Cowley: Bulls Zoned in on Demin at 12

[Chi town]

I don't know why you think he could never be a plus defender, most profiles I've read seem to think he's a solid defender now that has great instincts and enough athleticism to defend at the NBA level. Not saying he's all-defense team, but he seems to have enough defensive upside / instincts that I think you should project him out to be at least average on that end.

I also thin it's a bit early to say he can never get his own shot, probably isn't going to develop into a 1A scoring option, but I think there's enough upside there with his ball handling that if he develops as a shooter that he could easily end up being a guy who can get his own looks in the future. I wouldn't say he projects into being a good shot creator, but it's definitely within the range of reasonable outcomes.

In some ways as a prospect he reminds me of how I thought of Matas in that there's a good chance he's going to be nothing in the NBA, but with the right improvements he could be really good, because a lot of the more difficult traits to find are there, and you're really betting on him improving as a shooter.

Buz has much more athleticism and hops.

I’ve watched lots of tape and Demin isn’t strong, fast, or explosive. He’s smart. Much like Huerter with very similar profile. Herro toasted Huerter. No chance. Demin would be even worse.

A 6’9 Huerter isn’t bad but Demin has a long ways to go to become that.

He has to become a really good shooter so he can use his handle to attack closeouts. I fully expect teams to leave him wide open for a long time before they start respecting his 3 ball.

We need athletes and defense. Demin is not that.

Don’t see how Giddey and Demin can ever be on the floor without a great rim protector.

Demin has a better shot to become the GOAT then a ++ 3 PT shooter. I dont get the Huerter comp at all. They aren't even remotely similar players. His comp is Giddey.

Giddey plays with an edge, highly competitive and rebounds.

Demin is soft as butter.

[Chi town]

What on earth are you talking about

After Demin went off against scrub teams he looked awful against real teams. Watch full games.

His workout videos are showing legit movement 3s with great mechanics but who knows if it translates.

What are you talking about?

Duncan Robinson is a one dimensional catch and shoot wing. That strikes me as being nearly the opposite type of wing as Demin for numerous reasons including that Demin is a PG who currently counts perimeter shooting as a weakness.

Demin and Duncan have similar athleticism.

Demin literally dribbled around and then passed when he couldn’t do anything. Often resulting in bad shots or shot clock violations.

If he doesn’t develop a shot he won’t even be in the league. His floor is bust. Not even a playoff rotation player.

This is why you take Coward over him all day. Elite defender with wingspan and an elite 3 ball and a strong ceiling.

[GetBuLLish]

I have no personal opinion on Demin. But the number of people here freaking out that AK would be taking a huge, unconventional swing drafting him seems odd when every mock draft I've seen has Demin off the board before our pick.

[Muzbar]

After Demin went off against scrub teams he looked awful against real teams. Watch full games.

His workout videos are showing legit movement 3s with great mechanics but who knows if it translates.

What are you talking about?

Duncan Robinson is a one dimensional catch and shoot wing. That strikes me as being nearly the opposite type of wing as Demin for numerous reasons including that Demin is a PG who currently counts perimeter shooting as a weakness.

Demin and Duncan have similar athleticism.

Demin literally dribbled around and then passed when he couldn’t do anything. Often resulting in bad shots or shot clock violations.

If he doesn’t develop a shot he won’t even be in the league. His floor is bust. Not even a playoff rotation player.

This is why you take Coward over him all day. Elite defender with wingspan and an elite 3 ball and a strong ceiling.

Is he an elite defender? I've heard everywhere from solid to poor, but this is the first time I've seen him referred to as elite.

[DuckIII]

After Demin went off against scrub teams he looked awful against real teams. Watch full games.

His workout videos are showing legit movement 3s with great mechanics but who knows if it translates.

What are you talking about?

Duncan Robinson is a one dimensional catch and shoot wing. That strikes me as being nearly the opposite type of wing as Demin for numerous reasons including that Demin is a PG who currently counts perimeter shooting as a weakness.

Demin and Duncan have similar athleticism.

Demin literally dribbled around and then passed when he couldn’t do anything. Often resulting in bad shots or shot clock violations.

If he doesn’t develop a shot he won’t even be in the league. His floor is bust. Not even a playoff rotation player.

This is why you take Coward over him all day. Elite defender with wingspan and an elite 3 ball and a strong ceiling.

None of this makes Robinson his comp. Invoking Robinson at all kinda makes it seem like you don’t really know much about Demin. I don’t know if you do or don’t but Robinson is about as a good a comp for Demin as Donovan Clingan.

[DuckIII]

I have no personal opinion on Demin. But the number of people here freaking out that AK would be taking a huge, unconventional swing drafting him seems odd when every mock draft I've seen has Demin off the board before our pick.

Demin has been mocked all over the place in peaks and valleys. Coming into the season he was a top 5, often top 3, prospect. Then after he had a rough middle to the season he generally slipped as far as completely out of the lottery in many mocks. Now that the draft is here, we’ve had camp, and guys are doing visits he’s risen back up to top 10 in most drafts I’ve seen.

