Latest mock draft has Bulls selecting Alex Caruso's replacement

NBA Draft week is here and the Chicago Bulls figure to be active in trade talks leading up to the big event. 

The Bulls already got their offseason started with a trade of Alex Caruso that has drawn mixed reviews. 

My review wasn’t mixed, I hated it for the Bulls, who weren’t able to squeeze even one pick out of the Thunder, who have more future draft assets than they know what to do with.  

It was another questionable move for Arturas Karnisovas who reportedly had better deals on the table for Caruso at the deadline. 

Now the Bulls have a big hole where a 3-and-D guard should be, but could fill it quickly in the 2024 NBA Draft. 

Chicago Bulls draft: Devin Carter 

In ESPN’s latest mock draft (subscription), the Bulls selected Devin Carter, the 22-year-old combo guard out of Providence. 

Carter has had a lot of buzz around him as the draft approaches, as many believe he is one of the most NBA-ready prospects in his class. With his defense, 3-point shooting and motor, he’s seen as a prospect that has a very high floor. 

He averaged nearly 20 points per game last season while pulling down over eight rebounds, an outstanding number for a guard. He has a big 6-foot-8 wingspan that allows him to be a disruptive defender with steals and blocks, so he’s a guy the Bulls could slot into Caruso’s spot right away. He shot the 3-ball at just under 38 percent on high volume.

Carter also plays with nonstop motor and a little bit of edge, so he’d be a fan favorite in blue-collar Chicago just as Caruso was. 

He’s an ideal pick for a team that needs both perimeter defense and 3-point shooting and he’s a nice long-term fit with both Coby White and Josh Giddey, as he complements either of them.

The problem is that he may not fall to the Bulls, as many experts are now predicting he won’t fall outside of the top 10. 

If Chicago wants Carter, they should hope for one of Utah or Memphis to trade up, which would make it more likely for Carter to fall into their laps. 

If he does, the Bulls would also have the option of trading down, as the better teams outside of the lottery (Miami, Philadelphia, LA Lakers and Orlando) would love to get a guy like Carter, who they can insert into their rotation right away. 

This gives the Bulls some leverage, so even if you don’t like Carter as a prospect, you should hope he falls, as it might allow the Bulls to trade back and pick up an asset.