Bulls need lottery luck to get Zion
Likely fourth-worst record gives Chicago a 12.5% chance at No. 1 draft selection
In a perfect world, Jim Boylen is sitting on the dais at the NBA draft lottery May 14, his heart pure and “Bulls” across his chest.
Then again, little has been perfect about this Bulls season, which began with legitimate optimism for progress and devolved into an injury-filled, lack-ofchemistry trial.
The Bulls were creative enough last season to consider having everybody’s favorite chaplain, Loyola’s Sister Jean Dolores Schmidt, represent them at the draft lottery. But league rules dictate it must be a team representative, so President and Chief Operating Officer Michael Reinsdorf sat for the TV show as the Bulls dropped fromsixth to seventh.
That the Bulls landed promising big manWendell Carter Jr. fromthat seventh slot seems pertinent now that they need only the Cavaliers’ likely loss to the Warriors late Friday to secure the fourth- worst record and a 12.5% chance at theNo. 1 pick.
May 14 represents the next big story for this franchise, particularly because Carter, fellow first-round pick Chandler Hutchison, former lottery pick Denzel Valentine, trade- deadline acquisition Otto Porter Jr. and all three acquisitions from the Jimmy Butler trade — Zach LaVine, Kris DunnandLauriMarkkanen — have been out for several games, weeks or the season.
With the Bulls all but assured of entering the first draft lottery under the league’s reform rules with the fourth-worst record, a primer of their odds is in order. Not to mention some lighthearted suggestions for their representative if Boylen’s trademark intensity isn’t onstage.
It’s well- documented that the teams with the three-worst records own identical 14 percent odds of winning the lottery and Zion Williamson — er, the No. 1 pick in the June 20 draft. And that the fourthworst team has a 12.5% chance at that prize.
What’s talked about less is that the third-worst team at worst can drop to the seventh pick and has only a 7% chance to do so. The Bulls as the fourth-worst team could drop to eighth and would have a 19% chance to pick seventh or eighth.
General manager Gar Forman is fond of saying there’s opportunity in any draft. The Bulls have lived up to that belief with recent acquisitions of Carter and Markkanen from the No. 7 slot and long-ago examples such as Butler from No. 30 and Taj Gibson atNo. 26.
But most scouts and draft experts cite a drop-off from Williamson to the presumed No. 2 pick, Murray State point guard Ja Morant, and another drop from Morant to the likely No. 3 pick, Duke wing RJ Barrett. Even with Texas Tech wing Jarrett Culver rising on many draft boards, those same scouts see an even larger drop-off after the first three picks.
Like all lottery teams, Forman, executive vice president John Paxson and other Bulls brass have scouted extensively. Individual interviews at the draft combine in May and private workouts afterward will continue to shape the Bulls’ draft board, but there’s already a strong internal sense for picks Nos. 1-8.
Calling the draft lottery TV show boring may be kind, although ESPN made improvements last year with Evanston native CassidyHubbarth hosting an interview- driven show. But, hey, a little Silly Stringandperhaps the team mascot’s beloved popcorn trick and you’ve got some entertainment. Williamson would provide the most entertainment. Whomever the Bulls place on the dais would forever be remembered for cashing in on 12.5% odds.
Benny theBull: