Joe Cowley of The Chicago Sun-Times writes that the Bulls were strongly considering Pelicans rookie big man Derik Queen when they held the 12th pick in this year’s draft.
Chicago ultimately went in a different direction, selecting French forward Noa Essengue, who has spent most of the season developing in the G League.
According to Cowley, the front office believed Essengue was a better long-term match for the team’s preferred up-tempo system.
Head coach Billy Donovan explained how quickly those decisions unfold once teams are on the clock.
“When the draft actually came, there’s things that happen in that moment,” Donovan said. “You’ve got five minutes to make that pick. I think (the front office) was looking at Noa as an opportunity long-term – ‘This guy fits the way we would like to play.’
“I did not get from the front office or even the scouts that (Queen wasn’t) a fit. (But) I think they thought the way we were playing, Noa, maybe from an upside standpoint, another athletic wing, a long defender, (was) maybe something we needed defensively.”
Bulls Notes: Expiring Contracts, Defensive Issues, Queen, Essengue, Collins https://t.co/nVTBfvMiq2 pic.twitter.com/0pjLQoBhb6
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) November 27, 2025
