Dragic and Simonovic Get EuroBasket Grades, Thoughts on Kostas, Ayo Re-draft, and Other Bulls Bullets

YOU ABSOLUTELY LOVE TO SEE IT!

  • EuroBasket has come to an end. Spain took down Rudy Gobert and France on Sunday to claim the 2022 championship trophy. Juancho Hernangomez – aka the legendary Bo Cruz – took home Finals MVP honors with his 27-point performance. Now with the Toronto Raptors, Hernangomez represented just one of many current NBA players who had quite the impressive run overseason this summer.
  • Indeed, if you’re interested, HoopsHype handed out grades to those NBA players that suited up in EuroBasket over the past few weeks. Goran Dragic received a B- for his stint with Slovenia, which I find a bit off considering he did average an extremely solid 14.9 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.7 assists at age 36. But I guess he and his home country did fail to meet expectations as the reigning champs, which could warrant a small demerit.
  • Marko Simonovic was the only other Bulls player to take the floor, and HoopsHype handed him an underwhelming D+. He was the only player for Montenegro with NBA experience and averaged a meh 8.7 points and 4.2 rebounds. Once again, considering how needy the Bulls appear to be at the power forward position, I just want to say it’s a pretty big bummer that Simonovic has failed to really show anything that can get him on the NBA court soon. The front office handed him a full-time roster spot, and they risk having that go to waste for basically another whole season.
  • I mean, at this rate, is it possible Kostas Antetokounmpo sees minutes before the Bulls’ former 2nd-round pick?
  • I know he doesn’t even have a roster spot yet, but I think there is a pretty decent chance he can win one at training camp. Between Malcolm Hill and Carlik Jones, the competition doesn’t seem the stiffest, especially when we (once again) factor in the Bulls’ need for wing defense and power-forward depth. I know Antetokounmpo has yet to really impress during his time with both the Lakers and Mavericks, but he’s still 24 years old and has the kind of athletic fame that certainly fits NBA play. To be sure, I’m not going to sit here and believe the Bulls have found any kind of difference-maker in this Antetokounmpo brother. But it should still be cool to see what he’s got when training camp and the preseason tips off.
  • Not to mention, if the Bulls sign him, they can throw him at Giannis each time they match up! He’s not going to completely embarrass his younger brother, right? The last thing he’ll want is a talking to from his mom at the next family dinner!
  • Bleacher Report recently did a far-too-early re-draft of the 2021 class, and they moved No. 38-overall pick Ayo Dosunmu up to the No. 16 pick. As significant of a jump as that is, I think it’s pretty hard not to put the All-Rookie Second Team member into the lottery. Not only did he play some of the best defense from a rookie last season, but he filled in for Lonzo Ball in a surprisingly effective way. As far as I’m considered, Dosunmu belongs somewhere between the 11-14th pick, and I’d currently put him ahead of both Isaiah Jackson and Quentin Grimes.
  • Will Perdue is spitting facts!
  • The Last Dance drama could have been more ridiculous. Do I think Scottie Pippen could have received a little more praise? Sure. Do I think there were certain players who were left out that needed to be featured? Absolutely. But to complain about that documentary being heavily about The GOAT is absurd. As Perdue puts in, the whole premise was about winning championships under an aggressive spotlight – one that wouldn’t have been there if it weren’t for His Airness. And, as Perdue said, this was all so long ago. Why complain about it now?
  • Congrats to the Aces and first-year head coach Becky Hammon!
  • Calling shotgun was still so dumb.
  • Tell me more!
  • written by

    Elias Schuster is the Lead Chicago Bulls writer at Bleacher Nation. He started with BN full-time in 2019 immediately after graduating from the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign with a degree in Journalism (yes, he started with the Jim Boylen Era). Since joining, Elias has been the driving force behind Bulls and NBA content for both the site and social accounts. You can follow him on Twitter/X @Schuster_Elias.

    more bulls news

    Even With Butler Out, the Bulls Will Have Their Hands Full Against the Heat

    The Miami Heat are a better team than the Chicago Bulls. We can all agree on that, right? We're talking about a franchise with three trips to the Eastern Conference Finals in four seasons. This included last year's historic run,...

    It’s Official: Heat Rule Out Jimmy Butler for Play-In Game

    The Miami Heat announced Thursday afternoon that Jimmy Butler will officially miss Friday night's do-or-die matchup with the Chicago Bulls. The announcement comes after Butler suffered a knee injury during the first quarter of the 7v8 Play-In game against the...

    Several Bulls Questionable Heading Into Play-In with Heat

    The Chicago Bulls aren't ruling Alex Caruso out just yet. Despite the guard having to exit Wednesday night's Play-In Tournament over the Atlanta Hawks, Caruso is currently listed as "questionable" on the latest official injury report. The Bulls' defensive anchor...

    Joakim Noah Gave Such a Perfect Joakim Noah Interview

    Joakim Noah hasn't played in an NBA game since September 2020, but he still can't stand the thought of losing. The Chicago Bulls legend recently appeared on an episode of The OGs Podcast with Udonis Haslem and Mike Miller for...

