When the San Antonio Spurs pulled the trigger on a trade for De’Aaron Fox last season, it was a clear signal: they weren’t just building around Victor Wembanyama - they were accelerating the timeline. In an era where teams often slow-play development, the Spurs flipped the script, opting to surround their generational big man with a proven playmaker. That meant sacrificing some future assets, including a 2025 first-round pick that originally belonged to the Chicago Bulls.
Now that pick - which the Bulls used to select French forward Noa Essengue at No. 12 - is looking like a swing and a miss. And for San Antonio, that only sweetens the deal.
Let’s be clear: the Spurs weren’t hinging the success of the Fox trade on what Chicago did with that pick. Fox’s fit alongside Wembanyama has been everything San Antonio hoped for - a dynamic backcourt catalyst who can push pace, create in the halfcourt, and take pressure off Wemby on both ends.
That alone makes the trade a win for the Spurs. But when you factor in how the Bulls used the pick?
That win looks even bigger.
Chicago had a golden opportunity to add a high-upside contributor to a roster that desperately needs young impact talent. Instead, they took a flier on Essengue - a player who, even before his injury, couldn’t crack Billy Donovan’s rotation. And now, with Essengue sidelined for the rest of his rookie season, the pick’s value has taken a nosedive.
To make matters worse for Chicago, the players taken immediately after Essengue are already showing why they were considered top-tier prospects. At No. 13, the Pelicans grabbed Derik Queen - a versatile big who’s flashed All-Star potential and looks like he could’ve been a seamless fit in Chicago’s frontcourt. He’s the kind of player who doesn’t just fill a need - he changes the ceiling of your team.
Just a few picks later, Yang Hansen went off the board at No. 16. While he’s still raw in some areas, Hansen brings a developmental profile that arguably holds more long-term intrigue than what Essengue offered, even before the injury.
The Bulls had options. Legitimate ones. And they passed.
From San Antonio’s perspective, that pick was always a calculated risk - the cost of acquiring a player who could help Wembanyama grow into the superstar he’s destined to be. But now, looking back, that pick turned out to be even less valuable than they could’ve imagined. Not only did they land their guy in Fox, but the asset they gave up didn’t turn into a meaningful piece for the other side.
It’s rare in the NBA to come out of a trade with both immediate and long-term value. The Spurs might’ve just pulled it off.