The Celtics’ new deal for Jordan Walsh is the kind of move that makes the rest of the league take notice. Boston locked him in on a three-year, $16 million contract extension with a team option in the final year, and that price tag looks even better when you consider how Walsh played last season, especially on defense.
It also puts the Chicago Bulls in an uncomfortable spotlight.
Walsh went No. 38 in the 2023 NBA Draft, three spots behind Julian Phillips, who went No. 35 to Chicago. Boston found a player worth keeping.
Chicago’s pick has already moved on. Phillips was sent to the Minnesota Timberwolves this past season in the trade that sent out Ayo Dosunmu, and about a month ago Minnesota declined his team option for the upcoming season, leaving him an unrestricted free agent.
That’s the part that stings for the Bulls: Walsh has at least three more years of NBA playing time ahead of him, while Phillips is already out of the picture.
Of course, landing a contributor in that part of the draft is never simple. Second-round picks are a gamble, and the No. 35 and No. 38 spots don’t come with much margin for error.
But teams around the league manage to find value there every year. Chicago hasn’t.
Phillips had the tools, but the athleticism was the main thing that carried over. That wasn’t enough to stick.
And the Bulls’ problems don’t stop with the second round. Their first-round track record has been shaky too, especially lately. In 2022, Chicago used the No. 18 pick on Dalen Terry, then traded him for Guerschon Yabusele this past year.
Last year brought another high pick, and the Bulls still didn’t come away with a clean win. With the No. 12 selection in a loaded draft class, they took Noa Essengue. The names they passed on included Derik Queen, Carter Bryant, and even Yang Hansen.
Walsh’s extension is a reminder that getting the draft right can change everything. For the Bulls, it’s another reminder of how often they’ve missed.
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