Bulls NBA Draft Guide
We are now under one month away from the November 18th, 2020 NBA draft and there is a lot to unpack here. The Chicago Bulls landed the 4th overall pick in a draft with no clear cut top prospects. There are many different camps of thought on who the Bulls should take at that spot. Here is a look at my thoughts on the ranking of some prospects Chicago should consider this upcoming draft and how they might fit into the future for this promising roster.
Right off the bat, I want to start by looking into the prospect, who in my opinion, is the most intriguing in this draft. The intrigue comes for both good and bad reasons. There is a lot to say, but I’m going to be upfront about the concerning areas of his game. LaMelo is going to significantly improve his shooting mechanics to improve his 42.5 effective field goal percentage (EFG%). To put this in perspective, he would have landed at number 458 in the NBA this season just above Carsen Edwards and below Dzanan Musa. The need to completely overhaul shooting mechanics seems to be a trend in the Ball family, but Lonzo has already proven that he was able to overcome that and I expect much of the same for LaMelo. Ball also will need to improve on his decision-making significantly, as despite the flash he is prone to mistakes. Despite all this, the most glaring part of his game is defense. He can take risks and get steals, averaging 1.6 steals/game in the NBL, but his lack of discipline and effort on that end of the floor leaves much to be desired from the 6'7" guard with a 6'10" wingspan who has the makings of one hell of a defender. The hope is with good coaching this will significantly turn around.
Now to focus on the reason he sits at number 1 on my draft wishlist for the Bulls this season. We all know the circus that is the Ball family, but both Lonzo and LaMelo seem to have taken steps to create a notable distinction between what their father Lavar says/thinks and their own thoughts and actions. That no longer seems to be a concern as he is paving his own path. Though he was unsuccessful in his bid to purchase the Illawarra Hawks, the attempt alone shows his level of growth and maturity. With his off-the-court growth addressed let’s dive into his on the court performance now. There is one word that exemplifies why I consider LaMelo Ball so highly: UPSIDE! Each of the concerns I mentioned previously came with a solution and a reason to believe it will not be an issue as he grows as a player. His decision making needs to improve, but this is a result of his brain moving faster than his teammates. LaMelo shows the ability to envision where his teammates should have been on the court but has not yet been able to adjust that to where they actually are. This, like many of the concerns surrounding him, are due to inexperience. At the NBA level, not only will he continue to gain more experience, but his teammates will also have significantly higher basketball IQs. This makes them more likely to be in the right place at the right time. Turning some of those bad passes into highlight plays. LaMelo can make passes with either hand with ease and has above average ball-handling, to say the least. The most impressive part is that he remains in full control at all times. When he attacks the rim, he is able to finish at a high clip with excellent touch with both hands. As a result of his height and wingspan, he is a very good rebounding guard as well, averaging 7.6 rebounds/game. Though he seems to be lackluster on defense at times, his size and length will wreak havoc in the NBA.
I understand the reservations people have about him. He may be a bit cocky and his general knowledge seems to be lacking severely, but at the end of the day, the decision comes down to making the most of your opportunities. This NBA draft has no clear cut standout player like in years past. On the same note, not many, if any, of the other prospects have the potential to be the generational talent that LaMelo ball does. Bulls fan know all too well the disdain of having the 7th overall pick, and while you can always get a solid player at that spot, you don’t get too many chances to end up with a player with the upside that LaMelo has. If Chicago already had their cornerstone player, then it would make sense to take someone with less risk that could become a key rotational player. Given the position this roster is in, now is not the time to shy away from a chance to get the cornerstone piece in LaMelo Ball and look back with regret someday.
Deni Avdija is a tantalizing prospect and the hype around him has been significantly building as we approach the draft. Avdija brings with him an extremely versatile game complemented by his 6'9" height/wingspan. His numbers may not look flashy, but his game speaks for itself. For a wing he is an exceptional playmaker, operating through the pick-and-roll effectively showing an ability to both score and create for others out of it. Deni has displayed good ball handling and is explosive at the rim. His stats don’t truly show how effective he is on the offensive end. Avdija is a strong finished at the rim and has shown the ability to do so with either hand. He does not shy away from contact and plays with unrelenting energy on both ends of the court. The biggest bright spot for Deni is his natural feel for the game. His presence is felt on the court as he continually draws attention from the defense allowing him to create for others. There is some concern with his shooting moving forward. His 33.6% from 3-point range is not bad, but a disappointing 52% from the free-throw line is worrisome. He has proven that he can lead a team and garnered that respect winning the Israeli League MVP this past season.
Deni Avdija’s fit with the Chicago Bulls starts with his childhood. He grew up as a Bulls fan and what better way for him to bring that full circle than to help lead this team back to relevance. More than that, he fits with the future of this team. The Bulls have very young talent at all positions except for SF to this point. That’s not to say Otto Porter Jr. is old (he’s only 6 months older than me), but his career trajectory will not fully lineup with when the Bulls hope to be competing for championships again. Porter Jr. would serve as a good mentor to help Deni get a feel for the NBA and then kindly allow him to take over. For me, there is a very small gap between wanting LaMelo Ball versus Deni Avdija to get drafted by the Bulls. This is a true 1a/1b situation where LaMelo edges him out solely for the incredibly high-end upside he possesses. Former NBA players and current teammates of Avdija, such as Amar’e Stoudemire have highly touted this prospect and given him their seal of approval. Chicago would be a great place for this to come to fruition.
