But an ESPN report confirmed Tuesday that the Mavericks plan to keep the top pick and use it on Duke\u2019s Flagg.<\/p>\n
Flagg participated fully in Day 1 of the combine, a benefit of a new stipulation in the collective bargaining agreement that requires all domestic players to report to Chicago and participate throughout the week. And Flagg showed the physical attributes that make him a standout prospect, logging a 29-foot standing vertical leap and a 35.5-foot maximum vertical jump.<\/p>\n
While he didn\u2019t finish first in any specific category, Flagg\u2019s sharpshooting and overall athleticism checked all the boxes necessary to maintain his very stable position as the projected first pick.<\/p>\n
Just a little short
\n![\"Tre](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/CTC-L-BULLS_20c552.jpg\")
Tre Johnson and Ace Bailey (21) look on during the NBA draft combine at Wintrust Arena on May 13, 2025. (Michael Reaves\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
For Rutgers wing Ace Bailey \u2014 long projected as a top-four pick \u2014 the most important part of the week happened Tuesday.<\/p>\n
Bailey was listed as 6-foot-10 last season, but entering the combine, many scouts, agents and teams were curious to see if he actually measured up to that height.<\/p>\n
The answer: not quite.<\/p>\n
Bailey measured 6-7\u00bd barefoot. He did record a 7-0\u00bd wingspan and 8-11 standing reach, but registering more than 2 inches below his listed height is concerning.<\/p>\n
Will that difference be enough to knock Bailey down a few spots in the draft order? He\u2019s already one of the least predictable options in the lottery, a player with undeniable talent whose inconsistency adds a massive asterisk to his overall profile. Losing a potential height advantage certainly won\u2019t help Bailey\u2019s case as he continues the predraft process.<\/p>\n
Early risers<\/p>\n
Washington State senior Cedric Coward has been driving much of the chatter around this year\u2019s combine as he steadily climbs from a mid-second-round prospect to a potential first-rounder \u2014 and is knocking on the door of the lottery.<\/p>\n
Measuring 6-6 with a 7-1 wingspan, Coward offers intriguing length for a guard \u2014 and his defensive potential could round him out into a versatile two-way option. He showed a steady, consistent form during the shooting section of the on-court workout, knocking down corner 3-pointers with a sharp, easy shot.<\/p>\n
Coward, 21, might not even stay in this year\u2019s draft. He\u2019s committed to Duke, which would be the fourth stop of a college career that began at Division III Willamette. But as rumbles of interest continue to grow among front offices, it\u2019s hard to imagine Coward not being a major player in this year\u2019s draft.<\/p>\n
Who are the Bulls watching?
\n![\"Collin](\"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nba\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/CTC-L-NBA-COMBINE-08_229206574.jpg\")
Collin Murray-Boyles demonstrates his shooting ability during the NBA draft combine at Wintrust Arena on Tuesday, May 13, 2025. (Terrence Antonio James\/Chicago Tribune)<\/p>\n
The frontcourt should be the Bulls\u2019 focus in this year\u2019s draft process. Their young core is centered entirely around guards and wings, including Coby White, Josh Giddey and Matas Buzelis. But big men haven\u2019t been a primary focus for the Bulls in recent years as they leaned heavily on veteran center Nikola Vu\u010devi\u0107.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s clear Vu\u010devi\u0107\u2019s run in Chicago is nearing an end. Although he has time left on his contract, the 34-year-old made it clear throughout this season that he\u2019s eager to be in a \u201cwin-now\u201d situation rather than occupying space as the oldest player on a rebuilding roster. The Bulls will spend the summer \u2014 and, if unsuccessful, likely the majority of next season \u2014 attempting to offload Vu\u010devi\u0107 after passing on the opportunity to trade him at this year\u2019s deadline.<\/p>\n
The Bulls do have two younger centers on the roster in Zach Collins, 27, and Jalen Smith, 25. Collins joined the Bulls at the trade deadline and played Smith out of his backup role, a notable dynamic as the Bulls look at potential trade options this summer. But neither player packs enough star power at the position to make sense as a long-term starting option.<\/p>\n
For this reason, the Bulls should spend this week scouting bigs. The front-runners are Duke\u2019s Khaman Maluach and Maryland\u2019s Derik Queen. The 7-1 Maluach is rough around the edges as a prospect, but his physical profile and defensive mobility, both at and away from the rim, stand out. Queen is shorter at 6-9, but his versatility and finishing could be a solid fit alongside Buzelis and the Bulls guards.<\/p>\n