Chicago Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations John Paxson is glad the New York Knicks didn't get the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft.
Paxson also breathed a sigh of relief when three of the top four picks went to three Western Conference teams, per K.C. Johnson of the Chicago Tribune.
John Paxson: "My mind immediately went to the fact that three of the top four are going out West and New York didn’t get No. 1. So that’s something in our favor."
— K.C. Johnson (@KCJHoop) May 15, 2019
The New Orleans Pelicans, who entered the draft with a 6% chance, secured the top overall pick. Consequently, they are expected to draft coveted Duke Blue Devils forward Zion Williamson in June.
The Memphis Grizzlies will select second followed by the New York Knicks and Los Angeles Lakers at No.2 and 3 respectively.
As for the Bulls, they own the seventh overall pick of the draft. Chicago had the fourth-best odds of getting the top pick. However, it didn't work out that way.
While Paxson was disappointed with the result, he remains confident, per NBC Sports Chicago's Mark Strotman.
“You always come into a situation like this hoping, and we got lucky years ago. It didn't work out,” Paxson said. “But I'm very confident, I say this all the time. We got the seventh pick this year. We're confident we will get a player we can add.”
While it's unlikely for the Bulls to get the likes of Williamson, Ja Morant and R.J. Barrett, other solid prospects such as Jarrett Culver, Darius Garland, De'Andre Hunter and Coby White could remain on the board when the Bulls reveal their draft choice.
The Bulls finished with a lowly 22-60 (.268) win-loss record in the 2018-19 NBA season. It's the fewest win total for the franchise since it won just 21 games in 2001-02.
Snagging the right player in the NBA Draft next month should help the Bulls in the third year of their rebuild.
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