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Sam Smith

Albert Castro: Any truth to this possible Bulls trading up rumor that I'm hearing? I really want them to just stay @ 11th and not pick anymore guards. I think getting a guy like Cody Williams would be good enough. Maybe for a top 3 pick make a trade, but not giving up our future picks. Oh yeah and stay away from Clingan.

Sam: What’s wrong with Clingan? Bulls will need a big man with Vučević having two years left, and the NBA I have heard will continue beyond that. The Bulls tend to be in win-now modes, but if you watched the playoffs there were a lot of teams with young players. I actually do think it’s possible the Bulls could trade up with the most frequent speculation involving the Detroit Pistons at No. 5 because they need a scoring finisher, which Zach LaVine can be, as well as a veteran because they have too many young players. The Bulls, with all the rumors and speculation regarding LaVine, probably are getting close to accepting they won’t get much and probably would love to drop him into a team’s cap space so they don’t have to take back big salaries. Like if they made a deal with the Lakers. It’s probably not likely with the Pistons since Detroit just changed management. But say for fantasy sake the Bulls could trade LaVine and Alex Caruso (yes, they may have to add a sweetener) for No. 5 and Evan Fournier. Maybe throw in No. 11 instead of Caruso? It makes some sense to give the Pistons a chance to win some games, though it’s all guessing for now. The other possibilities in that sort of scenario of teams with cap room to absorb some or all of LaVine’s deal are the 76ers and Magic. You could make a case for Zach fitting in either place as the Magic could use some offense at guard to support Wagner and Banchero and the 76ers basically need a guard with Maxey and have almost no one else under contract but Embiid for now. Would either demand Caruso or someone else? The picks aren’t great as the 76ers have No. 16 and the Magic have No. 18. But if the Bulls could keep No. 11 and get one of those selections, too, it might give them a boost toward a future young base. The intriguing one is the Pistons with No 5. What to do then?

Wayne Warner: My fingers crossed is a trade of Caruso & 11th pick for rights to Matas Buzelis 

Sam: He’d probably be there more likely around No. 5, and would be an intriguing choice for the Bulls with plenty of ups and downs. He’s long and athletic, good phrases for an NBA player these days, and started in Hinsdale. He looks like the sort of athletic young big kid the Bulls really need at 6-10 and about 200 pounds. I’ve never seen him play in a game and you can’t tell much on those youtube highlights as they never miss a shot. Which seems an issue for him as he hasn’t shot well. But as both a positive and negative he is young, but he is young, and the Bulls tend to prefer more ready to play. He sounds like a Franz Wagner type, which would be nice to have especially at big forward where the Bulls lately mostly play small guards. So what would the Bulls do if they could get No. 5? All the mock drafts say Sarr and Risacher will be Nos. 1 and 2 in some order. Then maybe the shooter Sheppard. Serbian big Nikola Topic was there, but now likely drops with an ACL injury. The Bulls aren’t into waiting. Then maybe come the Connecticut guys, the guard Castle and Clingan. I’d be on board for either if I were the Bulls. I’ve been high on the Tennessee shooter Knecht, but lately there are a lot of Bulls rumors about the Providence defensive guard Devin Carter, who I’ve mentioned before sounds a lot like Caruso. Which also sounds pretty good. After all, everyone’s crediting the Celtics’ defense lately. Though Carter probably is not as high as No. 5.

Mike Sutera: I’ve been watching Buzelis. Not impressed. Poor shooter. He is athletic but doesn't have great handles. I’m not trading up for him, but if he falls to 11 take him. No one in this draft is worth dealing future assets to move up.

Sam: I believe the draft as little as I know about it will be better than projected, and the thing I know most is these current mock drafts five years from now will all be way way way off, that No. 13 could be No. 3. Take a look at any draft and list the best players and many are 10-20 picks. So this draft night TV stuff with the college analysts, who by the way seem never on draft night to have seen a college player who isn’t a future NBA All-Star, when they act surprised some team picks someone eight spots ahead of where they had him should be ignored. If the Bulls could trade up, I’d be interested in someone like Buzelis because the Bulls yes, lack shooting. But the league also is growing younger, taller and athletic, and the Bulls need a dose of that. I’d try to do something with the Pistons if it were possible. But I also believe at No. 11 they should be able to get a rotation player like Carter. Maybe still Knecht, and the Bulls need size and maybe it’s worth even trading down a few spots for an extra pick and getting a big guy like Tristan DaSilva, Tyler Smith, Kel’el Ware or Kyle Filipowski. Size helped the Mavericks. Rebounds if not always leading to rings do matter. A lot.

John Leichenko: Looks like Celtics fans will have a summer to stop whining. Oh wait, they’re probably Red Sox fans.

Sam: Not that I get these things right that often, but I was on one level surprised to see so many picking Dallas with them having so few scorers. Still actually amazed they got to the Finals; sort of like Miami last season. They could be a play-in next season, though credit them for being willing to take a chance with those midseason deals. But this series is also a chance for a good look at what often poses as media analysis. The Mavericks were picked by maybe half the national TV commentators, in part, because they were the last ones the media saw play. Boston was long finished and another factor in fan analysis — don’t call those radio shows because you know the game probably as well or better than they do — is the media people usually go with the last thing they saw. Not to say Boston couldn’t have blown it the way they let down toward the end of Game 3. But they did lead the NBA all season for a reason and Dallas basically starts three non scorers. Which leads me to the other point of this amazing piling on that is going on regarding Luka Doncic, that now down 3-0 he’s fat and out of shape and complains too much, and can you believe it he’s not a great defender! And by the way, probably still the best player in the series and has had a truly remarkable playoffs; perhaps the MVP of the playoffs combined. But get down 3-0 and you’re a bum. Reminds me of all the piling on when David Robinson carried a Spurs team without another All-Star other than Dennis Rodman having a breakdown and then lost to Hakeem and a much better Rockets team and suddenly Robinson was a loser. Luka’s always been big like this, which is part of why he can maneuver players all over the court. He’s complained to officials almost as much as say, oh right, LeBron James. Hey, he was kicked out of the game with the Bulls this season on Serbian night. He’s picked out on defense like, you know, Damian Lillard and Jalen Brunson and Donovan Mitchell and Tyrese Haliburton and Trae Young and Steph Curry and most of those guys who have to do virtually everything on offense for their teams to even have a chance. Those guys never are going to be defenders, like, you know, MVP winners Nash, Nowitzki, Barkley and Iverson. Which is why Boston has been so good. You can’t hide a poor defender with them because they put out five players who can score and shoot. Ever notice who LeBron guards these days? This cheap shot stuff against Doncic is such bad analysis. But it is more in the current media tradition of the so called hot takes and then everyone for a day discusses something that was said that was outrageous and stupid and then there’s something else the next day. Is that a decent rant? Did those kids TP my house again?

Mike Metz: Wonder what the Mavs will do with Derrick Jones Jr. Will they overpay? Guys like him are around all the time.

Sam: I’ll admit it’s been fun seeing the former Bulls Jones Jr. and Gafford in the Finals; good for them. But given how little mail I’ve received about that the Bulls made a mistake, I’m guessing most everyone realizes to paraphrase the old political line, it’s Luka, stupid.  As great a run as the Mavs have had, it’s tenuous in the Western Conference because of how close the standings were with Denver, Minnesota and Oklahoma City all within one game and Dallas in fifth one game ahead of seventh place New Orleans. And now Morant and a lot of injured guys will return for second place Memphis from a year previous and Houston seems poised to make a jump with their No. 3 pick in play and a late season charge. And there’s still the future greatest of all time, Wembanyama. Will he some day make the playoffs? We all thought here Derrick would pick up his option. He didn’t and took a minimum and got himself in the right spot. So I assume he gets a nice pay bump, but Dallas also was somewhat exposed as late in the playoffs as they got, and you figure they’ll be looking for more offensive options to help Luka. Derrick won’t be that as valuable as he was this season.

Mitch Matson: The Hawks are so screwed. They don't have their 2025 and 2027 picks. Both unprotected and their 2026th could be a swap. If they deal Young and Murray they need to recoup draft capital.

Sam: And now they have No. 1 in a draft with babies at the top? So maybe despite basically no one ever trading a No. 1 pick they will? Nah, I assume they use it because they have to start somewhere and no one is likely offering that much for the No. 1 in this draft. But they are the mystery team for deals with several players of interest and in need of a vast makeover. They took a shot to try to compete with that deal for Dejounte Murray in which they gave up all those picks. It didn’t work. But you have to try. They did; I’m OK with that. But when you take a shot and it doesn’t work if you keep patching you’ll be stuck in the middle. Can they get off Trae Young? Do they want to? That seems to be their major issue. A lot of teams would take Murray, Capela and Bogdanovic.  LaVine’s been speculated there, but I doubt the Bulls have interest in Young with his atrocious defense. The Spurs were rumored, but they seemed to have poured cold water. Though Wembanyama could protect Young’s flank. But, true, their prospects are not good. Which also makes No. 1 in this draft more interesting.

