So what did you expect the Bulls to do other than draft WCJ and Hutchinson? Well shit, did you see how this draft really had no secrets. The only surprise at the wire in the first 7 picks was the Mavs and Hawks trade, but not so much on the players. And the same can be said about Memphis shopping, but again, the players were the same. The Bulls weren't alone as far as *worst kept secrets*. So that means this wouldn't be a hindsight argument, only making the case is easier in hindsight, since the foresight was clear as day, everyone in the league pretty much knew what was going down ahead of time.
I personally don't buy into hyped drafts anymore. A lot of people do, and that's fine, nature of the beast I guess. But if a person were consistent, would the rational match the lines of:
Bulls lose the franchise target at #7. I would think the contingency plan would be along the lines of trading down, NOT UP. Try to land 3 mid first rounders instead. Anyone you grab will be a development project anyways, and you want to pick Hutchinson no matter what, so you could have even walked away with two picks mid round and two late 1sts(or an early 2nd and a later first). I know that is ideal and stretching it, but at market rates, a totally possible scenario, especially with a number of teams with stocked picks that DID make similar trades.
IMO, that is the consistent rational for someone who really buys into the draft hype and feels this is a special draft. You would want more picks, broaden the amount of chances you have to land those draft steals, those Jimmy Butlers/Manus/Steven Jacksons/Capella?/Gobert/Draymond/DeAndre Jordans/Marc Gasol/MillsapMAYBE JORDAN BELL LMAO. Right, this is a deep and rare draft, so those odds go up a lot? AMIRIGHT?
Then the Bulls could have had 4 picks, FURTHER their cap situation in ways that would make Jerry happy, draft hype-*ers happy, and give the team the flexibility to do things that they haven't had since 2009-10. You buy the shooting coach, use your G-League team, aim for the lottery again, trade anyone high that you have the inside knowledge that wont pan out *within* this franchise, and you then play your safe game that way, not on draft night, not when everyone believed this is some kind of special draft class.
..If you wanted to put your play it safe cap on instead, I guess the Bulls did the right things.