Hard guy to predict. But what he has for strengths is extremely rare and it’s hard to imagine 12 teams passing on him. My guess is someone goes for it and hopes he can fix the flaws that can be fixed. And I’d be totally fine with that being the Bulls even though he’s not my #1 guy.

[LateNight]

Egor Demin is such an interesting name.

This is my feeling about this as well

[Dan Z]

Well I guess if there's a positive, if AK is gonna piss away lotto picks on that kind of sh*t, I'm glad he doesn't want to tank. Or maybe this is his way of shutting up fans who want him to tank. "You want me to have a high draft pick...BOOM here's what I'm gonna do with those!"

Or maybe this is one of his "favors to foreign agents" Simonovic-type deal?

It's been a few years. How did that favor work out?

[TheSuzerain]

I have no personal opinion on Demin. But the number of people here freaking out that AK would be taking a huge, unconventional swing drafting him seems odd when every mock draft I've seen has Demin off the board before our pick.

Demin has been mocked all over the place in peaks and valleys. Coming into the season he was a top 5, often top 3, prospect. Then after he had a rough middle to the season he generally slipped as far as completely out of the lottery in many mocks. Now that the draft is here, we’ve had camp, and guys are doing visits he’s risen back up to top 10 in most drafts I’ve seen.

Hard guy to predict. But what he has for strengths is extremely rare and it’s hard to imagine 12 teams passing on him. My guess is someone goes for it and hopes he can fix the flaws that can be fixed. And I’d be totally fine with that being the Bulls even though he’s not my #1 guy.

He was absolutely not a top 5 guy coming into the season.

He flew up draft boards early after a few gaudy performances against some of the worst teams in all of D1.

[kulaz3000]

He seems like a whole like Ricky Rubio when looking at his tape. An excellent passer, pretty good ball handler at his height, but can't shoot, can't really create off the dribble and isn't all that great around the basket. He has a lot of work to be a contributor in this league.

He is a player you pick and take a gamble on, if the front office is planning to let Giddey walk, but he certainly wouldn't be a replacement, and you certainly don't want too many players that replicate the same game as each other, or at least you shouldn't. I wouldn't hate this pick, but I'd consider it a sketchy pick at best.

I still believe there is going to be someone better that falls to our laps, who will be a better pick than Demin.

[MGB8]

Denim’s stats are awful, and propped up by playing bad teams. He is a minus athletically. He is a minus shooter in games. He is a minus on D. He has nice vision.

He is an upside pick you might gamble on in the teens and low 20s, like Kyle Anderson (but worse, but younger). But would be a horrid, horrid pick at 12. Especially for the Bulls, where he wouldn’t fit next to Matas and Giddey because Giddey can’t defend 1s and 2s well, Matas you want more inside on D if possible for help ability, and Denim projects worse than Giddey on D on the perimeter.

It is an idiot pick, par for the course with AKME. Yeah, maybe the shot develops, the D develops, and he becomes another Giddey…. But the chances of that happening are poor, and you already have Giddey, need to have pieces that fit.

[coldfish]

Right now I'm kind of hoping Maluach. I see the weaknesses that others will point out but if I'm going to have to develop someone, I'll take the really smart 7''2" guy with the 9'8" standing reach as a starting point.

[WesPeace]

Bulls need to pick/draft better and smarter, Demin isnt it! Period.. way to much risk and there is plenty of players who will probably better players and fit with our team, like Coward, CMB, Sorber, Fleming, Bryant..

[Chi town]

Duncan Robinson is a one dimensional catch and shoot wing. That strikes me as being nearly the opposite type of wing as Demin for numerous reasons including that Demin is a PG who currently counts perimeter shooting as a weakness.

Demin and Duncan have similar athleticism.

Demin literally dribbled around and then passed when he couldn’t do anything. Often resulting in bad shots or shot clock violations.

If he doesn’t develop a shot he won’t even be in the league. His floor is bust. Not even a playoff rotation player.

This is why you take Coward over him all day. Elite defender with wingspan and an elite 3 ball and a strong ceiling.

Is he an elite defender? I've heard everywhere from solid to poor, but this is the first time I've seen him referred to as elite.

He sure looks elite in the clips I’ve seen. Anticipation, contesting, blocks, steals, bodying up.

[Chi town]

He seems like a whole like Ricky Rubio when looking at his tape. An excellent passer, pretty good ball handler at his height, but can't shoot, can't really create off the dribble and isn't all that great around the basket. He has a lot of work to be a contributor in this league.

He is a player you pick and take a gamble on, if the front office is planning to let Giddey walk, but he certainly wouldn't be a replacement, and you certainly don't want too many players that replicate the same game as each other, or at least you shouldn't. I wouldn't hate this pick, but I'd consider it a sketchy pick at best.

I still believe there is going to be someone better that falls to our laps, who will be a better pick than Demin.