Art Alenik: Danny Hurley just stepped away from about $48MM to stay at UConn (or $6.4MM/yr. for 6 yrs). Good for him. Once you’re making $5.25MM/yr, how much more do you need? And is it worth being miserable? Because that Laker job is a mess. You have to deal with all those unrealistic expectations, and if LeBron grows unhappy with you… Bye Bye. I guess $70MM is a lot of cash for the 1 or 2 seasons he would last before they started looking for their next coach. If he can win the NCAA next season, he’ll be only the 2nd coach to do that (after John Wooden, who got 7 in a row).

Sam: And it actually seemed like the Lakers “low balled” him, at least in this era where Monty Williams in Detroit got a larger contract (OK, I get you have to pay someone more to get them to live in Detroit versus LA). But it all did sound a bit suspicious, that if you were going for your big home run coach to lead the team for the next post-LeBron era how could you not blow him away with the money? The Lakers supposedly offered about $70 million for six years, so they could not have seriously believed he’d be swayed by the money since you knew after a second straight title he was going to make close to $10 million per year at UConn. California taxes could have made it even less. So it all made no sense. And why Hurley obviously didn’t think long about it. Yes, the Lakers ship be sinkin’, to paraphrase the great Micheal Ray Richardson. LeBron & Son? Hardware store or NBA franchise? They need a big move this summer, so we have to assume Zach’s still on their radar. But riding it out with LeBron could be the sort of steep decline that makes Storrs, Connecticut look very appealing. Plus, if he wants now Hurley can get an NBA job when he wants; and there’ll be better choices.

Matt Queen: Illinois Star Terrence Shannon Jr. was found not guilty of rape. Does he get into the first round? I think so. 

Sam: If life were fair he would go back toward the end of the lottery where, you know, the Bulls are. But life — and basketball — aren’t always. He should get the same treatment as if this never happened since we are supposed to live by the rule of law in the country, though there seem to be exceptions. I do wonder if some teams will be scared off less because they believe he got out on some technicality than what if this is a distraction, and we know how much teams hate that. I have not followed the trial, but a verdict so quickly in barely more than an hour also seems to make a point. I still haven’t looked that closely at the draft, either, but I’d say he could and probably would be a good value pick in the middle of the first round where a few teams go with what they feel is “safe” and he maybe slips beyond his presumed talent. Though we know this drafting and human analysis is hardly science. But based on his talent he should be a solid first round pick, and someone could get themselves a good talent.

Got a question for Sam?Submit your question to Sam at&nbsp;asksam@bulls.com

The contents of this page have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Chicago Bulls. All opinions expressed by Sam Smith are solely his own and do not reflect the opinions of the Chicago Bulls or its Basketball Operations staff, parent company, partners, or sponsors. His sources are not known to the Bulls and he has no special access to information beyond the access and privileges that go along with being an NBA accredited member of the media.

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Ask Sam Mailbag: NBA Draft possibilities, trade rumors and more

I am often asked my favorite Bulls team, which is sort of like the which is your favorite kid question. And while you know how you have to answer, you also know you have a favorite. Mine was the first in 1991, which we acknowledge again today on its anniversary June 12.

The first one was my favorite for often why the first one is. Because of the long struggle and anticipation, but I also believe it was the best of those six Bulls championship teams.

And it also was the most personal for me because of all the grief I took believing in that team. There’s no cheering in the press box, as my dear late colleague Jerome Holtzman famously wrote. But I have to admit I sure was cheering for those 1991 Bulls.

I was the traveling beat writer on the Bulls then for The Chicago Tribune. It wasn’t the glamour media job in Chicago. Michael Jordan was big, but not so much the Bulls. That was sort of the brief golden era of Chicago sports when in 1983 the White Sox won the most games in baseball, in 1984 the Cubs won the most games in the National League and in 1985 when the city went absolutely nuts for the Super Bowl champion Bears. Sure, the Bulls got Jordan in 1984 and he was great. But then he got hurt and when he came back there were the big bad Detroit Pistons, and as good as Michael was they just seemed too daunting. It wasn’t uncommon to read sports columns in Chicago into the late 1980s that a team couldn’t win a championship with Michael Jordan because he shot and scored too much and didn’t play the team game like the winners, like Bird and Magic and, uuugh, Isiah.

And so came those crushing playoff losses all to those Pistons teams, in 1988 and 1989 and 1990, the latter with the lonely figure of Scottie Pippen with a towel draped over his head as he withered and weathered a pulsating pregame migraine headache, the Sisphyius symbol of defeat and what seemed like a hill to steep to climb for these Bulls. This Pistons boulder seemed like it was just going to crush that team’s hopes. A breakup was not out of the question.

But then came the first dance when even with Thomas injured, the Bulls going into the All-Star break in February 1991 finally hurled off that yoke of defeat and threw down their gauntlet with a win in the Palace of Auburn Hills house of horrible losses. Purple prose still abounds for me from those heady days.

Which is also why that one was my favorite.

Because none of the others raised such doubt and required so much struggle, disappointment and failure. Those players repeatedly endured and rejected the stock refrains about being losers and worse. And then to experience their joy and release, even vicariously, remains the most memorable of times.

The 1996 Bulls championship team remains the standard and the one that gets included on all those lists of the greatest teams in NBA history. And it did win more games than the 1991 team and was more dominant in the league, perhaps as dominant as any NBA team in part by then given the aura of Jordan, who’d gone from All-Star to icon.

That 1996 team often seemed to have opponents defeated during pregame layup lines as they stared across court at the famous Jordan, not long before a poster on their bedroom wall, at the zany Dennis Rodman and the suave Scottie Pippen leavened with the mysterious Zen of Phil Jackson.

But Jordan circa 1995 post baseball was not MJ 1991 with the speed, reactions and flight. Rodman was 35 and not always there, if not always all there, and so that shock and awe speed and athleticism that was so 1991 was replaced by so much savvy and certainty in 1996. To paraphrase the political bromide, it was the defense, stupid. In 1991, Jordan was the league’s best defensive guard and Pippen was the best defensive wing — and they arguably were the best ever defensively at those positions — and Horace Grant was the most athletic defensive power forward at the time. That threesome pressuring the ball despite Jordan’s showtime was the secret sauce of that team. It often rendered opponents helpless, if not hopeless.

Which is when I became a bit more personally involved nationally than I’d ever been, and began to let go my objectivity about that team.

In what we’d refer to now as, at least, an older school of media, the golden rules were to not put yourself in the story and to not have favorites. It was natural spending all your time with one team that you’d have a preference. But in the journalistic traditions of the time we always were reminded to remain as unbiased as possible, give equal weight to each side’s position. No cheering in the press box.

I began to cheer, though not for what most fans would expect. After all, there was no playoff bonus for media. Just more work through the Finals and beyond.

Anyway, one of the boilerplate newspaper requirements before a playoff series was to write up matchups boxes, i.e., point guard, shooting guard, small forward, etc., and pick who had the edge at each position and make a prediction for the series. I always took it as a somewhat disposable part of the package of content. Now going for their first championship the Bulls were big, but you sort of get lost in it when you have been there for years.

By then it’s just your daily routine, game, write, game, write, practice, write, fly, game, write….

Such was the case for myself and my two regular traveling colleagues, Lacy Banks from the Sun-Times and Kent McDill from the Herald. There rarely was anyone else along, though because Tribune columnist Bernie Lincicome seemed to have a crush on Jordan he’d pop in occasionally. But Chicago sports then was pretty much just Bears and Cubs, and as I’d noted many didn’t think the Bulls would win even with Jordan. But then as the Bulls did the media bus began to fill. The Tribune back then moved slowly, but when it finally did with its massive resources it was like a tsunami swamping the media landscape. Suddenly I was getting calls from Tribune editors with the food and features section, business, everyone seeking out an angle for themselves to be a part of the big show. Everyone wants to wave a foam finger, even at newspapers.

Anyway, I remained in my beat bunker churning out what I always had, and now it was time for yet another playoff matchups. Been there done that; yeah, about 20 times by now.

Even going into that season no one — and no one among the Bulls I assure you — believed it was the Bulls time. It was still all about the Pistons for the Bulls. Back then there seemed to be an informal pecking order for excellence. You had to experience losing to learn to win. Like the Celtics did with the Lakers and the Pistons with the Celtics, and the Trailblazers with the Pistons, and now starting that season 19-1 it was widely assumed it just was the Trailblazers’ time. But they got surprised in the Western Conference finals by the Lakers, and here were the first time baby Bulls to play these hardened, veteran, experienced, champion Lakers with Magic and Worthy; and we all are told how much experience means in the Finals.

So I start going through my matchups and, OK, Magic takes John Paxson at point guard. Got that one.

Shooting guard? Obviously, Michael against whoever. Byron Scott? OK.

Small forward Scottie Pippen against James Worthy. And I’m thing about that and having watched this Bulls run of the 31-7 to finish the season and Pippen practically undressing opponents I’m thinking there’s no way this 30-year-old Worthy can stay with Pippen. So I gave Pippen the edge. And slow Sam Perkins is also 30 and Horace is flying around, and Vlade Divac? Bill Cartwright will put an elbow though his forehead. So I give the Bulls the edge at every position but point guard. And having a college degree in accounting I begin adding it up and it’s 4-1. So I pick the Bulls in five games.

Just glad there was no social media then.

