Chicago Bulls select Noa Essengue - #12 overall

[Truebiscuit]

weirdly encouraged by how comfortable buzelis seems to be stepping into the Face Of The Franchise role already

i know it doesn't actually mean anything but in my head it's like...ok the spotlight/pressure isn't going to be a thing that holds him back. (plus i just think he's neat)

Kid wants to be great, I hope he's the next great Chicago Bull

[Truebiscuit]

ha, I interpreted it as "He sucks on offense"

He there early when Buz gets there.

He loves the game and puts in the work.

That's the main thing that distinguishes him from someone like pwill. That's also the first thing he mentioned in his draft interview.

Is that Patrick Williams' main issue? He doesn't put in the work?

[Truebiscuit]

The Essengue pick is an interesting departure for the Bulls, in that there is almost no chance he helps us "compete" or "win" or put people in seats in the near term. In fact, there's a decent chance this guy isn't seen much for a season-plus, and the average fan kind of forgets about him. This was a pick with a high ceiling in the long term, which is not a thing the Bulls have generally been accused of valuing properly in the past. AKME may be right or they may be wrong about what Essengue will end up being, but you can't say they are making picks trying to keep themselves from being fired next year. Maybe that's something that the extensions and the stability that comes with it do bring you, even if you don't like the people on the receiving end. So... we got that going for us?

This is AKME's version of a rebuild. Seeing the trade for 24-year-old Isaac Okoro reminds me of the early Theo Epstein Cubs where we were acquiring young talent and seeing if we could develop them better than their former team (Jake Arrieta, Mike Olt, etc).

We clearly aren't acquiring draft capital so this is the "next best" approach, IMO.

[Truebiscuit]

I'm more excited than I've been in years. I live that were finally adding some athleticism and upside. Athletic rim runners are exactly who you really next to Giddy. I need to temper my expectations a bit because he is so raw. But Giddy + Matas is an exciting duo to look forward to - assuming they keep improving. I would love to trade Coby for a raw, high upside type player if that becomes available. Roll the rice and hope they develop with Noa.

Same here! As I have gotten older I've found that I love watching young players develop. Nothing better than having that culminate in a championship (again: see 2016 Cubs). I watched all those kids play in the minors, was present in person for their first MLB games, etc. Just an amazing point in time.

[Truebiscuit]

Another one.

https://youtu.be/O4-dtfNLwRM?si=x5Cew9DCpcjbpTyp

The more I hear from him the more I think he has the same mentality as Buz.

Agreed, but can't deny that leaving his team during the championship is kind of a bitch move.

I want to believe he has that same "mentality" but it's hard for me to get over that right now.

Sent from my Pixel 9 using Tapatalk

That's tough, man... all those kids are trying to accomplish what he did this year. By all accounts, he was given permission by the coaches.

I can't fault him for living out his dream.

[Truebiscuit]

Just watched him talk for the first time. His demeanor, physical characteristics and way of speaking actually remind me a bit of Pippen.

I got Pippen vibes from looking at his height/length/athleticism.

He's got a long -- LONG -- way to go in development to even sniff Scottie's jock, though.

[DropStep]

The Essengue pick is an interesting departure for the Bulls, in that there is almost no chance he helps us "compete" or "win" or put people in seats in the near term. In fact, there's a decent chance this guy isn't seen much for a season-plus, and the average fan kind of forgets about him. This was a pick with a high ceiling in the long term, which is not a thing the Bulls have generally been accused of valuing properly in the past. AKME may be right or they may be wrong about what Essengue will end up being, but you can't say they are making picks trying to keep themselves from being fired next year. Maybe that's something that the extensions and the stability that comes with it do bring you, even if you don't like the people on the receiving end. So... we got that going for us?

This is AKME's version of a rebuild. Seeing the trade for 24-year-old Isaac Okoro reminds me of the early Theo Epstein Cubs where we were acquiring young talent and seeing if we could develop them better than their former team (Jake Arrieta, Mike Olt, etc).

We clearly aren't acquiring draft capital so this is the "next best" approach, IMO.

Yep. This is what "accelerate the timeline" meant. Not, thankfully, getting mature players at market rates.

[DuckIII]

Another one.

https://youtu.be/O4-dtfNLwRM?si=x5Cew9DCpcjbpTyp

The more I hear from him the more I think he has the same mentality as Buz.

Agreed, but can't deny that leaving his team during the championship is kind of a bitch move.

I can deny that with ease and don’t think it says a single thing about him positive or negative. Whatever he becomes will have absolutely zero to do with an 18 year old kid deciding he’d like to experience the fulfillment of his lifelong dream in person. Frankly this criticism, which I’ve seen before, kind of pisses me off a little bit.

[Almost Retired]

For his age and the fact that he's communicating outside of his native language Noa seems very mature and driven. I'm going to keep saying it...the combo of Matas and Noa is going to be one of the best forward combos in the league in a few years.

[nomorezorro]

in one of the intro videos the team posted, noa said he just learned english in the past couple of years, which is crazy to me

[Hangtime84]

Another one.

https://youtu.be/O4-dtfNLwRM?si=x5Cew9DCpcjbpTyp

The more I hear from him the more I think he has the same mentality as Buz.

