While the 2024 NBA Draft may not be the most star-studded, the Chicago Bull🐻s must find value at No. 11.
This will mark only the second time the current front office regime has selected inside the lottery and only the third time they’ve selected in the first round. With the 2025 pick currently controlled by the San Antonio Spurs – and the organization experiencing back-to-back losing seasons – making the most out of this pick is paramount. The franchise is in desperate need of young talent, particularly after Arturas Karnisovas admitted that the roster’s current “Big 3” has run its course.
Arguably the safest m𒁃ember of the Big 3 is Nikola Vucevic, who remains under contract for two more seasons. Meanwhile, Zach LaVine is sitting on a soft trade request and DeMar DeRozan is inching closer to free agency. Especially when we consider the $20.0 million Vucevic makes annually, the chance of him finishing his contract in Chicago feels rather high.
Nevertheless, this might not be a bad draft to consider his succession plan. The 2024 prospect pool is surprisingly deep at the center position, which is why we’ve already spent time taking a closer look at the most well-known big men in the draft. Rumors have also already indicated that the Bulls have some interest in landing a new center, as the team has been name-dropped as having an eye on trading up for UConn center Donovan Clingan. But that’s not all.
recently connected Chicago to arguably the most well-known big in this year’s draft. Zach Edey is now reportedly on the team’s radar, and the same can be said about several other late-lottery squads:
“Teams say Edey’s range appears to be in the Nos. 9-19 range based on the workouts he has conducted and scheduled. He was with the Toronto Raptors this past week, will visit the Los Angeles Lakers, and is in the conversation at Memphis (9), Utah (10), Chicago (11), Oklahoma City (12), Portland (14) and Miami (15).”
You can read ESPN’s full piece .
Would the Bulls Really Grab Zach Edey?
I have to admit, this one catches me off guard. While I understand wanting to prepare for a post-Vucevic world, I’m not sure grabbing Zach Edey at No. 11 would be the wisest move.
We discussed this a little further in our post from earlier this offseason, comparing Edey’s limited skillset to the other likely first-round bigs.
Not only will he enter the league at 22 years old, but he is about as traditional of a big man as you can get. Zach Edey is a back-to-the-basket player who needs a good point guard and lots of defensive hel😼p. If teams are able to pull him away from t꧅he rim, they will fly right by him. If teams are able to play uptempo, Edey will drag behind. The weaknesses are obvious … but so are the strengths.
Edey is an absolutely enormous human being. He will instantly be a handful physically for many centers acros☂s the league, and his rebounding on both ends could prove to be an immediate difference-maker. Likewise, his sheer size should make him an extremely valuable screener.
We also saw him average 25.2 points per game this season for a reason. He’s a highlওy effiꦛcient finisher around the rim with a real feel for navigating the post. We’re not just talking about someone who will overpower you but somebody who can outsmart you.
Due to the underwhelming nature of this year’s class, Edey has managed to climb up some boards. We also can’t deny that the continued success of centers like Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Joel Embiid has made finding a formidable big a greater priority than in years past.
Still, versatility and superstar potential remain extremely important on both ends of the ball – just look at the two teams still alive in the NBA Finals. Edey may turn into a solid⭕ rim-protector and post player, but his limitations when it comes to stretching the floor and keeping up in transition could make him more of a specialized asset. There is a reason that most recent mock drafts have him going after where the Bulls are slotted to pick ( mock draft is seemingly the going within the lottery right now).
If Chicago was sitting somewhere closer to the 15-20 range, I could understand the desire to just bet on the relatively high-floor Edey holds. But the franchise is in the lottery for a reason. Chicago needs to use this as an opportunity to swing for a higher-upside talent. Especially in this year’s draft, the potential for someone like Ron Holland, Nikola Topic, or Stephon Castle to fall into their lap is real. Taking Edey over any one of those players would feel like a mistake.
Heck, I’d potentially feel even better about the Bulls trading up than selecting Zach Edey at No. 11. A recent rumor linked them to Matas Buzelis, who has the exact kind of all-around game this front office should be looking to add. I have not viewed this as a draft worth🧔y of giving up assets for a better pick, but this would at least lead to the Bulls landing a better prospect.
Again, I don’t have much against Zach Edey as a player. I think there is a world where he turns into a very serviceable rotation player. But I do have something against selecting him this high in the draft. Chicago should be setting the bar a little higher.
