Chicago Bulls: Grading both 2020 draft picks, and UDFA signing

Grading Chicago Bulls 2020 draft picks/UDFA’s

All of the hype on draft night after the original 44th overall pick in the second round of the Bulls was announced to be the Montenegro 6-foot-11 and 215 pound big man Marko Simonovic was the panic of Karnisovas selecting a 34-year-old. But there are two big men that carry the same name that have played over in Europe within the last decade.

It just so happens that the 34-year-old Marko Simonovic popped up easier on Google than the one that the Bulls actually drafted last night.

The Simonovic that they did pick in the second round (the original Memphis Grizzlies 44th overall pick) is actually a solid draft-and-stash prospect. A lengthy build and an ever-improving skill set on both ends of the floor makes the idea of bringing Simonovic over to the NBA at 22 or 23 years old very appealing for Karnisovas and the Bulls.

Simonovic spent the better part of the last two seasons playing overseas with KK Mega Bemax, namely in Liga ABA. In seven games played (five of which he started in) so far during the 2020-21 season with KK Mega Bemax, Simonovic averaged 16.3 points per game, 9.6 rebounds, 1.7 assists, 0.6 steals, and 0.7 blocks. And he shot 51.4 percent from the field, 41.4 percent from beyond the arc, and 83.3 percent from the free-throw line.

In 24 games played (all but two of which he started in) during the 2019-20 season with KK Mega Bemax, Simonovic averaged 16.8 points per game, 8.0 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 0.8 steals, and 1.2 blocks. And last season he shot 50.9 percent from the field, 31.1 percent from beyond the arc, and 80.3 percent from the free-throw line.

The reasoning for Karnisovas selecting Simonovic was simple. He’s a modern big man that has a lot of potential in the NBA that can shoot from all over the place, protect the rim, and has more promise to round out his game in the very near future. I really like this pick.

Chicago Bulls draft grade for Marko Simonovic: A