Draft Demin trade Giddey is a proper tank move to get DP or AJ next draft. That would def not fit AK’s win mentality.

[Chi town]

Duncan Robinson is a one dimensional catch and shoot wing. That strikes me as being nearly the opposite type of wing as Demin for numerous reasons including that Demin is a PG who currently counts perimeter shooting as a weakness.

Demin and Duncan have similar athleticism.

Demin literally dribbled around and then passed when he couldn’t do anything. Often resulting in bad shots or shot clock violations.

If he doesn’t develop a shot he won’t even be in the league. His floor is bust. Not even a playoff rotation player.

This is why you take Coward over him all day. Elite defender with wingspan and an elite 3 ball and a strong ceiling.

None of this makes Robinson his comp. Invoking Robinson at all kinda makes it seem like you don’t really know much about Demin. I don’t know if you do or don’t but Robinson is about as a good a comp for Demin as Donovan Clingan.

I comped him to Huerter if his shot really comes on strong.

What he’s showing in workouts is some really similar shooting to Duncan in terms of movement shooting, shot setup, mechanics, arch, rotation etc. Shot looks like an elite shooter’s shot.

My biggest issue with Demin is he’s not a competitor. He gives up. Lots of Pat Vibes. Perfectly happy passing away shots and opportunities.

He would have to hit on so many levels of his game to be a top 3 player on a contender. Couple that with his awful fit for us and it’s such a dumb move.

My only hope is AK is trying to drive up the price for someone to move up to get him or get him picked before the Bulls.

[Dan Z]

Right now I'm kind of hoping Maluach. I see the weaknesses that others will point out but if I'm going to have to develop someone, I'll take the really smart 7''2" guy with the 9'8" standing reach as a starting point.

I'll be surprised if Malluach is there at #12. I could see the Raptors taking him at 9 or the Rockets at 10. Maybe even a team with higher pick who likes his upside (New Orleans? Washington?).

Kasapras Jukucionis is who I'd like the Bulls to draft (and felt that way a long time ago), but I bet he'll also be gone before the 12th pick.

But hey the Bulls went on a run late in the season that ultimately won't mean much (other than a worse draft pick).

[coldfish]

Right now I'm kind of hoping Maluach. I see the weaknesses that others will point out but if I'm going to have to develop someone, I'll take the really smart 7''2" guy with the 9'8" standing reach as a starting point.

I'll be surprised if Malluach is there at #12. I could see the Raptors taking him at 9 or the Rockets at 10. Maybe even a team with higher pick who likes his upside (New Orleans? Washington?).

Kasapras Jukucionis is who I'd like the Bulls to draft (and felt that way a long time ago), but I bet he'll also be gone before the 12th pick.

But hey the Bulls went on a run late in the season that ultimately won't mean much (other than a worse draft pick).

https://www.nbadraft.net/nba-mock-drafts/?year-mock=2025

They currently have Maluach at 18 and Demin at 9. Juk at 16.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/45179882/2025-nba-mock-draft-projecting-all-59-picks-post-combine-cooper-flagg-dallas-mavericks
Maluach 7,
Jak 10
Demin 11

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/2025-nba-mock-draft-dylan-harper-lands-with-bucks-at-no-2-if-giannis-antetokounmpo-traded-to-spurs/
Demin 8
Jak 11
Maluach 12 (us)

https://sports.yahoo.com/nba/draft/?view=default&board=0&filter=round%3Aall
Maluach 9
Jak 10
Demin 18

Never seen mock drafts disagree so much. There is a tier of players that starts around 7 and goes to around 18 where everyone is about the same and people really disagree about who goes where. Regardless, most mocks have 1 or 2 of these guys available at 12.

[League Circles]

He seems like a whole like Ricky Rubio when looking at his tape. An excellent passer, pretty good ball handler at his height, but can't shoot, can't really create off the dribble and isn't all that great around the basket. He has a lot of work to be a contributor in this league.

He is a player you pick and take a gamble on, if the front office is planning to let Giddey walk, but he certainly wouldn't be a replacement, and you certainly don't want too many players that replicate the same game as each other, or at least you shouldn't. I wouldn't hate this pick, but I'd consider it a sketchy pick at best.

I still believe there is going to be someone better that falls to our laps, who will be a better pick than Demin.

If they're interested in taking a Giddey replacement I'd much prefer Jakucionis.

[League Circles]

My only hope, and it's a legit one, it's that if you were going to make up one lie about who you were focused on to misdirect other teams to NOT trade up to get ahead of you and take the guy you'd really want, it would be Demin. In essence, he's literally the LAST guy the Bulls should want in this range, so it would make sense to lie about it. Teams interested in your target will be less likely to trade up to take whoever that is, and a team that wants Demin will be more likely to trade up and help your real guy fall to you. I want to say this all seems obvious, also as a way to flush out who if anyone leaks to Cowley, but I'm still scared. Drafting Demin would push me to the edge of walking away as a fan, especially in the likely event that they don't make a great trade with Giddey.