Chicago Bulls: AK says ‘we’re happy to move up’ in the draft
Lead Chicago Bulls executive Arturas Karnisovas is keeping an open mind for the team’s plans for the fourth pick in the 2020 NBA Draft.
A good bit of fortune struck for the Chicago Bulls on the night of the 2020 NBA Draft Lottery, as they landed the fourth overall pick in the first round. The Bulls had to jump three spots in the lottery order to land the fourth overall pick in the 2020 draft. Originally, they had the seventh best odds again to win the lottery and get the first overall pick in the 2020 draft.
This is the first time that the Bulls will be picking in the top five of the NBA Draft since they won the lottery in 2008 and were able to select former Memphis Tigers point guard Derrick Rose. In each of the past three NBA Drafts, the Bulls got the seventh overall pick in the first round. With those seventh overall picks, the Bulls picked (in chronological order) former Arizona Wildcats power forward Lauri Markkanen, Duke Blue Devils center Wendell Carter Jr., and North Carolina Tar Heels point guard Coby White.
None of those three seventh overall draft picks for the Bulls were necessarily booms or busts up to this point. The Bulls did need a good bit of luck in this draft lottery to give the rebuild another push that is much needed heading into the fourth year of the rebuild.
This is also the first year of the rebuild under the new look front office regime. Former Denver Nuggets general manager Arturas Karnisovas as the lead voice in the front office for the former vice president of basketball operations John Paxson. And former Philadelphia 76ers senior VP of player personnel Marc Eversley is taking over for Gar Forman as the general manager.
Newly hired executive vice president of basketball operations Karnisovas opened up on his early thoughts on the Bulls plans for the 2020 NBA Draft, more specifically with their fourth overall pick. He was quoted saying that the Bulls are “happy to move up and break recent tradition”.
AK: "We're happy to move up and break recent tradition. We know that moving up from 7 to 4 was a huge deal for our organization, the city of Chicago and fans of the Bulls. We're extremely happy. We're going to select a player that's going to help us next year and in the future." pic.twitter.com/fGFFO0Li9b
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) August 21, 2020
He is also apparently taking a very open-minded approach to what the Bulls do with this fourth overall pick. That is essentially whether they keep it, or trade up or down in the lottery.
AK on trade offers: “The way I approach the draft is that there are a ton of opportunities. You’re going to take 100 calls, possibly nothing happens and you stay at your picks. It’s just an exciting time to make your organization better that night.”
— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) August 21, 2020
The Bulls rounded out the top four in this draft lottery. Above them in the top three (in order from top-to-bottom) included the Minnesota Timberwolves, Golden State Warriors, and the Charlotte Hornets. The Bulls and Hornets were the two teams that jumped up into the top four when it was revealed that the New York Knicks dropped down to the eighth spot in the lottery.
Next. 3 early options for the Bulls with the 4th overall pick. dark
The 2020 NBA Draft is set for Oct. 16. The Bulls have the fourth overall pick in the first round of the 2020 draft, and the 44th pick in the second round from the Memphis Grizzlies.