    Fans Aren’t the Problem, Fun With Coby White’s Big Night, Miami is Still Scary, and Other Bulls Bullets

    I was sitting at an empty table with his legs crossed sipping on some white wine. The rest of the group was up on the dance floor, sending over the increasingly frequent wave to join them. I followed up each...

    If You Haven’t Seen Coby White Destroy Atlanta Yet, What Are You Waiting For?

    Coby White played the best game of his career on Wednesday night. In front of a packed United Center with the season on the line, White looked like the best player on the floor. He propelled the Bulls to a...

    Enhanced Box Score: Bulls 131, Hawks 116– April 17, 2024

    The Chicago Bulls understood the assignment. Unlike what we saw against Toronto in the first Play-In Tournament game last season, the Bulls were the ones to get out to an early lead. DeMar DeRozan was completely in his bag from...

    UGH: Alex Caruso’s Availability Already in Doubt for Next Play-In Game

    The Chicago Bulls can't seem to swat the injury bug. Despite Andre Drummond and Ayo Dosunmu returning from their multi-game absences on Wednesday, the Bulls have likely lost their defense ace. Alex Caruso suffered a foot injury in the first...

    You Have to See Coby White’s Epic Sequence Against the Hawks

    Whether or not he gets the hardware, Coby White is the NBA's Most Improved Player. The Chicago Bulls guard has fully embraced his bigger workload this season, showing improvements in almost every aspect of his game. This was on full...

    WATCH: DeMar DeRozan WOWS with Huge Slam Against the Hawks

    DeMar DeRozan is almost 35 years old and led the NBA in minutes this season. I want you to remember that as you watch what you're about to see. The Chicago Bulls' veteran forward was tearing apart the Atlanta Hawks...

    Latest News

    DraftKings Promo Code: Bet $5, Gets $200 with Latest New User Offer

    Are you eager to dive into the exhilarating world of sports betting? Look no further than the brand new DraftKings promo code offer, designed specifically to welcome new users. DraftKings, a powerhouse in the United States online sportsbook industry, is...

    The Chicago Cubs Are Not Stealing Bases So Far This Year

    The Chicago Cubs are against theft. Of bases: https://twitter.com/codifybaseball/status/1781046629103231339 The Chicago Cubs this year have stolen just three bases, the fewest in all of baseball. Dansby Swanson has stolen two bases, Nick Madrigal has stolen one. That's it. I don't...

    Cubs vs. Marlins Prediction: Expert Picks, Odds, Stats & Best Bets – Friday, April 19, 2024

    The Chicago Cubs (11-7) host the Miami Marlins (4-15) on Friday to start a four-game series, with the first pitch at 2:20 PM ET from Wrigley Field. The Cubs are listed as -173 favorites, while the underdog Marlins have +144...

    Best MLB Prop Bets Today, April 19, 2024

    There are 15 matchups on today's MLB schedule, including the Baltimore Orioles playing the Kansas City Royals.One of the best ways to wager on baseball is via MLB player prop bets. There are props for each of today's matchups, and...

    Cubs vs. Marlins Probable Starting Pitchers – April 19

    The Miami Marlins (4-15) begin a four-game series against the Chicago Cubs (11-7) on Friday at Wrigley Field. First pitch is at 2:20 PM.The Cubs will give the nod to Jameson Taillon and the Marlins will turn to Andrew Jacob...

    How to Watch Reds vs. Angels: Live Stream or on TV

    Nick Lodolo will take the mound for the Cincinnati Reds (9-9) when they host starter Tyler Anderson and the Los Angeles Angels (9-10) on Friday, with first pitch at 6:40 PM ET.Keep reading to find out how to watch the...

    Kings vs. Pelicans Predictions, Best Bets and Odds: NBA Playoffs Game 1 – Friday, April 19, 2024

    The Sacramento Kings and the New Orleans Pelicans take the court to start the opening round of the NBA Playoffs. The Kings are favored by 1.5 points in the contest, which airs on TNT at 9:30 PM ET. The over/under...

    Nick Foligno Calls Out Blackhawks Teammates, Says Changes Are Needed

    The Blackhawks put the worst regular season of more than 70 games in the history of the franchise to bed on Thursday night in a manner that sums up the season fairly well. Connor Murphy was banged up and Nikita...

    2024 NBA Playoffs Odds: Mavs vs Clippers Odds to Win Series, Spreads, Lines

    It's a first-round matchup with a history of fireworks! The Dallas Mavericks and Los Angeles Clippers lock horns once again in the NBA Playoffs. This year marks the third time in five years these two teams meet in the opening...

    2024 NBA Playoffs Odds: Pacers vs Bucks Odds to Win Series, Spreads, Lines

    The NBA Playoffs are here, and the Eastern Conference first-round ignites with a clash of styles. The Indiana Pacers, boasting the league's top-scoring offense, bring their high-octane attack to Milwaukee to face the experienced Bucks. Giannis Antetokounmpo's status adds further...

    more bulls news