But the rest of the media went nuts. I’m looking at this matchup thing as some fun exercise to create debate and, They Are Actually Taking This Seriously!

The Los Angeles Times kept calling Chicago the Mayberry of the Midwest and dismissing just about everything from us rubes. Though the angriest was this guy from what was then this self proclaimed media elite, a daily sports publication called the National. It was being run by the famed Sports Illustrated writer Frank Deford and claimed it was literature in sports journalism disguise and they had recruited only those in sports writing worthy of more than James. OK, maybe that’s why I didn’t make the cut. Anyway, the rest of us were gritting our teeth. And the National basketball guy was the angriest. He kept writing the Tribune needed to take me off the beat if that’s the way I saw this series.

And then Perkins not realizing in the closing moments of Game 1 where he was standing made a three instead of the two they ran the play for, and the Lakers were ahead 1-0, and Bulls home court was gone, and presumably the Lakers were predictably on the way to a sweep and the Bulls needed to wait their turn.

The Chicago home beat writers then sat in the lower hockey press box behind the baseline in the old Chicago Stadium. It was long after fans were gone and workers were cleaning that I was still there writing after the afternoon game. The NBA public relations czar and former Bulls media chief Brian McIntyre was walking out and yelled up to me that my prediction of five still was alive.

Jordan closed off the Game 2 rout with Marv Albert’s famous and fabulous “Michael Jordan with a spectacular move” with his switch hands layup. And then Jordan forced overtime in Game 3 going full court for the tying score in regulation and the Bulls had home court back with the win, and then the Bulls absolutely blew them away in Game 4, and then Worthy got hurt and Scott got hurt, and in Game 5 the Lakers were starting Terry Teagle and they were depending on sixth man Tony Smith, and can you believe this was happening!

It wasn’t as easy as it was then being portrayed, and Phil Jackson late in that Game 5 had to remind an I’ve-got-to-save-us Michael Jordan that Paxson was open. And Paxson closed it and Scottie fired the ball to the Forum ceiling and the Bulls players sprinted to the locker room where I was trying to get some comments, but really did get caught up in just standing there watching them being so really happy and relieved and really relieved.

And I was sorry for some of my friends later that night when I heard the National went out of business, but I have to admit I also did smile a little.

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Sam Smith on why the 1990-91 Bulls are his favorite all-time Bulls team

Chet Walker wasn’t the most famous or celebrated player in Bulls history. He wasn’t the most well known or the most decorated, though he was just one of five players who spent at least five seasons with the franchise to be enshrined in the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. But Chet Walker was one of the most important players in Bulls history because he not only was in the vanguard of players that first gave the Bulls credibility as an NBA franchise, but he was one of the pioneers of the NBA labor movement that over league defiance gained free agency while being one of the early bullheaded warriors against injustice which helped bring about the modern NBA.

Walker, 84, died Saturday in Long Beach after a long illness.

In a statement, the Bulls said, “We are deeply saddened by the passing of Chet Walker, a legendary figure in our team's history. An inductee of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Chet left an indelible mark on the court and in the hearts of fans. During his six seasons with the Bulls from 1969 to 1975, the team never missed the playoffs. He was a seven-time NBA All-Star and an inaugural member of the Chicago Bulls Ring of Honor. His skill, dedication and contributions to the game made a lasting impact on the sport of basketball and the city of Chicago.”

Walker, an elusive 6-7 forward who won an NBA championship as Wilt Chamberlain’s wing man with the Philadelphia 76ers and was named to seven All-Star teams including four in five seasons with the Bulls, earned all the requisite honors for basketball immortality.&nbsp;

He scored the most points in a Bulls game, 56, other than Michael Jordan. He is among the all-time franchise leaders in shooting, free throws and fields goals made and attempted, total points ad scoring average. NBA champion, perennial All-Star, Hall of Fame.

But it was also as a trailblazer that separated Walker as he was the fulcrum from which the Bulls first became a winning franchise with a five-year run averaging more than 50 wins and a conference finals narrow seventh game loss. That went along with his civil rights work in Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy and vocally against the apartheid in South Africa to his seminal labor work with daring NBA players who challenged ownership and the league to finally win free agency. And not without sacrifice as Walker’s NBA career, even still the Bulls closer and go-to shot maker for last plays, came to an abrupt end following that devastating 1975 seventh game conference finals loss to the Golden State Warriors and a tumultuous run with a Bulls team that led the league in disappointments and floor burns.

When no NBA team apparently in the wake of his activism would sign him despite being the second leading scorer on the Bulls in 1975 and averaging more than 19 points per game, Walker retired.

That Walker was a signatory of the Oscar Robertson suit that led to free agency and filed his own action which delayed a settlement and a merger with the ABA was not lost on NBA elders.

"The point was the lawsuit changed the structure of the NBA," Walker once told me. "The players started making more money, so the coaches made more money. It took away the sole power the owners had. The Robertson suit was the start of what made possible all the money that's made now. Larry Fleisher (players' attorney) never got the credit he deserved. Nobody talks about what those players did.

"I felt I was blacklisted," Walker added about his departure from the Bulls in 1975. "(William) Wirtz was angry I didn’t want to come back to the Bulls. I couldn't play for (Dick) Motta anymore. We got past it, but then I felt we should have won at least two championships with that team. I thought I had a deal in Milwaukee, but then I couldn't get one anywhere. It was like the end of the story."

But it was just a new chapter for the sophisticated and earnest Walker, who moved to Los Angeles to enter the movie business. He was taken by the bold story of Isiah Thomas’ mother and how she shielded her children from the gangs of the West Side. Walker’s TV movie A Mother's Courage: The Mary Thomas Story won an Emmy. Walker also produced a movie about Chicago's Father George Clements and Holy Angels Church and was one of the producers for Muhammad Ali’s movie Freedom Road. Walker became close with Ali and both the former heavyweight champion and teammate Wilt Chamberlain often traveled overseas together in summers. Walker also dabbled in acting with appearances in the late 1970s TV show, The White Shadow, about a white basketball coach in an urban high school.

Walker’s memoir was Long Time Coming: A Black Athlete’s Coming of Age in America.

And Walker did grow as America did. Born in rural Mississippi the youngest of 10 children, he joined siblings and parents picking cotton and watched a sister die after contracting tuberculosis. But she was refused treatment at local and state hospitals because of a quota on beds and treatment for Blacks. After her death, the family joined the Great Migration and settled in Benton Harbor, Michigan. Chet became a basketball star often battling head-to-head and especially body-to-body in high school against eventual NBA star Dave BuBusschere.

Walker was also a football star with scholarship offers. But after losing the state title game to DuBusschere’s team, he was off to Nebraska to play for Jerry Bush, the grandfather of former Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg. But in an episode that sounds fantastical now but was more common then than anyone now would imagine or admit, Walker was kidnapped while on a stopover in Chicago and taken to Peoria and registered at Bradley University. Like Walker once told me, he’s an 18-year-old shy Black kid in big city America in 1958; so who’s listening to him?

Chet became Bradley’s all-time leading scorer during his tenure and led the team to the then more prestigious NIT title when he became "Chet the Jet."

Though Chet was never quite the jet with an array of head and shoulder fakes and up and under moves more like Elgin Baylor than Earl Monroe. But basketball writers in those days working up their nicknames were more fond of rhymes than rhythm, considering Wilt the Stilt and Zeke from Cabin Creek.

Walker was all-rookie first team drafted by the Syracuse Nationals in 1962 as a teammate of former Bulls coach and broadcaster Johnny Kerr and among that first generation of great Black stars that changed the NBA along with the likes of Chamberlain, Bill Russell, Oscar Robertson, Lenny Wilkens, Nate Thurmond, Wes Unseld, Monroe and Joe Caldwell, the latter also among those young Black men spirited to colleges unexpectedly.

The Nationals relocated to Philadelphia as the 76ers after the Warriors moved to San Francisco and the new 76ers built a power, if not a dynasty, with the acquisition of Chamberlain to support the team with Walker, Hal Greer, Luke Jackson and sixth man Billy Cunningham. Walker playing in every game was third leading scorer. During that six-year stretch, iron man Walker missed an average of one game per season. When Walker entered the league, the NBA was playing 80 or 81 games a season. In 13 rugged seasons, Walker missed a total of 25 games.

That 1966-67 Philadelphia team remains one of the greatest in NBA history, the team that stopped the Celtics’ dynasty run of eight consecutive titles and at the time set the league record for wins with 68. Which would have been more than 70 if anyone then thought it mattered.

"We didn't realize how good we were," said Walker of the team that started 46-4 at a time the league’s record for wins was 60. "We could have lost maybe five, six games. But we went out on some road trips (a late season stop off in Vegas among them with the conference clinched) and goofed around.”

But these things often came to an end sooner than anticipated.

Wilt fought with ownership for a change and was traded. Then big time college coach Jack Ramsey came in as general manager and coach and wanted to change to an uptempo style. Pat Williams was then 76ers business manager mostly dreaming up promotions when the Bulls offered him the job of general manager. He told them he’d take it on one condition, that he be permitted to trade for Chet Walker on his first day. Ramsey wanted Jim Washington, an original Bull, and the first big domino was in place.

