The intel is sparse.
If that’s not the case this time of the year, then it’s probably a lie, floated out there by an exec trying to hide the footprints.
But as adept as Bulls executive vice president Arturas Karnisovas is at ripping a branch off a tree and dusting away his trail, leaks happen.
The Sun-Times reported last week that there are two absolutes with this draft class and the No. 12 overall pick held by the Bulls.
One is they don’t care about position. This is about the best player available for a roster that can quickly turn over after the 2025-26 season.
Second, Karnisovas and coach Billy Donovan are 100% behind the 2024-25 Bulls’ style of play and want players to fit that style. So as much as they need frontcourt help and a versatile wing, if there’s a big, versatile guard who can push the action — and has a three-pointer in his bag — he’s on the radar.
That’s why BYU guard Egor Demin is more than just a blip for the Bulls. He’s high on their wish list. Unfortunately for them, Demin is on a lot of radar screens.
The prospects
Egor Demin | 6-9 | Guard | BYU
This is more than just smoke. There are flames all around the quick climber from Brigham Young. Demin has seen his stock go from late teens in the first round to the end of the lottery, and now he’s kicking down the door to the top 10. The Pelicans at No. 7, the Nets at No. 8 and the Raptors at No. 9 could take Demin and be thrilled about it.
If he falls to No. 12 — a big if at this point — Karnisovas might drop the phone in excitement when trying to call the pick in.
Demin is an elite playmaker, and he’s versatile enough — and has the length — to be a defensive-minded wing. The 27.3% shooting from three-point range as a freshman last season is a bit concerning, but scouts insist that the fundamentals of the shot translate to improvement in the NBA.
Derik Queen | 6-10 |Center/Forward | Maryland
The next few weeks will be huge for Queen, who has been sliding since the combine because of growing concerns about his athleticism. The private workouts for teams will be monumental for the high-IQ passer.
He has great feet in the paint, works well in space inside the three-point line and understands playmaking with teammates at a high level, but does he fit what the Bulls want to do? He’s good but not great as a rim protector, and his 20% shooting from three-point range doesn’t exactly scream stretch the floor.
Donovan wants to play with pace, and if the big is trailing the play but can hit the three-pointer like Nikola Vucevic does, it works. Queen has a lot to show to ease some minds.
Collin Murray-Boyles | 6-7 |Forward | South Carolina
The 26.5% shooting from three-point range is the big concern, and Murray-Boyles was self-aware enough to acknowledge that weakness during the combine interviews. He did make 48% from the corner and side-mid area in the combine’s three-point drill, so that helped.
He doesn’t need to sell teams on his ability to lock down wings and rebound. That’s where he remains elite in this draft class.
Asa Newell | 6-11 | Forward | Georgia
Don’t sleep on Newell, especially with the private workouts going on. His athleticism and ability to cut and finish at the rim would be huge for the Bulls’ run-and-gun offense. He’s a lob threat on any play and is an underrated three-point shooter for his size, finishing just under 30% during his freshman season with the Bulldogs.
Most mock drafts have Newell outside the lottery, but that can change quickly, especially for teams looking to draft for fit. He’s a high-energy guy who has some Joakim Noah in him.