Anthony Edwards put on a show during his freshman year at Georgia and quickly rose to the top of many draft boards. This guy can score, plain and simple, no argument about it. In the open floor, he exemplified the Bulldog mascot, bullying his way through and to the hoop. Anthony Edwards has clearly shown his ability to create shots for himself but that doesn’t mean his shot selection is quite up to par yet. He is not a fully developed prospect but his 6'5" height along with a 6'9" wingspan brings limitless potential on both ends of the floor.
In reality, Anthony Edwards would be an incredible fit on any team that drafts him. I don’t want to spend much explaining how he meshes with the current Bulls’ core adding to backcourt depth and providing a potential playmaker for the future, allowing Coby White to become an exceptional Sixth Man. I’ll save my breath because there are very few scenarios in which I see him slipping to the number 4 pick.
Killian Hayes, the 18-year-old out of France has an exciting game. The young lefty guard can create shots for himself or others in a multitude of ways. He showed good vision averaging 5.4 assists per game and the ability to score with 11.6 assists per game. The numbers do not pop off the screen at first glance, but if you watch him and get an understanding of his feel of the game, then you can begin to see why he’s a highly lauded recruit. Though his 3-point field goal percentage was not overly impressive at 29.4%, he does have good form and showed promise boasting an impressive 87.6% from the free-throw line. His shifty movement helps him get to the rim and he’s a capable finished from there.
You never want to set unreasonable expectations on a young player, but an international prospect that plays this way reminds me of a young Manu Ginobili. If he were to reach even close to that level, drafting him 4th would be a blessing for the Bulls. His basketball IQ makes him a threat on the defensive end, but he still needs to significantly improve. For some reason, he isn’t as highly touted as other prospects, but he brings a lot of upside. It seems unlikely the Bulls would draft him at 4, but whichever team lands him is going to be pleasantly surprised.
Isaac Okoro out of Auburn is almost the type of player every NBA team is searching for. The most coveted type of player in today’s league is a 3-and-D wing. Most people prefer to watch offensive highlights, but the fact that there is a 7:29 video montage of all his defensive highlights shows how much potential he has on that end of the floor going into the NBA. Okoro certainly brings defense to the table but his 3-point percentage leaves much to desire. Isaac shot an abysmal 28.6% from 3-point range and though his shooting form isn’t a death sentence, he will have to put in significant work to improve. This is further compounded by a poor 67.4% from the free-throw line. Regardless of his struggles shooting the ball, he can finish at the rim and is extremely smart with and without the ball. These skills will translate well to the NBA.
The Chicago Bulls have a great need to improve on the defensive end and could really use a boost from Okoro. Bulls’ opponents had a 54.6% EFG, ranking 26th in the league. This was compounded by a lack of discipline seen in 30th out of 32 teams in free throws per field goal attempts. Isaac Okoro would immediately slide into a much-needed role on this team and allow them the flexibility to move on from Otto Porter Jr. if they so choose or to increase the depth at that position.
James Wiseman despite all the hype that was surrounding him prior to the 2019–20 NCAA season remains a fairly unknown commodity. As a result of the asinine rules the NCAA imposes on their athletes, he was forced to forfeit his eligibility due to his connection with Penny Hardaway. Wiseman has the size to be a truly impactful player on the defensive end of the court coming in at 7'1" with a 7'6" wingspan. This in combination with his elite level athleticism brings tremendous upside. Wherever James Wiseman ends up, he will immediately step-in as a formidable rim protector and a menace on the boards. With all that being said, in reality, there is very little footage of Wiseman playing against tough competition. There will be a little more of a learning curve for him going into the NBA and he will need to polish his offensive game significantly. There seems to be potential for him to develop a more consistent shot but he needs to mature his shot selection as well.
At the end of the day, this selection would not necessarily fit with the future of Bulls. There is already a log-jam of young talent in the frontcourt with Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr., and Daniel Gafford, not to mention the veteran presence of Thaddeus Young. I would not anticipate Wiseman being available at the 4th pick for the Bulls regardless, but he is an intriguing option. There certainly would be other teams behind the Bulls willing to trade up for him and they should strongly consider trading back a few spots and picking up additional assets if any of the above players are still available. The Bulls don’t often capitalize on these opportunities to trade back and add value, but a new front office and a draft without consensus rankings on prospects would be as good a time as any to change their approach.
The reigning 2020 Men’s College Basketball Player of the Year and John R. Wooden Award winner Obadiah (Obi) Toppen is a highly skilled big that will come in immediately ready to contribute to an NBA roster. His graceful and powerful movement on the floor with a unique propensity to score is a skill set for any NBA prospect. He tops (no pun intended) it all off by shooting 39% from 3-point range with a 67.4% effective field goal percentage. Standing 6'9" tall with a 6'11" wingspan he will is a versatile big man and playmaker. The offense will not necessarily be run through Toppin early in his career, but he can be an integral part of it with decent ball-handling and passing. His athletic prowess will allow him to develop a defensive presence and continue to rebound at a high rate as he did in college. The most recent player drafted from Dayton, Kostas Antetokuonmpo, was back in 2018. He is already an NBA Champion and the only Antetokuonmpo brother to achieve that goal. Obi will look to follow in those footsteps, only with a little more impact on the game than Kostas.
Obi Toppin will be a productive NBA player and any team will be lucky to have an immediate impact player on the roster like him. The only noticeable drawback to drafting him is his age. Twenty-two is not old by any means, but the NBA draft is all about bringing in extremely young talent with endless potential. If drafted by the Bulls he would certainly provide a boost in the frontcourt but this is not where they need help. Obi Toppin is much better served as a finishing piece on a well-built roster rather than a cornerstone for a young team still trying to find their way.
Regardless of what they decide to do, this is an exciting time to be a Bulls fan. The front office has officially been revamped and a bright future is ahead. As the new Chicago slogan goes:
