Chicago Bulls center Wendell Carter Jr. didn't hold back when discussing the trade rumors surrounding him. Discussed as a possible target by the Golden State Warriors leading up to the NBA Draft last month, Carter said he simply shrugged off the whispers.

He told The Athletic's Darnell Mayberry that he believes he has a long-term future with the Bulls. Although Carter admitted he got a little worried.

“When I first saw it, I kind of knew it was BS. I didn’t pay much attention to it. I had a lot of faith I was going to be here. I knew the coaching staff and the front office believed in me from the talks that we’ve had. So I knew I was going to be a Bull. But it’s always a little anxiety when you see your name floating around as possibly being traded. But deep down in my heart, I knew I was going to be a Bull.”

Drafted out of Duke with the seventh overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, Carter has become an intriguing prospect because of his defensive acumen and growth as an offensive player. Though there remain concerns over his positional fit with the presence of forward Lauri Markkanen, the Bulls' decision to keep him in the fold is likely an indication of their belief in his upside.

Carter averaged 11.3 points and 9.4 rebounds while shooting 53.4 percent from the field in 43 games last season.

Long criticized for their lack of success at developing young talent, the Bulls' new front office and coaching staff led by Billy Donovan are geared towards ensuring the growth of players like Carter. With three weeks remaining before the start of the new NBA season, Wendell Carter Jr. and the Bulls may not have to wait long before discovering if their faith in one another was warranted.