Jerry Sloan had been there since the beginning in the expansion draft in 1966. But the Bulls had been at least 15 games under .500 in each of those first three seasons. In Walker’s first Bulls season, the team moved within a few games of .500 and then with the additions of Bob Love and Norm Van Lier became one of the most feared teams in the NBA, winning more than 50 games in each of the next four seasons with Walker as their closer. He made as many game winning shots as anyone in the NBA almost to the Finals in 1975.

“When the Bulls needed a basket, Chet was the guy,” Jerry West once said. “He’d shut down our hopes. Great competitor and first class gentleman.”

The Bulls were in the Western Conference then and, understandably, could never quite get through the two greatest centers in NBA history, Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. In fact, Wilt wrote in one of his autobiographies that the 1973 Bulls the Lakers eliminated, the third straight time, were the better team and the Lakers were lucky. The Bulls never could get that center, and by the time they acquired Thurmond in 1974 he was past his prime. Still, the Bulls were home and had a 3-2 lead over Golden State in the 1975 Western Conference finals. But the Bulls were overtaken in Game 6 and then lost on the road in Game 7.&nbsp;

Though Van Lier, Sloan and Love still were around, though often injured, the bottom collapsed without Walker in 1975-76. The Bulls fell to 24 wins, Motta was fired and the Bulls would not return to the conference finals until 1989 with Michael Jordan’s famous heroics. Before then it most often was by Chet Walker, one of the greatest and boldest to grace the Chicago sports world.

hall-of-famer-and-bulls-legend-chet-walker-one-of-the-greatest-to-grace-the-chicago-sports-world-dies-at-84

Hall of Famer and Bulls legend Chet Walker, one of the greatest to grace the Chicago sports world, dies at 84

It’s June, so you know what that means, flowers and love in bloom, and Ask Sam is back. At least through the NBA draft, this year for two days June 26 and 27 because the NFL draft goes on for at least a week and the NBA got jealous that all those people hung around to see Eastern Kentucky offensive lineman. The NBA doesn’t allow team web sites to publish in free agency, so Ask Sam will return to the golf course after June 28.

Ateeq Ahmed: Some articles I read have Buzelis falling to 11 and Bulls picking him. That would be something if it happens. He’s tall and can shoot. His overall offensive game is good. I know he’s very young and would also be a project but the possibility is very intriguing. He’s a Chicago kid. Also reading a few things that have Bulls selecting Tidjane Salaun. He’s big at 6-9. Have you heard anything about him?

Sam: Since I never much get to see these guys play while watching the NBA all winter and only see them post season in the YouTube highlights, they basically all never miss and look like a cross between Magic Johnson and Kevin Durant in the highlights. Those two fit a profile the Bulls could use with size and athleticism and perhaps a fit at the empty “power” forward position. The two questions I’d have is both still are teenagers, and the way the Bulls seem to be operating lately there isn’t much space for kids with this latest competitiveness mantra. It also seems unlikely both, especially Buzelis, would be available at No. 11 according to most of these early mock draft projections I’ve seen. Though this will be a difficult draft for front offices since there seems to be the most uncertainty since the 2013 draft when Anthony Bennett went No. 1 and the only All-Star from the lottery was Victor Oladipo, who was picked as a reserve twice before injuries basically short circuited his career. The first non lottery selection was Giannis Antetokounmpo at No. 15. This draft seems better than that one, and I believe the Bulls can get a productive and contributing player at No. 11, if not a core star. Which would be good enough for now. I’ve mentioned a few times if the shooter from Tennessee, Dalton Knecht, fell I’d take him to at least fill a vital need with perimeter shooting. Even if the guy doesn’t project as an All-Star. The biggest mistake executives often make with the draft is trying to land that surprise star, like Antetokounmpo, because that basically guarantees your tenure for at least the next five years. Sure, hitting big can make a team like with Giannis or Luka. Though your job is supposed to be helping your team improve, even slightly; not your own job prospects. I haven’t seen many of these guys play regularly other than Zach Edey, who interestingly seems to be gaining interest in the first round. I was curious to see him given his size in light of Wembanyama, but he looked too slow for the NBA. And maybe a second round pick; now he seems to be moving to the edge of the lottery. To me the Bulls have other greater needs than a gamble on him. Some of the players who seem to be coming up most often in the Bulls range are Knecht, Ron Holland, Robert Dillingham, Cody Williams, Isaiah Collier, Jared McCain, Stephon Castle, Nikola Topić, Devin Carter, Kel’el Ware, Kyle Filipowski and Tyler Smith. The question is whether they can hit on the right one. I usually can’t judge until I see them play against NBA players.

Peter Toluzzi: It's so clear that DeMar is in the way of Patrick Williams' development at small forward; that we can get more for Zach by bringing him back first - Zach / Coby / Ayo / PW enough to cover the guards and small forwards and get full playing time, and even possibly Lonzo returning to make trading Zach more attractive later. In the meantime a sign and trade for DeMar can bring us the young bruising big body or two we need now and in the future.&nbsp; But the front office apparently won't budge from unloading Zach ASAP and building a statue for DeMar, who may well have earned it, but who would also love to earn a ring or two. Any strength in the Org's taking the current approach?&nbsp;

Sam: That’s mostly what’s been speculated, but we don’t know their approach yet. They did say they recognized what they had wasn’t working; no one, at least in management, suggested what they think will work. We assume that’s what these two months are for. So I guess it’s good we’ve had no white smoke yet. What I wouldn’t mind seeing is a version of what Jason Kidd suggested the other day about the reason the Mavericks are in the Finals. Not to suggest the Bulls are at that level since they don’t have a Luka, and it’s difficult to find one. Kidd noted the Mavericks were bouncing along actually reasonably well, winning 43 games and then 42 and then 52 and even to the conference finals. But what they recognized was they knew they were on a hamster wheel to a form of mediocrity, that they could make a case for being truly competitive. But they knew they weren’t ultimately. So they threw a season to intentionally miss the playoffs. They took a risk with a risky Kyrie, but that also enabled them to get into a good draft lottery and then be in position to make some deals to change their roster, that a small step back—a rebuild wasn’t necessary—was worth it to take a larger step forward. It seemed apparent to everyone with management’s post season comments that the Bulls are on that fence. Next season is considered a deep draft with perhaps a franchise changer at the top. So maybe you can get something and a pick for DeRozan, who seems to have the most value in a sign and trade. Then as you note you can build back LaVine’s value and maybe even collect another draft pick and perhaps a nice supporting player for Zach, and then get a good look at Patrick Williams. And the Bulls do have some core players with Coby White and Ayo Dosunmu, and probably Alex Caruso. That still looks like a competitive enough team for next season. But then you also are putting yourself in position for the future to address needs, and there are several, among them youth, size, athleticism, shooting, toughness, and maybe ten you can turn around a new core within a year. And without Zach and DeMar and one season left for Vučević you could have substantial salary cap room with just a one season hiccup going forward? Hey, it’s an idea.

Mike Sutera: Have the Chicago Bulls made a draft night promise? Supposedly it’s Devin Carter of Providence.

Sam: Don’t discount the pre-draft promise. They got Chandler Hutchison that way and I heard he was the next Scottie Pippen. I make no apology for having no idea who these guys are, and actually had never heard of Carter until I began seeing these promise stories. He sounds like he could be a good player, but he also sounds like an Alex Caruso type. Which if it’s true maybe it means the Bulls are going to make some deals and maybe cash in Caruso. Which would be interesting for actually trying to remake the roster. But if there’s something to it and the Bulls are interested—this is a big eye of the beholder draft with the best players maybe not selected in the top 10—then my alarming thought would be, what, another guard? But maybe there are plans for DeMar, Zach, Alex; decisions, decisions, decisions.

Mike Queensworth: Projected top-10 NBA draft pick Nikola Topić has a partially torn ACL, his agent confirmed to ESPN. Topić is at the NBA's Draft Combine in Italy, where he went through the NBA's medical examination. Bulls take him?

Sam: He’s been projected for one of those two top eight Spurs picks, and maybe now is looking like a Michael Porter Jr. repeat. Do you risk it for the high ceiling and likelihood you won’t see him for a year or maybe two? Worked for the Celtics with Larry Bird, and with the 76ers with Joel Embiid. But is he that level of prospect worth the risk for a Bulls franchise that not only needs talent, but needs it now. And gives everyone hives when ACL is mentioned. Topić is 18, but seems maybe to have star potential with size at 6-7 or 6-8 and maybe even projecting as a point guard. My initial response is this Bulls team following Zach LaVine’s ACL recovery and followups and Derrick Rose doesn’t want to go anywhere near ACL, partial or not. Which part? But this Bulls franchise also doesn’t project to having a transcendent star on the roster, which the way the playoffs go requires certainly one big time and likely two. So if the Bulls are not looking like a contender next season maybe take a shot at a star potential you normally wouldn't get at No. 11? That’s the best part about media/public versus the guy in the arena. They have to make the choice; everyone else gets to second guess it. The latter pays a lot less, but is never wrong.

