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Complete 2017 NBA Draft grades for all 30 teams

By Gerald Bourguet

Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; General view of the stage before the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; General view of the stage before the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /
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2017 NBA Draft
Jun 22, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Lauri Markkanen (Arizona) shows off the inside of his suit jacket as he is introduced as the number seven overall pick to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the first round of the 2017 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports /

Chicago Bulls

Lauri Markkanen (No. 7)

The Chicago Bulls don’t get the flak they deserve for being one of the NBA’s most poorly run organizations, but that should change after the Jimmy Butler trade that’s more appropriately graded as a fleecing.

In a deal with the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Bulls were somehow coerced into thinking a guy coming off an ACL tear (Zach LaVine), a point guard with serious bust potential (Kris Dunn) and a one-dimensional shooter (Lauri Markkanen at No. 7) were somehow worth a borderline top-10 player in his prime and under contract for two more seasons.

Oh, and top it all off, Chicago even threw in its own pick at No. 16. WATER U DOIN, BULLS?

To be fair, LaVine is better than people give him credit for. He’s an explosive athlete, yes, but he’s more than just a dunker. He can shoot the three-ball, he’s only 22 and he’s an exciting player. It’s too soon to call Dunn a bust after only one NBA season and Markkanen truly is an elite shooter.

But all of those assets have question marks. Can LaVine come back healthy and be the same? Will the 23-year-old Dunn be any better than Cameron Payne or Jerian Grant? Can Markkanen stay on the floor defensively? And do these assets combined measure up to a two-way superstar like Butler, especially without a single future first-rounder included?

Chicago got robbed, pure and simple. This return would’ve made sense in, say, a Paul George trade where his team had zero leverage because everyone knew he’ll be Laker-bound in free agency. But not so with Butler, whose price should’ve been way higher considering his preferable contract situation. This rebuild is going to rough, and it’s going to take a very long time.

Oh and to make matters worse, just when everyone thought the Bulls might have done something right by taking Jordan Bell at No. 38…they let the Warriors buy him away. Face palm, Bulls. Face palm.

Grade: D-