The Bulls came into the night sitting 10th in the Eastern Conference, with seven teams holding worse records. In fact, Chicago’s 22 wins are 13 more than the league-worst Washington Wizards, who sit at nine. Realistically, their chances of landing Flagg, the projected top pick, are slim.

Boos began to echo through the United Center with nine minutes and 58 seconds left on the clock for the first half. It was only natural. The groans started early as the Chicago Bulls whiffed on shots and tossed passes into the arms of opposing defenders,