. That was a Kildraftpick W.

[GoBlue72391]

If Giddey doesnt hit the half court shot….the 11 slot is ours….

This is some real butterfly effect ****.

[League Circles]

If the Bulls made an effort to maximize their pick how far up do you think they end up in the draft?

What do you mean by "made an effort to maximize their pick?"

Ask the players to slack off?

Make some specific trade that was on the table that they didn't?

Ask Billy to throw games?

Okay, don't answer my question.

Look at what teams like Utah did. Rest players late in games, milk injuries, etc. Utah even got fined for it.

I know the result ended up being the 5th pick, but they had a goal and went after it.

Umm, ok. So if the Bulls had rested players late in games and milked injuries, idk, maybe they'd pick 8th -10th? It's just a wild guess. Why?

[Dan Z]

What do you mean by "made an effort to maximize their pick?"

Ask the players to slack off?

Make some specific trade that was on the table that they didn't?

Ask Billy to throw games?

Okay, don't answer my question.

Look at what teams like Utah did. Rest players late in games, milk injuries, etc. Utah even got fined for it.

I know the result ended up being the 5th pick, but they had a goal and went after it.

Umm, ok. So if the Bulls had rested players late in games and milked injuries, idk, maybe they'd pick 8th -10th? It's just a wild guess. Why?

You listed a group of players and said you needed 4 more to get to 12. That's why I asked, but now I wish I hadn't asked because it's pointless to talk to you about this.

[League Circles]

Would be nice to trade up if possible. Anyone see an opportunity for that? I know it's a long shot, but could the Portland pick, Ayo, Ball or someone similar help us move up at all?

[League Circles]

Okay, don't answer my question.

Look at what teams like Utah did. Rest players late in games, milk injuries, etc. Utah even got fined for it.

I know the result ended up being the 5th pick, but they had a goal and went after it.

Umm, ok. So if the Bulls had rested players late in games and milked injuries, idk, maybe they'd pick 8th -10th? It's just a wild guess. Why?

You listed a group of players and said you needed 4 more to get to 12. That's why I asked, but now I wish I hadn't asked because it's pointless to talk to you about this.

Well yeah, the point is that this is about the draft and it's not as deep as I want it to be. Obviously if we were a crappier team we'd have a better pick and you don't need the draft to be as deep. I'm focused on the draft, not whether we milked injuries enough in the past.

It's not like picking 8th or damn near any slot above us even remotely guarantees anything. I just literally have little interest outside of roughly 8 guys, but even most of them I'm lukewarm on.