The Chicago Bulls need to beef up one of the league's worst defenses. Cedric Coward has been one of the 2025 NBA Draft's biggest risers because of his physical traits and two-way skill set. The two are a perfect fit, and the 21-year-old wing could very well be available when the Bulls are on the clock with the No. 12 pick on June 25.
To quote Paul McCartney, Coward had a long and winding road to the draft. He began his college career at the Division III level before transferring to Eastern Washington for two seasons and then Washington State for the 2024-25 campaign. His final season ended early due to injury, which is presumably why he started the draft process in relative obscurity.
His combine measurements, however—6-foot-5 ¼ without shoes and 213 pounds with a 7-foot-2 ¼ wingspan and an 8-foot-10 standing reach—helped put him on the map. Coupled with his production at Wazzu, where he averaged 17.7 points, 7.0 rebounds, 3.7 assists and 2.5 stocks with shooting splits of 56/40/84 and he went from a potential second-round selection to a possible lottery pick.
That evaluation checks out, according to coaches who faced him at Eastern Washington, as they detailed how NBA-ready Coward is, both in terms of his skill set and mentality.
Cedric Coward 2025 NBA Draft scouting report, according to opposing coaches
The intriguing parts of Coward's game and potential at the NBA level stem from his Kawhi Leonard-esque wingspan, easy athleticism and smooth shooting stroke. He looks physically ready to compete in the league, but also shows potential to grow into the prototypical 3-and-D wing every team craves.
According to a pair of coaches who played against him at Eastern Washington, however, he has a much deeper bag.
Per The Athletic, one coach whose team faced Coward said, in part, "First thing I told my staff was, 'Guys, this guy might be an NBA player.' His measurables, the way he moves were so smooth and fluid. I just loved him. I had such a man crush on his game. ... He got a lot of layups posting people up with his size. And the turnaround jumper, he’s got that kind of natural, old-school MJ fade to his game.
"One of the benefits of Cedric being in that system, though, is that he’ll know how to fit into a team. That’s probably one of the things people value about him. He’s a freak in terms of his measurables, and he just fits in with good players."
Another coach who had to gameplan for Coward said he was better than Lakers forward Dalton Knecht and added, "(Coward) can hit you from 3, he can post you up. He worked on his handle and the little things you saw before you played them. ... He could score at all facets of their offense, which was like a kind of five-out deal. I was like, that’s a pro. You could see it. … On the court, he was an SOB."
Coward may not have the upside of prospects like Noa Essengue, Ace Bailey or Drake Powell, but he has a high floor with room for further growth in his game. He can become an even more consistent threat from three, add some strength and learn the intricacies on both ends of the floor at the NBA level.
If he's available for the Bulls at No. 12, the franchise could do a lot worse than Coward. Just ask the coaches who've already had to deal with him.