Mark Schweihs: Will you explain the concept that suggests, "he was signed because we didn't want to lose him for nothing..."?&nbsp; This is applied, for example, when major stars like Bradley Beal and Zach LaVine and others are re-signed. Yet, in many cases, the franchise ends up providing valuable assets to get other teams to take them off their hands.&nbsp;I'm a big LaVine fan, but Isn't it true that the Bulls should have never re-signed LaVine?&nbsp;

Sam: Not if they didn’t want him. It seemed like at the time coming off consecutive All-Star appearances and an Olympic gold medal, averaging more than 25 the past two years and efficiently shooting more than 40 percent on threes, LaVine in his late 20s should have been everything a team asks for. After all, read that profile and not know the name—and know there hasn’t been discipline or attitude issues—and say you don’t want that player? There’s been injuries for Zach and who knows exactly what’s happened between he and the team. But the sides seem to have drifted to this point where it seems inevitable he won’t be with the team long. I’m not fully sure why. It’s fairly obvious why teams do what the Bulls did, that it’s bad business to lose a highly valued player for nothing. It’s why teams generally match all restricted free agent contracts even when they don’t like the player like with the Suns and Deandre Ayton and the Pacers. I assume the same if Patrick Williams gets an offer. Because you can then get something in trade, and also teams like to send a message to the league that they don’t want teams trying to poach their players. So I understand the signing. But if there was pause, the route probably was a sign-and-trade at the time. Maybe it just hadn’t reached that point yet. Of course, we still don’t know if there will be a trade, and things do change quickly in the NBA.

Randall Sanders: I read a report that Lonzo Ball is running & dunking. The report also stated that Ball feels he’s at 70% In terms of his recovery. Is that true based on what you know or have heard?Sam: No one has any idea, and while Ball has been positive in some of these podcasts he’s been on, which makes sense and I assume that’s where this comes from, there’s no way we’ll get honest information if only because of medical privacy laws. The test will be training camp to see if he actually can play, and if he can at what level. Let’s also remember that when Ball was at his best in that brief start to the 21-22 season, he still was averaging 13 points and five assists and was the Bulls fourth best starter. So this is not Michael Jordan returning in 1995. Let’s mot expect a savior. Everyone connected with the Bulls is rooting for Ball because despite the family questions when he was coming out of college, he’s been a very popular teammate and gracious person. But there are two issues. The main one is by the time the season starts he’ll have not played in almost three years, which is almost unprecedented in NBA history for a high level return. And he basically had an experimental surgery without much evidence of after effects. So even if he ca play, is he a 15 or 20-minute player? And since he left, the Bulls strength has been at guard, where they have Coby White, Ayo Dosunmu and Alex Caruso. And you figure at least one between DeRozan and LaVine will be around, and there’s still Jevon Carter with a few years left on that free agent contract and Dalen Terry. So how and where does Ball fit? And given a lack of team shooting, the Bulls could draft a guard with the No 11 pick. So you’d love especially for him to be able to return and make it a miracle story. But I’d be less counting on it and just hope for a pleasant and unexpected surprise.

Wayne Warner: Is there a scenario where Bulls do a significant reset of their roster and still be below the cap?1) 76ers don’t get Paul George so they go with 2nd choice LaVine. Since 76ers have cap space then Bulls don’t need to take $43 million of salaries back2) Use bird rights to do sign & trade DeRozen & Drummond to an over the cap team3) Match any offer for Patrick Williams to have him return.

Sam: It’s probably a dream scenario for the Bulls assuming all the LaVine trade speculation to trade him into cap space and thus not have to take back salaries. Though the names that have mostly come up in 76ers rumors as alternatives to Paul George have been Jimmy Butler (trade), Brandon Ingram and Donovan Mitchell. And the latest rumors included Klay Thompson signing as a free agent. As we’ve discussed and has been mentioned, the concern with Zach is less his lay than the three years left on the contract totaling more that $135 million. And then coming off surgery, albeit minor, and not having seen him play the last half of the season gives teams pause and produces the speculation the Bulls would have to include a sweeter if they want to trade him this summer. Which is why bringing him into next season makes the most sense. But the Bulls may not want the distraction of all the media questions about trade from the day camp opens. The 76ers have said they intend to try to retain Kelly Oubre, which might diminish their interest in LaVine. Though being a fan of LaVine, I feel like whoever gets him if it comes to that will be getting a better player than widely regarded. I expect the Bulls to match on Williams unless he gets a huge offer, and at least for now the indications are less that LaVine stays than DeRozan. We all assume Drummond takes a bigger free agent deal where he may be able to start.

Riaz Ahmad: How desperate are AKME to dump Zach LaVine? Interesting trade idea with Brooklyn I saw: The deal would send Ben Simmons, a 2027 first-round pick (via PHI; top-8 protected) and a 2027 first-round pick (via PHX; lottery protected) to Chicago for Zach LaVine. Simmons would likely make a few token appearances in 2025 and then be shut down due to back issues. The 1st rounders probably won't amount to much. But it gets the Bulls under the luxury tax if they resign DeRozan, and get out of LaVine's contract. The only certainty I can somewhat glean from AKME is they don't want LaVine back. Not sure how Brooklyn feels about LaVine overall, assuming they are even OK with taking a chance on a guy who was injured for most of last year.

Sam: It does seem like if the Bulls are anxious to make a move this summer it may have to be something like that where they take back a contract another team doesn’t want like Simmons’, but for a shorter duration since it expires after next season. It’s tough to read the Nets amid the conflicting rumors/speculation that both had them interested in trading for the No. 3 pick or adding to its core with players like LaVine. They’ll be a mystery team to watch.

Ryan Carpel: What about trading down and drafting Bronny James in the first round? Then signing LeBron James? What's there to lose Lebron and Bronny would be fun to watch and might make the Bulls legit contenders. And, from what I can tell Bronny could be a clone of JR Smith.

Sam: As I recall, LeBron had enough of JR. I’m not as sanguine about Bronny’s prospects as an NBA player. But, I know, coming off heart issues and all and playing for a bad team can make you look bad. But there’s many other issues which suggest it’s better to run away from this crazy idea as quickly as you can. This draft James Jr. and dad will join him scenario seems doubtful. It seems unlikely LeBron would leave LA. Hey, he turned down the chance before to be in Chicago, and that was to play with Rose, Noah, Deng and Dwayne Wade. And though LeBron still is playing at an amazingly high level, with Anthony Davis he still was a seventh place team. And he will be 40 in December. I know the Bulls seem to operate short term, but that would be ridiculous. There’s a larger issue that suggests to me the mess of having James Jr. on your team will fall to the Lakers. You think there’s jealousy about Caitlin Clark? Wait ’til all this media is around every day asking about James Jr., and if he's on your team without LeBron there’ll be LeBron on Twitter second guessing the coach about not using him or using him the wrong way. And even if he’s playing with dad, is dad making the decisions? LeBron already basically runs the organizations he plays for. Now his kid, too? Sports teams go to great lengths to avoid distractions and especially excessive media coverage. So you want to bring in what seems like &nbsp;marginal NBA talent who will be the subject or more media curiosity than you best players? Bad, bad idea. Though he does seem like a nice kid. Reminds me some of Michael Jordan’s kids who showed grace living in that amazing superstar shadow.

Dustin Chaviano: I heard after the Nuggets were eliminated and Michael Porter didn't really show up for that series, they would be looking to move him. The article said they needed more reliable shooting, a backup center, and more defense. My original idea was a deal built around Lonzo's expiring contract and Alex Caruso, but what about a double sign and trade of DeMar and Drummond? Nuggets get a veteran leader in DeMar who can still knock 'em down, plus a strong backup center in Drummond, both players thrilled to join a contender. Bulls Starting lineup could be Coby, Zach (I still want to keep him), Patrick (finally at small forward), Porter a floor stretching PF, and Vuc in the middle. In another vein what do you think it would take for Chicago to get Julius Randle from the Knicks? I for one think we need to dump everyone and blow it up, but since that doesn't seem to be the MO of Bulls management, I'm thinking of clever additions that could improve the team, without possibly costing a lot. With the belief that Donovan Mitchell wants to be a Knick, and New York needing to clear cap space, is it possible to get Julius using Lonzo's expiring contract and minimal additional assets? I know this isn't the league it was 10 years&nbsp;ago, but I feel like we're lacking that strong post presence. A lineup with Coby, Zach, DeMar, Julius, and Vuc would be very balanced and very fun to watch.

Sam: I don’t believe the Nuggets are ready to move on from Porter, but I’d be more concerned about his heath than I would Zach's. One of the reasons the Nuggets could even get him in the draft was his congenital back problems. And while he played a lot this past season, he missed two of his first four NBA seasons with back surgeries. That’s a heck of a financial risk to take if a big part of the issue with LaVine is the amount of his contract.&nbsp; There’s also the Porter family. That has to have an effect on him. He seems OK, but with one brother banned from the NBA for gambling and another recently going to prison and a third recently arrested, maybe all that, understandably, was too much family stuff behind the scenes. Which may be why he had problems in playoffs. I’ve never been much of a Randle fan, which I don’t think matters much to the Bulls. I can see him being on the market the way the Knicks transformed their offense around the Villanova threesome, especially because Randle shoots so many threes and is maybe 6-7. The Knicks have long denied any interest in LaVine, and I don’t see anyone taking on Ball’s money since if he does try to play, which he insists he will, then the insurance money covering his contract stops immediately and then you may have to pay a guy for not playing. I do see Minnesota trying to move Karl Anthony-Towns given their luxury tax situation and the ownership morass, but they’d have to be reducing payroll.

