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As the 2024-25 season approached, many Chicago Bulls fans agreed that the front office needed to focus on retaining its 2025 draft pick, given the lack of potential stars on the current roster. The Bulls owe their 2025 first-round pick to the San Antonio Spurs as part of the DeMar DeRozan sign-and-trade deal. However, since the pick is top-10 protected, the Bulls will likely retain should they finish in the bottom third of the standings this season.
With the top two picks, Cooper Flagg and Dylan Harper, solidified , the remainder of the draft will most likely fluctuate throughout the year. Illinois freshman Kasparas Jakucionis has the potential to elevate the program to new heights. Previously, Illinois made headlines with now-NBA players Ayo Dosunmu and Terrance Shannon Jr. Both Shannon and Dosunmu were selected as late picks in their respective drafts, but that is not the case for Jakucionis, who's been rising in mock drafts recently in a draft class filled with abundant talent.
Kasparas Jakucionis
Bio: Freshman| Illinois| 6'6"| 200 pounds| guard
Stats: 16.1 points| 6.1 rebounds| 5.6 assists| 46.9 FG%| 42.0 3P%| 84.2 FT%| 1.4 steals| 4.0 turnovers (10 games played)
Analysis
Jakucionis has established himself as the top playmaker in the 2025 draft class. He can thread the needle between defenses and smoothly transition from a pull-up jump shot to an entry pass. Although extremely turnover-prone, Jakucionis has solid handles that can improve over time. He is consistent behind the arc and has a quick release. What Jakucionis lacks in athleticism, he makes up for with his ability to navigate through traffic, which allows him to get to the rim gracefully. His offense is stellar, but his defense has been questionable at times and will most likely need to improve at the NBA level.
Kasparas Jakucionis has made the transition to college look seamless, getting to his spots with aggressiveness and pace, finishing skillfully in traffic, drawing free throws in bunches and hitting tough pull-ups. He has excellent size and feel passing out of pick and roll. pic.twitter.com/0V6tg2mmAc
— Jonathan Givony (@DraftExpress) December 3, 2024
NBA Comparison
Comparing Jakucionis to Luka Doncic may set an unrealistic standard. However, using a lesser comparison would undermine Jakucionis' impressive ability to abruptly change speed while attacking the rim. Although this may not seem significant at first glance, this ability allows a playmaker to disrupt a defense and create easy scoring opportunities for himself and his teammates.
Both Jakucionis and Doncic are taller guards who rely on crafty ball handling rather than athleticism to generate offense.
Chicago Bulls Fit
Jakucionis, a Lithuanian basketball player currently playing for Illinois, is a dream come true for Bulls fans. He complements fellow Illini Ayo Dosunmu nicely in the backcourt and has a Lithuanian connection with Matas Buzelis and Arturas Karnisovas.
Beyond storylines, similar to Dylan Harper , the addition of Jakucionis is another tall guard to the rotation. This could indicate an overhaul in guard depth, especially since Jakucionis is a pass-first player, much like Josh Giddey.
Kasparas Jakucionis is averaging 21.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG, and 5.3 APG over his last three games.
— The Champaign Room (@Champaign_Room) December 11, 2024
He's got 21, 5, and 4 tonight.
First-team All-American Ayo Dosunmu averaged 20, 6, and 5 in 2020-21 for reference.
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