The Chicago Bulls are only a couple of days away from learning their draft lottery fate. The team will enter Sunday night’s drawing with the 11th-best odds in the NBA. This means they have just a 9.4 percent chance to move into the top 4 and only a 2.0 percent chance to claim the No. 1 pick. You can check out the full draft .
To be sure, the last thing we should do is get our hopes up. The chances are incredibly thin, and we all know luck hasn’t necessarily been on the Bulls’ side in recent years. But, hey, you never know what the ping pong balls have in store!
With🉐 the lottery set for May 12 at 2:00 p.m. CT, I thought it was time to take a look at some prospects worth considering if the Bulls earn some lottery luck!
Alexandre Sarr
Alexandre Sarr is another ridiculously sized Frenchman who could go No. 1 overall. While he isn’t Victor Wembanyama, there are some similarities in the way the two can control the ball for their size. You almost forget that the big man stands seven-foot-one at times watching him attack off the dribble and turn into fadeaway jumpers.
Indeed, Sarr’s raw athleticism jumps off the screen when you watch his highlights from playing in Australia. While he isn’t at all the most efficient shooter, he seems to have a fearlessness to let it fly, including from long range. What has really vaulted him up draft boards, however, is his defensive upside.
Sarr can embarrass opponents around the rim with his innate shot-blocking prowess. Even more important, he couples his intimidating wingspan with solid lateral quickness. The 19-year-old can switch along the perimeter and ride a guard’s hip all the way to the hoop for the contest. The word “springy” comes to mind when watching his game. There is a hop to his step that is rare for a seven-footer.
If the Chicago Bulls find themselves making a leap up the draft board, pursuing a big man might be the move. Nikola Vucevic isn’t the big man of the future for the Bulls. While the veteran may be signed for a couple of more seasons, the team might as well start thinking about their succession plan. Sarr would sure feel like a great plan!
Zaccharie Risacher
The six-foot-eight overseas forward Zaccharie Risacher has sat top 3 in mock drafts for quite some time. Playing professionally in France, the 19-year-old has the kind of skillset that should immediately translate to the NBA. He loves to find open shots off the ball and projects to be a real catch-and-shoot threat at the next level. Over his career playing between the EuroLeague and LNB Pro A, he’s a 40.6 percent shooter.
While there are undoubtedly questions about how much he can create for himself off the dribble, he’s surprisingly light on his feet and can really push the pace in transition. Not to mention, this light footwork is what could make him a top-tier defender. Risacher has the length to disrupt passing lanes and the mobility to switch onto smaller opponents.
Risacher’s ceiling may not feel like the highest compared to others on this list, but he sure does seem to have one of the highest floors. His jumper should translate, as should his defensive versatility. If the Chicago Bulls don’t want to play it risky, Risacher might be a good call.
Ron Holland
I’m a big Ron Holland guy. While he only appeared in 15 games for the G-League Ignite this season due to a thumb injury, the young wing had his moments. He averaged 18.5 points, 6.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.1 steals on 47.4 percent shooting from the field against grown men. And he is still just 18 years old!
A six-foot-six wing with a strong build, Holland is the most explosive player on this list. He is a downhill menace who can rise for the poster jam or finesse his way into an acrobatic finish. Holland shows extreme promise as a crafty ball-handleﷺr who simply knows how to set himself up for a decisive drive into the paint. This guy will be able to get buckets at the next level, and the Chicago Bulls could sure use his flare with the Zach LaVine era likely over.
Arguably the best thing about Holland is that he gives so many you-know-whats. He isn’t a one-sided player who will save his high-flying for the offensive end. Holland loves to make things happen defensively with his ball pressure. He still finished No. 1 on the G-League Ignite in steals (35) despite playing only half the team’s games!
Holland is the kind of guy who I expect to immediately become a fan favorite. Might he have so🧜me growing pains due to his inconsistent jumper and overly ambitious decision-making? Sure. But he was also born in 2005. Drafting Holland would mean the Bulls are accepting that they have a project ahead of them.
Nikola Topic
All signs point toward Nikola Topic being one of the prizes in this drive. The Serbian guard – who isn’t even 19 years old yet – stands six-foot-six with a tremendous feel for the game. While I haven’t done any sort of tremendous deep dive on Topic, it’s hard for me not to like the numerous highlight reels I’ve seen.
The first word that came to mind during my latest viewing of Topic was “scamper.” And, well, that felt weird considering that word is usually associated with smaller figures. If you though, I think you’ll know exactly what I mean. He keeps the ball tight and runs all around the court to set up the offense. I wouldn’t call him the most naturally explosive athlete, but he does have some great acceleration in transition and can really use his size to his advantage when driving to the rim. He’ll be a pain for opposing defenses to keep up with.
The combination of size and decision-making is what I’m sure most front offices have fallen in love with. He reads the floor better than anyone in this class, and the Bulls have no one on their roster currently who can play that role. Not to mention, adding a player like Topic would just allow Coby White to focus even more on what he does best – getting buckets. He could make a lot of sense for the Bulls.
Stephon Castle
Depending on which mock draft you’re glancing at right now, Castle could end up going somewhere closer to the Bulls’ projected No. 11 pick than the top of the lottery. But this is also before draft prep kicks into high gear at the combine, which is when I really think Castle’s stock can shoot up.
The UConn guard is one of my favorite names in this year’s draft. He’s a jumbo guard who can kill opponents with his quickness and driving ability. Even better, Castle is the kind of player who brings relentless hustle on both ends of the floor. His six-foot-six frame allows him to guard multiple positions and contribute consistently on the glass. While he may not be the most gifted facilitator, you feel comfortable when the ball is in Castle’s hands offensively.
His usage wasn’t necessarily as high as some expected with the Huskies, but he still played a vital role in their championship run. The biggest question mark probably revolves around how efficient he can become from long range. We only saw him shoot 20-75 from downtown during his freshman season, but the stroke looks good enough for him to come around in this department.
At the end of the day, I’m not positive Castle is prime to go top 4, but I can’t see him making it all the way to No. 11 either. If you make the leap, he might be the kind of player worth reaching for in this underwhelming draft class (especially if you’re the Bulls).