Rocky Rosado: I am in "hoping mode" that Arturas Karnišovas and Marc Eversley will have an epiphany and realize that we need to commit to a blow up and rebuild this roster. I think re-signing DeMar DeRozan to a 40 mil per year would be… bad. This is not a team that can afford to lock into a contract like that for a 35 year old veteran no matter how likeable. Here are some moves that make sense to me:Zach LaVine to ORL for Jonathan Isaac, #18 pick&nbsp;Nikola Vučević, Alex Caruso to OKC for #12 pickLonzo Ball, Portland's Protected 1R pick to UTAH for #32 pickJavon Carter, Torrey Craig, '28 2R pick to GSW for Gary Payton Jr.&nbsp;Draft-&nbsp;#11 - Reed Sheppard, PG/SG, Kentucky#12 - Kyle Filipkowski, PF/C, Duke#18 - Kel'el Ware, C, Indiana#32 - Ulrich Chomche, PF/C, Nba Academy AfricaFree Agent Targets:SG -OG Anunoby - 4 yr/$150 milSF - Patrick Williams - 3 yr/36 milC-&nbsp; Nicolas Claxton - 4 yr/$100 milRoster:C- Nicolas Claxton, Kel'el WarePF-Jonathan Isaacs, Kyle Filipkowski, Ulrich ChomcheSF-Patrick Williams, Julian Phillips,&nbsp; Dalen TerrySG-OG Anunoby, Ayo Dosunmu,&nbsp; Gary Payton Jr.&nbsp;PG- Coby White, Reed Sheppard

Sam: Well, you are working hard. Sorry, this management has made it clear they never will do anything like the 2017 rebuild. Though if you were going to take that sort of route, based on what all the people who do watch college and other pre-NBA ball say, this is not the draft to invest your future in. Though that Orlando deal might be something. I can see the Magic needing another reliable scoring option the way their season ended, and they can take on some salary. Isaac’s had a major injury history, but he’d be worth a look and mostly is a part time player for them, anyway.

Martin Skelly: I see there's a lot of speculation about the Hawks and the No. 1 pick.I really think the Bulls should get in on the action. From the look of it Atlanta would probably ask for more but as a basic structure how about LaVine for the No. 1 pick? We could throw in things like the Portland pick and maybe some other things, I personally would attach Caruso but surely something could get done. Murray and Zach would work well together (plus they are friends) and they could combine it with whatever they ask for from the Trae deal. The Bulls can then go for Alex Sarr who would fit in seamlessly to the team and give them exactly what they need. Coby, Ayo, Williams, Craig, Sarr. That's a nice young team going forward and still have Vooch to mentor Sarr. I'd like to see build around the younger players.

Sam: Lot of issues there which make it all unlikely. The Hawks with Trae Young can’t take on Zach’s money. There’s been speculation about Zach for Young, but I doubt the Bulls would have interest having Coby White and with Young considered a coach killer, ball dominant and making at least as much as LaVine for as long. The Hawks have been maybe the most underachieving team in the league for the last few years, and most expect a lot of changes, or at least attempts to try. The larger issue is the No. 1 pick even in what’s considered a mediocre draft. You can’t go back to your fan base, which usually loves the draft more than its team unless the team is very good, and say we’re getting a player a losing team doesn’t want for the prize of the NBA draft. Even in weak drafts, teams generally don’t give up the No. 1 pick. It’s rarely happened in decades. I doubt it’s happening this year.

Simon Mabille: Which was the most traumatic for the Bulls (both the franchise and its fan base)? The 1998 offseason, which abruptly put an end to a decade of success but as we know was unlikely to lead to banner number 7? Or Derrick Rose’s injury against Philadelphia, which abruptly prevented us from another decade of success and possibly would have led to banner number 7?

Sam: I know the urban legend still hangs on about how management robbed the team of a chance for No. 7, which I eagerly dispute. Though only because I know the facts, as troublesome as that is to more entertaining conspiracy theories. By the way, I never get all this American mania with conspiracy theories. Who have you ever met, at least in sports, smart enough to pull one off. And they’re usually brighter than the people in government. Mainly, Jordan sliced open his finger during the lockout and needed surgery and probably couldn’t play. That might have been a setback. Phil, by the way, had been making it clear all 1997-98 season the run was done. Last Dance? Rodman went to the Lakers and blew them up; you may recall by the end of the 1997-98 season he was taking weekends in Vegas and Toni Kukoc was starting for him. Pippen got huge money and blew up the Rockets, Longley, Kerr and Buechler all got long term deals and mostly fell out of the rotations immediately. Case closed. Rose’s injury was the worst thing I saw during a basketball game. You knew immediately as the arena hushed that we’d never see that again. Derrick played again, of course, and had some good seasons and made some big shots. But that burst and explosion that we’d never seen before—and no one had—from a true point guard was gone. And he was just 24 at the time. I was certain that Bulls team was better than LeBron’s Heat, which didn’t have as long a run as the post signing rallies suggested. I was certain that Bulls team with the size, depth, toughness and coaching would have won three or four titles. I know we only assume what happened was meant to happen, but no one event changed the arc of a franchise more than Rose’s injury. So, yes, B.

Chris Moore: Not Bulls related but the WNBA already uses a smaller ball in acknowledgement that women are simply genetically smaller on average, so why not take the next logical step and use a lower rim like 9ft or something similar based on the average height difference?&nbsp;Dunking is the quintessential &nbsp;basketball highlight. The game would be far more entertaining and surely more fun for the athletes. A win-win on business and player side. Many people have surely thought about it before, why do you think it’s not happening?&nbsp; It doesn’t seem like any “game purist” faction could be stopping it.&nbsp;

Sam Smith: I haven’t given it much thought, actually. And I don’t get much excited for dunking, and not only because I never could. I know most fans are, so actually I’m surprised the NBA doesn’t give three points for a dunk since they for some reason give 50 percent more points for a jump shot that’s three feet longer. You know that’s coming along with a four-point shot at those green circles we see in the three-point contest. I weep for the NBA. Anyway, can you imagine the jokes. I assume a lower basket would be rejected with rancor especially at a time WNBA players demand equity in pay, travel, etc, and hey we’d like to lower the basket like the sixth graders. Yeah, that should go over well. And it seems with increasing interest in the league they appear to have some other issues to deal with. By the way, when we weren’t looking how did the Chicago Sky become the 1980s Pistons?

ask-sam-mailbag-questions-on-who-the-bulls-should-draft-trade-ideas-lonzo-ball-and-more

Ask Sam Mailbag: Questions on who the Bulls should draft, trade ideas, Lonzo Ball, and more

chikbrown

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DeMar DeRozan's game is a work of art 🎨

The Bulls now have the 11th selection in next month’s NBA draft, and perhaps the biggest question facing the organization given its mandate for change is whether to pursue a draft pick based on a makeover or to use the selection to enhance its veteran base with a trade.

The current management pursued its personnel catharsis with free agency and trades. And it was working until free agent Lonzo Ball was injured.

Though the franchise’s history has mostly been about using the draft for ultimate success.

The draft path takes longer, requires patience and doesn’t guarantee success as Jerry Krause discovered with the post-1998 rebuild and John Paxson and Gar Forman in the 2017 teardown.

But the draft and top-10 or lottery selections was the midwife of the franchise’s greatest achievements, including the six-time champions run of the 1990s with that No. 3 selection from the 1984 draft, Michael Jordan.

The Bulls current iteration was stymied by Ball’s multiple knee surgeries. The only other time the franchise profited from the acquisition of veterans, then before free agency, was the 1970’s Bulls who averaged more than 50 wins for five consecutive seasons through their 1975 appearance in the conference finals. Chet Walker, Norm Van Lier and Bob Love from that team all were acquired in trades and Jerry Sloan in the expansion draft.

But since then the franchise formula, both before the sale to the Jerry Reinsdorf group in 1985 and since, has been through liberal use of the collegiate draft to create a significant competitive foundation.

Will the Bulls return to that prescription for its ills by using the current pick and trying to perhaps trade for more draft picks? Several teams do have multiple first round picks both this season and next.&nbsp;

Or maybe use this 2024 draft pick to bolster its veteran base by trading it to a rebuilding team? Or just add another young player to merge with its bicameral leadership of veterans led by DeMar DeRozan and youth featuring Coby White?

It’s perhaps the Bulls Dickensian fork in the road for the path that best leads out of the current play-in tournament conditions.

Here’s a look at how the draft worked for the franchise in the post-Sloan/Van Lier/Walker era.

—— Rod Thorn’s post-Dick Motta era. 

