Grading Bulls’ Last 5 First-Round Picks

With the draft rapidly approaching, let's revisit and grade the Bulls' most recent first-round round picks.

Feb 10, 2024; Orlando, Florida, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Coby White (0) shoots the ball against Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) and guard Jalen Suggs (4) during the second half at KIA Center. Mandatory Credit: Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports / Mike Watters-USA TODAY Sports

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Oh, the NBA season is over you say? Hardly. Since regular and postseason play has ceased, all eyes have turned to the NBA draft on June 26th.

Dallas and Boston may have met at the mountaintop, but down at base camp many… future-minded (read: depressed) franchises have been preparing to participate in their own championship – the Smartest Drafter Cup (sponsored by Emirates).

Chief amongst the draft lottery platinum club members are the Bulls. Owning the 11th pick this year, head decision maker Artūras Karnišovas enters his 5th draft since being hired in April of 2020. Given that his first major transaction the following season was acquiring Nikola Vučević with several picks his report card is short, yet fraught.

To observe just how scrutable Karnišovas and his predecessors’ pick history has been, we’re going to go back and grade the last five Chicago first-round picks: a cadre of busts and what-ifs – with one notable exception.

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