Hard-working Bagaric still a long-term project

Editor's note: As the season winds down, the Sun-Times isanalyzing the performance and prospects of each of the Bulls'players.

When Jerry Krause drafted Dalibor Bagaric with the 24th pick in2000, Krause stressed how impressed he was that Bagaric's growthplates were still open.

No one knew what he meant then, and some still are puzzled thatKrause spent a first-round pick on the 7-1, 290-pound Croatian nativewho barely has played.

During a time in the NBA when European players are making majorimpacts, the Bulls haven't kept pace. Dragan Tarlac was returned toEurope last summer after just one season with the Bulls, and Bagaric,22, has been languishing on the …