Thorn became Bulls general manager in 1978 and had a brief run of short term success with the acquisition of center Artis Gilmore from the ABA dispersal draft in 1976. That Bulls group did win a playoff series in 1981, though its best chance was in a daunting 1977 first round loss to eventual champion Portland in a deciding overtime game. That series and Bulls fan reaction famously earned the Chicago Stadium the nickname, Madhouse on Madison Street. Thorn did hit in his first draft with future All-Star Reggie Theus at No. 9. The Bulls lost the 1979 lottery drawing for Magic Johnson and selected David Greenwood at No. 2 just ahead of Bill Cartwright. And then had a brutal run of selections in the top 10 with Ronnie Lester, Orlando Woolridge, Quintin Dailey and Sidney Green, five consecutive top-10 picks for a team missing the playoff each season. Thorn hit — fell into? — Jordan at No. 3 in 1984 when the Bulls and the other losing teams were trying to get in position to select Hakeem Olajuwon. Thorn was dismissed after the 1984-85 season when ownership changed.

—— Jerry Krause’s first run to the championships.

It’s true Krause, who was the first basketball hire of the Reinsdorf group, inherited Michael Jordan. But Krause deftly used the draft to build one of the great dynasties in NBA history. Krause’s first draft selection was the draft day flip to obtain Charles Oakley, who eventually was traded for the so-called final championship piece, center Cartwright. Krause much to the dismay of Jordan scarificed a few seasons of being a .500 or slightly better type team to accumulate draft picks while Jordan was establishing himself as the game’s greatest scorer and attraction, though without any playoff success. Then with two top-10 selections in the 1987 draft, Krause chose Scottie Pippen, after trading up from No. 8 to No. 5, and Horace Grant at No. 10. Support players like B.J. Armstrong, Will Perdue and Stacey King came from the 1988 and 1989 drafts to fill out a young core that matured together. And then in 1990 Krause again in the draft was ahead of the curve in attracting a top European talent, Toni Kukoč in the second round, who played a major role in the second three peat of 1996-98

—— Krause’s post dynasty rebuild ends his Bulls tenure.

Krause was convinced he could return to the draft and create another Bulls winner, and perhaps with some patience and luck it might have proved better than the results. Krause again dealt veterans for draft picks, previously the likes of Orlando Woolridge and Juwan Oldham and this time Kukoč and Elton Brand, the latter being the Bulls No. 1 overall pick in the 1999 draft. Which is the biggest issue with complete rebuild projects in major markets. While the tear dow draft strategy often sounds good to fans and media, it requires patience without a superstar selection like Tim Duncan or LeBron James. Krause parlayed his draft picks in 2001 for baby seven-footers Tyson Chandler and Eddy Curry. Though elsewhere, Chandler became an All-Star and Curry produced big numbers also after leaving the Bulls. With all-time Sixth Man Jamal Crawford from the 2001 draft, the possibility was there for a talented core if not for Jay Williams’ career-ending motorcycle accident after the 2002-03 season. But the community could not endure the massive losing and Krause was replaced by John Paxson in 2003.

—— Paxson’s speedy turnaround in 2003-04.

Paxson dove into the draft with top-10 picks for Kirk Hinrich in 2003 and Ben Gordon and Luol Deng in 2004, the latter when the Bulls purchased the No. 7 selection from the Phoenix Suns, and quickly became a 47-win playoff team. By Paxson’s fourth season the Bulls, with a likable hard playing group, were a 49-win team with a first round sweep of the defending champion Miami Heat. Another complication with draft pick rebuilds, however, is the players tend to reach contract paydays about the same time. Contract issues resulted in a one-year setback for that Bulls team, which proved fortunate when the Bulls with the ninth best odds in the 2008 lottery drew the lucky No. 1 ping pong balls and were able to select Derrick Rose. With Joakim Noah from the 2007 draft, with the draft pick from the Curry trade to the Knicks and the draft pick for Taj Gibson from a previous trade of Thabo Sefolosha, the Bulls suddenly were on the verge of another dynasty through the draft. They led the league in wins in consecutive seasons and Rose was named league MVP before his devastating knee injury in the 2012 playoffs sent the Bulls stumbling toward the middle of the conference and first or second round eliminations.

—— Paxson’s truncated rebuild attempt in 2017.

Similar to the path selected by Krause after the decay of the dynasty team, Paxson chose the draft lottery route again with the trade of Jimmy Butler for draft picks. Though again like with Krause, those rebuilds require community patience if the lottery balls don’t fall your way. Which they didn’t for the likes of future All-Stars like Luka Dončić, Ja Morant and Zion Williamson. Could the Bulls have kept a team together from their draft picks of Coby White, Kris Dunn, Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter, Bobby Portis and Daniel Gafford? How good could it have been? Would it have been worth it?

The White/Gafford draft in 2019 was Paxson’s last with just the second Bulls management change since 1985. The new group opted for trades and free agency while providing draft support with the likes of Patrick Williams and Ayo Dosunmu. And who knows what would have been if Ball had been able to play.

Now after successive losses in the play-in tournament, the message is that it’s time for a change and that this group no longer functions well together. So will it be through trades and free agency? Or starting with this draft lottery to cultivate draft picks to support a young core with the likes of White, Dosunmu and Williams? Will it be the draft or trades and free agency that provides the next Bulls iteration? This next month could be a seminal time for the franchise.

from-mj-to-joakim-a-look-at-the-bulls-history-in-the-nba-draft

From MJ to Joakim: A look at the Bulls history in the NBA Draft

The number 11 was good for a moon landing; not so much for the Bulls achieving the impossible Sunday in the 2024 NBA Draft Lottery.

That’s because the Bulls based on their 39-43 regular season record had the No. 11 pre-lottery position. Their hope was shooting for the moon, like Apollo 11 did successfully in 1969, in this year’s NBA Draft. But after the smoke cleared, the Bulls remained at No. 11 for the June player dispersal following the Draft Lottery.&nbsp;

Eleven is a prime number, thus divisible by itself and one. Though it wasn’t this time for the Bulls in their 11th hour hope to be in position to acquire an elite talent in this year’s draft.&nbsp;

The number 11 often is associated with veterans because of the 11/11 Veteran’s Day to commemorate the end of World War 1.&nbsp;

The Bulls do well most games with their veteran No. 11, DeMar DeRozan. But with DeRozan expected to return with a contract extension and Nikola Vučević, the Bulls could still use more of those kids.

So with the No. 11 selection in this year’s NBA Draft, the Bulls select...

...Ja'Kobe Walter of Baylor, a 6-5 shooting guard for the all-time Coby/Ja’ Kobe backcourt.

Or another potentially good shooter. Or a wing like Tyler Smith or Ron Holland from the G-League, or a point guard like USC’s Isaiah Collier, or a big man like Kel’el Ware of Indiana, Kyle Filipowski of Duke or the G-League’s Tyler Smith? Bronny, anyone?

There’s going to be a lot of speculation to come the next six weeks.

The Atlanta Hawks, just ahead of the Bulls in the No. 10 spot, drew the lucky combination and fast broke all the way to No. 1 for the 2024 NBA Draft.

It was bad news again for the teams with the poorest records as the cursed Detroit Pistons again dropped the maximum four spots, the same as last year, from No. 1 to No. 5. The Washington Wizards in the second spot remained No. 2 and will select there. Charlotte with the third best odds fell to No. 6 for the June draft. The Houston Rockets in the preliminary ninth spot with the draft pick from the Brooklyn Nets&nbsp;moved up to No. 3 for the draft.

The San Antonio Spurs, who were at No. 5 this year and last year jumped from No. 3 to No. 1 to select Victor Wembanyama, moved up a notch to gain the No. 4 position. Portland dropped from fourth best odds to No. 7 for the actual draft. Toronto fell out of the draft as it’s No. 6 pre-lottery position went to the the Spurs at No. 8 to give the Spurs two top 10 selections.

Portland also has two picks, Nos. 7 and 14. But they still don’t have to extend a pick to the Bulls from a previous trade unless they get a non-lottery pick before 2028.

The so called experts have theorized this draft to not be among the best. Though that’s probably because there’s not an exciting, can’t miss No. 1 pick, like Wembanyama, Anthony Edwards, Zion Williamson or LeBron James. But there seems like a depth of talent at least through the middle of the first round. So it’s up to the teams to separate the basketball wheat from the underachieving chaff.

Here’s a look at an early projection for this year’s NBA draft to be conducted in Brooklyn on June 26-27.

1. Atlanta Hawks. Alex Sarr, 7-1, 215. Australia (France)

He’s probably as close to a consensus top pick for this draft who’s got some Wembanyama in him with a long reach. He’s also mobile and athletic. But what’s with this French assault? Who knew they knew basketball? Je ne comprends pas. That’s right, I don't understand, either. You figure this could be the start of something new in Atlanta with likely Trae Young probably on the market and a reshaping of a roster that shouldn’t have been this bad.

2. Washington Wizards. Zaccharie Risacher, 6-9, 205, France.

No team probably needs more than they do, and given the District of Columbia is an international city, why not the French wingman? They seem highest on their No. 1 pick from last year, France’s Bilal Coulibaly, who was their lottery representative. Assume they move Kyle Kuzma and are stuck with Jordan Poole (for LaVine?), but they’re a ground up operation for now. Risacher is a good shooting athletic wing, which we say about just about every 20-year-old these days.

3. Houston Rockets. Donovan Clingan, 7-2, 280, Connecticut.

Alperen Şengün came on strong last season as a most improved candidate, but has had injury problems. They’ve loaded up on guards and wings and could use some size in a Western Conference growing larger with the threat from the Minnesota Timberwolves. The NBA again is returning some to the you can’t have enough big men theory.

