Let's all take a brief moment to reflect on how close the Bulls were to landing the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NBA Draft, selecting Cooper Flagg and bringing another decade-plus of championship-caliber basketball to Chicago.
Now, let the ice-cold waters of reality douse that dream and wake up to the reality that the Bulls are the Bulls, and the franchise will be forced to shop in the bargain bin of the lottery with the No. 12 pick on June 25.
In the outlet's post-lottery mock draft, Bleacher Report has Chicago digging into said bin to find a prospect who could help rebuild a desolate frontcourt, which is certainly an area the front office needs to address this offseason. But this isn't quite the way to do it.
Bulls pick Georgia's Asa Newell at No. 12 in post-lottery mock draft
Chicago will have to reshuffle its big man rotation this offseason. Nikola Vucevic is a 34-year-old on an expiring contract who doesn't fit the Bulls' timeline or scheme. Zach Collins is a capable fill-in, but he's a career journeyman who's also on an expiring contract. He fits head coach Billy Donovan's new offense better than Vucevic, but not by much.
Jalen Smith fell out of the rotation at the end of last season despite signing as a free agent on a three-year deal just last summer. In an ideal world, Patrick Williams and his $90 million would only hit the court during mop-up duty, but expect to see him for 20 minutes a night as the franchise waits for him to put it all together in his sixth season.
The Bulls need to get younger, more athletic, and more defensive-minded up front. The most likely way they'll accomplish it is through the draft with someone like Asa Newell.
The 19-year-old averaged 15.4 points and 6.9 rebounds as a freshman in the best conference in college basketball last season. He plays with an extremely high motor and is relentless on the glass, especially as an offensive rebounder. He's athletic, bouncy and has a quick second jump, so he can rack up garbage points near the rim.
Most attractively to Chicago, Newell is an agile mover who can step outside and defend guards on the perimeter. With a potential long-term backcourt of Josh Giddey and Coby White, versatile defenders will be crucial to the Bulls' success.
Ones with size, like Newell, would be ideal. The Montverde Academy graduate averaged a steal and a block per game with the Bulldogs. He has the physical profile of an ideal defender for the modern NBA.
What kind of offensive skill set Newell will develop is a mystery, even to Newell himself. He likes to pick-and-pop and made more than 1 three per game at Georgia, but he shot under 30 percent from that range. He's not very adept as a roller, and no one would confuse him with Hakeem Olajuwon in the post. Strangely, though, he's shown legitimate flashes in every one of those areas.
Newell is one of the most polarizing prospects in the draft because his defense looks translatable, but he has no bankable offensive skill. At 6-foot-9 with a 6-foot-11 wingspan, he's not wildly big or long, either. But he was productive as a teenager in the SEC, helped carry Georgia to the NCAA Tournament and has a foundation that teams can see clearly.
The Bulls could certainly use someone like Newell to help improve one of the worst defenses in the NBA. And he does have real upside if he can hone in on a skill and find his niche offensively. But grabbing him at No. 12 seems like a bit of a reach. Of course, it all depends on how draft night progresses, but Chicago could be better off trading back a few spots if Newell is their ultimate target.