Arturas Karnisovas Said To Be Eyeing One Name In Upcoming Draft

Thanks to the lottery, the Chicago Bulls won't be in the spotlight in the 2025 NBA draft. That doesn't change much for Arturas Karnisovas. The VP of basketball operations faces tons of pressure to make something happen this month. Chicago remains stuck in the mud. They aren't bad enough to compete for top lottery picks, but they aren't good enough to make any legitimate playoff runs. Karnisovas needs a strong pick in the draft to give his team some positive momentum toward the future.

People aren't sure what will happen. That is the byproduct of not picking until 12th overall. There is no telling who will be on the board for the Bulls. However, Brett Siegel of Clutch Points has it on pretty good authority what their target could be.

There is also momentum building for Derik Queen, one of the best frontcourt prospects in this draft, to be selected in the 10-14 range. Queen has been linked the most to the Chicago Bulls with the 12th pick, yet league sources indicate that the Bulls are still evaluating a few other names in this spot to provide more athleticism and length to their roster.

The Bulls appear to be prepping for life after Nikola Vucevic. They'd prefer to do so with a legitimate center option on the roster to replace him. Derik Queen is a unique talent with a big body, versatility, and some of the best ball-handling skills in the draft.

Arturas Karnisovas targeting Queen isn't surprising.

His history always suggested he loves big men who can facilitate. He was teammates with Arvydas Sabonis, one of the best centers in basketball history, and was highly regarded for his passing ability. Then, of course, Arturas Karnisovas was part of the front office in Denver that drafted Nikola Jokic, the best passing center in NBA history. Queen had three or more assists in a game 11 times for Maryland while also averaging 16 points and nine rebounds a night. He's drawn comparisons to DeMarcus Cousins and Zach Randolph. If he develops as he should, the Bulls would have a perfect complement in the frontcourt with the athletic Matas Buzelis, who is also a good ballhandler.