Elation. The fourth-overall pick in the NBA draft is not only going to the NBA, but he will make his home in Chicago under the coach who redeemed himself of a broken promise that he would never leave the player’s side.

Marcus Fizer has his critics, and I am one of them. Not in the sense that he will be unable to prosper in the NBA, but in the sense that Chicago will not suit him well.

Fizer is best suited as a power forward. Elton Brand, last year’s Co-Rookie of the Year in the NBA, holds that title for Chicago.

So, they’ll move him to a small forward. This creates a work-in-progress.

How is Fizer, who spent his time defensively pounding away in the trenches, to make the change to running around the perimeter chasing greyhounds? He won’t. At least not right away.

To change his defensive mindset, he must change his body. If you can’t beat ’em, join ’em. The Fizer we know will have to become a sleek, trim, 6-foot-9 225 to 240 pound swingman if the Bulls plan on having him guard the likes of Eddie Jones and Kobe Bryant.

To slim him down while also improving his foot speed will take time. The question then becomes: “How patient are the Bulls?”

The Bulls also could “go small” and let Fizer tango with the centers, a task that he shouldered at Iowa State. But bear in mind he won’t be guarding Thor Gookenheimer of Marathon Oil.

Offensively, the Bulls could post-up both Fizer and Brand, hoping the two will create more than clutter in the paint.

But Fizer will also have to serve his time on the perimeter. He improved vastly as a Cyclone from 15 feet and out, but his shooting touch isn’t yet NBA caliber.

Fizer must also improve his ball-handling skills, which have come a long way, but the journey isn’t over yet. To gain touch and become more apt handling the ball will again take time. How long will The Two Jerrys (Reinsdorf and Krause, authoritarian rulers of the Bulls) be able to sit on it? Maybe not even until the start of the season.

The Bulls have tried wooing Grant Hill into coming to Chicago, but a deal with Orlando seems eminent for him. Now the Bulls go after prized free-agent No. 2, Tracy McGrady. McGrady, who played second fiddle to half-cousin Vince Carter at Toronto, is entertaining other possibilities.

If the Bulls sign the slashing McGrady, that may leave Fizer wondering “Where do I fit into the equation?” Like trying to square a prime number, Marcus, you don’t. Of course, this is just merely speculation at this point.

And to Fizer’s credit, his game last year expanded by leaps and bounds. In the Big 12, he went from the known star of the Cyclones to the feared player of the Big 12. Nationally, he was honored as an All-American.

He went from not knowing if he would turn pro to being the fourth- overall pick. Fizer obviously has spent a lot of time improving his game. He deserves every accolade sent his way.

Things might work out sublimely for Fizer.

He might blossom into a threat from the inside and out, a next-generation Karl Malone, if you will.

But a lot of hours of work lay ahead of him to get there, and I’m sure he’s started putting in his time already.

Just don’t get too cozy in Chicago, Marcus.

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Paul Kix is a sophomore in journalism and mass communication from Hubbard.