Draft-and-stash prospect Marko Simonovic cannot officially sign with the Bulls until next month but it appears likely that he’ll make the jump to the NBA next season.
An Instagram post from his agent, Misko Raznatovic, displayed a picture of them sitting beside each other with the words, “One way ticket to Chicago!”
It’s uncertain what type of contract the 6’11” Simonovic will be signing with the club. The Bulls could use cap room or an exception to bring him aboard, depending on how their offseason plays out.
Selected as the No. 44 pick in 2020, the 21-year-old center played in Serbia this year for Mega Basket in the ABA Adriatic League. He averaged 15.7 PPG and 9.1 RPG in 31.6 MPG over 25 games. He shot 47.3% overall and 34.9% on his 3-point attempts.
With Daniel Theis and Cristiano Felicio entering unrestricted free agency and Lauri Markkanen headed to restricted free agency, the Bulls could have some openings in the frontcourt.
Is this not tanpering?
The Bulls own his rights, so no it’s not.
Thanks everyone for clarifying (except the haters…)
Tampering by who?
I am more alarmed by somebody owning his rights without paying him.
Draft and stash my ash.
You’re alarmed a player had a path to the NBA?
Without being “owned”, the path would have been open to 30 teams not 1… every draft.
There used to be a rule that a team had 1 year to sign a player or he goes back in the draft, if I recall. Boston got Larry Bird that way; other teams looked past him due to worries over signing him in a year. Not sure the details but Bird could always threaten to work for county maintenence for a year (he did do that once before). :)
Anyway. The GL has ways to keep players from free stashing.
Welcome to the comment section.
European leagues stats means nothing! A college basketball kid will be easily getting triple double there. What the Bulls needs is a decent PG & SF. They should sign Lowry and Josh Hart, get rid of awful Temple and trade Markkanen for Jamychal Green.
A 6’11” Euro with skills is better than than Green, Theis, Felicia, etc, and comes much cheaper than Markkanen.
I’m glad you are not the Bulls GM.
Do you know how hard it is to get a Triple double in Euroleague under FIBA rules? Getting an assist in FIBA is already hard as it is. Luka was the only person in recent memory to record a 30/10/10 triple double in a FIBA game. The bet way to get a triple double in Euroleague is with blocks instead of assists. Even Rudy Gobert wasnt capable of doing that. No college basketball kid is going come in and get even playing time at a high level euroleague team. Nick Calathes is the closest as of right now to even get a triple double but he doesnt rebound.
It is hard for an undisciplined European youth to even get starts. And it was impossible to get a USA youth to go over there, and now there are more choices.
That’s what you comment experts were saying for doncic as well…
Possibly the other way around. Simonovic can become the steal of the 2020 draft, he can play both at the 4 and 5 position, with good passing ability and long distance shooting. Very adapted to current game time. He needs to gain weight and muscle mass.
Simonovic is apparently pretty good, and all they need is someone to spell Vooch for 15 to 20 per game. Theis is terrific but he will get big offers in FA, so they have a hole to fill. Their biggest need is pg and luckily that is plentiful in FA this year. Williams will be SF and either Thad Young or whomever they trade him for will be PF.
White will be 6th man. Rest is ? after Lavine.