4. San Antonio Spurs. Dalton Knecht, 6-6, 215,Tennessee.

The conventional wisdom is they need a point guard to work with Wembanyama, which is true. Though with all the future draft picks they have and this season also at No. 8 they can acquire a veteran. What they’ll most need around a player getting so much attention, like Shaq did and LeBron does, is perimeter shooting. Knecht has some size and toughness and a sweet shot.

5. Detroit Pistons. Reed Sheppard, 6-2, 185, Kentucky.

There’s a team that can call conspiracy. Consecutive worst seasons and falling to fifth again undercuts all those break-it-up strategies because the lottery is so random. They’ve been accumulating talent, but little of it who can shoot. He’s a bit on the small side, but an excellent shooter and tougher defender for his size.

6. Charlotte Hornets. Stephon Castle, 6-6, 215, Connecticut.

Another team with a new coach and basically a start over mentality. Like with Atlanta with Trae Young or Washington with Jordan Poole, anyone want LaMelo (another Zach trade possibility?). They’ve got basically Brandon Miller from last year’s draft and need 14 other guys; or 16. Castle would be a good start as a hard playing guy with good size and time to improve his shot.

7. Portland Trailblazers. Matas Buzelis, 6-10, 215, G-league Ignite. Serbia.

They’ve got guards aplenty with not much size, and not going anywhere. He’s got some big ceiling possibilities as an exceptionally fluid, athletic big man.

8. San Antonio Spurs. Rob Dillingham, 6-2, 175, Kentucky.

Maybe take a chance at a point guard with their second pick who at least can be a solid backup. Or maybe more as he projects with some similarities to Tony Parker, whom they tried to trade for a veteran until they couldn’t and then won titles with him. The Spurs are getting scary.

9. Memphis Grizzlies. Cody Williams, 6-8, 190. Colorado.

No team had more injuries, so they’ll be returning almost an entire roster. The brother of Oklahoma City’s Jalen is a versatile wing player who can be there if not everyone returns.

10. Utah Jazz. Nikola Topić, 6-6, 200. Serbia.

They’ve got a load of draft picks coming, and with Danny Ainge quiet there could be big changes. They had the most trouble with someone to deliver the ball, so point guard is a start.

11. Bulls. Ja'Kobe Walter, 6-5, 195, Baylor.

The Bulls have The Coby, so why not Ja’Kobe? I can have fun with that, and the Bulls maybe can smile if they can draft a shooter like Walter. He’s got size and a nice shooting stroke, and while the Bulls could use some size and speed, they really, really, really could use shooting. So time to take a shot?

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Sam Smith's Mock Draft 1.0: Who will the Bulls select at No. 11?

The Bulls coming off a sub-.500 season and a knockout in the play-in tournament certainly could use a player like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Klay Thompson or Domantas Sabonis.

All of whom were selected with the No. 11 pick in the NBA draft.

Which is what the Bulls have for now, and probably still will during the new two-day June 26-27 NBA Draft in Brooklyn. Though that could change 2 PM CT on Sunday at McCormick Place when the NBA conducts its annual Draft Lottery. Rookie Julian Phillips will represent the Bulls on stage. The teams with the three worst regular season records will each have a 14 percent chance of winning the lottery.

Those teams this year are Detroit (again), Washington and Charlotte. The cursed Pistons last year also had the worst record, but fell the maximum four places to fifth in the lottery. The Spurs jumped from third—the same as they did in 1997 to land Tim Duncan—to first to get the right to select Victor Wembanyama.

The largest jump to No. 1 was in 1993 when Orlando moved from No. 11 to No. 1 the year after they got Shaquille O’Neal in the lottery and draft. Orlando in 1993 selected Chris Webber and immediately traded him for the rights to Anferenee Hardaway and future No 1 picks. It was the beginning of the greatest dynasty that never occurred because of injuries, free agency and the return of Michael Jordan. The two moves from No. 9 to No. 1 were the Bulls with Derrick Rose in 2008 and the Cavaliers in 2014. Andrew Wiggins was the No. 1 pick, but when LeBron James accounted a return to Cleveland the Cavaliers traded the pick for Kevin Love. The Charlotte Hornets had No. 13 in 1999 and moved to No. 3.

The Bulls have a two percent chance of getting the No. 1 pick and about a nine percent chance to move into the top four. This is not so much the weak draft that many have suggested, but it is one essentially without a standout and certain No. 1 selection. Like last year with Wembanyama or in 2008 when the Bulls selected Rose. Being able to draft a franchise player like the Cavaliers did with James in 2003 or the Minnesota Timberwolves with Anthony Edwards in 2020 can assure a team returning to a title contending timeline.

This is not that draft... with an array of athletic, young and many European prospects generally considered among the top picks in the draft.

If there is a consensus No. 1 pick in a draft perhaps the most uncertain since Anthony Bennett went first in 2013, it’s probably Alex Sarr, a 19-year-old skinny seven footer from France (sound familiar) who needs to develop. Three of the others mostly mentioned in the top five to eight in this draft include 6-6 Nikola Topić from Serbia, 6-11 Matas Buzelis from Lithuania and 6-9 Zaccharie Risacher from France. Having seen little of them is hardly reason to exclude any since NBA Most Valuable Players lately often come from overseas with the likes of Nikola Jokić and Giannis Antetokounmpo. And Dirk got one, also.

But they are, for now, project players. And it doesn’t seem like the Bulls are going that route. Nor probably should they. They need some ready-to-play draft selections, and if it were me, and even if the Bulls moved into the top four, I’d be interested in 6-6 Tennessee shooting guard Dalton Knecht.

This is such an uncertain draft that some of these early projections have him top five and others down in the 10 to 15 range. He’s a pure shooter and maybe not the greatest athlete, but good enough. The history of these draft lists of so called “best player available” are, let’s say, perhaps somewhat disingenuous. Because every draft redone five years later has maybe five lottery picks still in the top 14. So how can basically everyone have virtually similar identifications of the best players—and then select that “talent” in order—and then just a few years later there are eight guys in the top 15 who weren’t there on draft night?

Knecht may never connect or project as a star, but he meets the Bulls biggest need for shooting. He’s got good size and is a tough shot maker. He’s 23, which discourages many scouts on the notion he’s close to his ceiling. I say good because he’s ready to play in the NBA.

Another player like that at least seemingly ready to play if not a star projection is 7-2 Connecticut center Donovan Clingan. He’s a tough big guy. He may not have much offensive potential, but he moves well and would be good insurance and an eventual replacement for Nikola Vučević. Most early projections have him somewhere between No's. 5 and 15.

Then there’s a bunch of guards who have some possibilities, if not exactly. Like Connecticut’s Stephon Castle, whose shot isn’t great, and Kentucky’s Reed Sheppard, whose shot is but he is smallish. And Kentucky’s Robert Dillingham, who also isn’t the biggest. And I guess we see why they were down on with John Calipari with all that talent.

So if the Bulls get lucky with the ping pong balls and move into the top four, they’ll have some big decisions to make. Ready to play? Hope he becomes a star?

If the Bulls remain at No. 11, history with the likes of Gilgeous-Alexander and Thompson shows you can hit big. Though recent history isn’t so promising.&nbsp;

The Bulls had No. 11 last year and it went to the Orlando Magic from the Vučević trade. Orlando selected Jett Howard, who rarely played this season. The No. 11 selections the previous two years were Ousmane Dieng, who doesn’t play for Oklahoma City, and James Bouknight, who doesn’t play for Charlotte. Though some of the previous No. 11 selections have included NBA stars or reliable regulars like Malik Monk, Myles Turner, Reggie Miller, Allan Houston, Derek Harper, Nick Anderson, Fat Lever, Kiki Vandeweghe and Robert Horry.

The Bulls, however, have generally not done so well when they had the No. 11 selection in the draft.

Perhaps their best was Will Perdue in 1988. The current Bulls TV analyst was a competent, hard working backup center on multiple title teams, but he perhaps contributed most when he was traded for Dennis Rodman in 1995. The Bulls in 2014 traded up with two lower No. 1 selections to No. 11 to select Doug McDermott. The Denver Nuggets used those selections for Gary Harris and their center of the future, Jusuf Nurkić at No. 16. Then at No. 41 in that draft the Nuggets took a flier on another European center, Nikola Jokić. 

The Bulls did well in the 1985 draft, sort of, at No. 11 when they selected power forward Keith Lee. Then immediately traded him on draft night for No. 9 selection power forward Charles Oakley.&nbsp;

In the 1970s, the Bulls were having financial problems and lost most of their top draft picks to the ABA, including 1972 No. 11 pick Ralph Simpson from Michigan State, who became a five-time ABA All-Star. The Bulls had the No. 11 selection in 1970 and selected Jimmy Collins, who went on to a brilliant coaching career at the University of Illinois and Illinois/Chicago. But he was an NBA bust and subject of a famous Dick Motta story as then coach Motta was lobbying in that draft for a small New York guard who went in the second round (No. 19), Nate “Tiny” Archibald. Motta for years afterward would introduce then Bulls scout Jerry Krause as, "the man who talked me out of drafting Tiny Archibald.”

The process begins Sunday. Gentlemen, start your excuses.