I think Matas is the perfect training partner for Noa. I like he said ball handling is where he wants to work on. I’m not gonna expect anything until year 3.

For now just be a tall Javonte Green.

[jnrjr79]

in one of the intro videos the team posted, noa said he just learned english in the past couple of years, which is crazy to me

As a big tennis fan, I am always impressed at watching players learn English so well, so fast. I'd love to see some sort of feature on what athletes do to study and learn it. English isn't an easy language for non-native speakers.

[WesPeace]

in one of the intro videos the team posted, noa said he just learned english in the past couple of years, which is crazy to me

As a big tennis fan, I am always impressed at watching players learn English so well, so fast. I'd love to see some sort of feature on what athletes do to study and learn it. English isn't an easy language for non-native speakers.

I disagree.. English is one of the easiest languages to learn, easier than French, German, Spanish, Russian etc

[Chi town]

Another one.

https://youtu.be/O4-dtfNLwRM?si=x5Cew9DCpcjbpTyp

The more I hear from him the more I think he has the same mentality as Buz.

Agreed, but can't deny that leaving his team during the championship is kind of a bitch move.

I want to believe he has that same "mentality" but it's hard for me to get over that right now.

Sent from my Pixel 9 using Tapatalk

How old are you? I’m 43.

I thought the same thing initially until I learned more about the arrangement with the team and more about ULM and the league as a whole.

I’m also old school. I’m a hooper purist. I’ve had to make a lot of adjustments to this new nba and the persona of the players. Buz is a perfect example of this. Laid back all laughs seems liked he’s hacking around and then when the game is played he hoops and he’s locked in. Still having a great time and enjoying the game but competitive and sharp. It’s a lot like Curry.

Lots of these new young guys are like that. They ain’t MJ or Kobe taking stuff personally. I think Billy had to adjust to this with Buz who had to win him over with his play.

[DASMACKDOWN]

in one of the intro videos the team posted, noa said he just learned english in the past couple of years, which is crazy to me

As a big tennis fan, I am always impressed at watching players learn English so well, so fast. I'd love to see some sort of feature on what athletes do to study and learn it. English isn't an easy language for non-native speakers.

Its ridiculously impressive given English is like one of the hardest languages to learn given the nuance. So when people can sound natural it really is amazing.

[Chi town]

For his age and the fact that he's communicating outside of his native language Noa seems very mature and driven. I'm going to keep saying it...the combo of Matas and Noa is going to be one of the best forward combos in the league in a few years.

That’s what I was preaching most of the draft cycle. Those two guys on the wings with Giddey will be a fun watch and should win some games.

I think Noa is going to surprise some people. He’s a quick study and his measurements will take the league time to adjust too. You just don’t think a guy that long can move that fast. His giant hands also help him too unlike Pat who always loses the ball. Noa has Velcro hands.

[Chi town]

in one of the intro videos the team posted, noa said he just learned english in the past couple of years, which is crazy to me

As a big tennis fan, I am always impressed at watching players learn English so well, so fast. I'd love to see some sort of feature on what athletes do to study and learn it. English isn't an easy language for non-native speakers.

Its ridiculously impressive given English is like one of the hardest languages to learn given the nuance. So when people can sound natural it really is amazing.

I’ve been super impressed with that too.

[Chi town]

Another one.

https://youtu.be/O4-dtfNLwRM?si=x5Cew9DCpcjbpTyp

The more I hear from him the more I think he has the same mentality as Buz.

I think Matas is the perfect training partner for Noa. I like he said ball handling is where he wants to work on. I’m not gonna expect anything until year 3.

For now just be a tall Javonte Green.

Well said. Buz is becoming a giant asset I. Showing you her guys how to work and he has the receipts on court to be credible.

A 6’11 Javonte would have quite the impact.

[jnrjr79]

in one of the intro videos the team posted, noa said he just learned english in the past couple of years, which is crazy to me

As a big tennis fan, I am always impressed at watching players learn English so well, so fast. I'd love to see some sort of feature on what athletes do to study and learn it. English isn't an easy language for non-native speakers.

I disagree.. English is one of the easiest languages to learn, easier than French, German, Spanish, Russian etc

Hard for me to say. I'm a native English speaker, but speak French/majored in French in college/studied in France. I find remembering the genders of nouns to be pretty annoying, but I'm not sure I otherwise find French more difficult. Of course, I can't really say since I didn't have to learn English as a second language.

[JohnnyKILLroy]

As a big tennis fan, I am always impressed at watching players learn English so well, so fast. I'd love to see some sort of feature on what athletes do to study and learn it. English isn't an easy language for non-native speakers.

Its ridiculously impressive given English is like one of the hardest languages to learn given the nuance. So when people can sound natural it really is amazing.

I’ve been super impressed with that too.

Everyone I encountered in Europe speaks English well and easily and it’s often in the curriculum at a very early age.

I would have some insight I went to school in Germany for a year. I also have a lot of German family my aunts and uncles even learned some in school and all my cousins are pretty fluent for learning it academically.

And being trilingual and English is definitely the easiest to learn. Piece of cake actually. Germans have 3 words for “the” and no logical way to know which is right you just have to memorize all of them. That’s bananas.