The last few years as a Chicago Bulls fan have been pretty rough to say the least. This will be the third consecutive year that the Bulls have missed the NBA Playoffs and their fourth year in a row selecting in the lottery of the NBA Draft. The Bulls have picked seventh in each of the last three drafts, selecting Lauri Markkanen, Wendell Carter Jr., and Coby White in consecutive years. Assuming they will be somewhere around the seventh pick again this year (seventh-worst record in the NBA this season), there should still be some pretty good prospects available that can help the Bulls add to their pretty talented young core. As of now, I believe the Bulls’ biggest issue on the court is the lack of point guard play and the inconsistent productivity on the wing.Â
Here are a couple of options I think the Bulls should consider with their first-round pick in this year’s draft:
Draft a point guard.
This is assuming that Coby White is not the point guard of the future. Let me be clear, I love Coby White and I think he can be a key piece for the Bulls as they look to rebuild. However, I do not see him as much of a point guard, at least not yet. Coby spent most of his time this year playing the shooting guard position, averaging about 13 points and three assists. Just as the season was put on halt, Coby seemed to be finding his groove. The rookie was averaging close to 25 points per game after the All-Star break. Coby has already proved that he can score the ball, but as of now, he does not seem to be a great playmaker.Â
Cole Anthony – Point Guard, UNC
How ironic would it be for the Bulls to draft two former UNC Tarheel guards in back-to-back years? Drafting Cole Anthony would allow Coby White to play the second guard spot and move Zach Lavine to the wing. Part of me says to draft Anthony because he reminds me of Derrick Rose at the same age. He is another lightning-quick guard who excels at getting to the rim. At 6’3, Anthony plays much taller than his height. He is explosive and superb at finishing through contact or over bigger defenders. A lead guard who likes to get up and down the court could be lethal when paired with White and Lavine. In his lone season at UNC, Anthony averaged 19 points and four assists.Â
Killian Hayes – Point Guard, Ratiopharm Ulm
What if Cole Anthony isn’t available? Don’t worry. Killian Hayes might actually be a better fit for the current Bulls roster. Though he is not the scorer that Anthony is, he is a tremendous facilitator. Hayes seems to be the best passer in the draft this year, so this could be vital playing alongside two-volume scorers like White and Lavine. Hayes is a 6’5 smooth lefty point guard who has drawn comparisons to D’Angelo Russell because of his slower pace style of play, but also his ability to create for himself and his teammates. The 18-year old from France played this season in Germany, averaging 13 points and six assists for Ratiopharm Ulm.Â
Draft a wing.
If you think Coby White is the point guard of the future, then great. This means that the Bulls now have to draft a wing. They have not had much success at the wing position since the departure of Jimmy Butler. Currently, the Bulls depth chart at that spot consists of Shaq Harrison, Denzel Valentine, Chandler Hutchinson, and Otto Porter. Porter only appeared in 14 games this season due to being injured. Valentine has not provided much for the Bulls, as he has been struggling to stay healthy since the Bulls drafted him with their first-round pick in 2016. The same has been the case for Hutchinson. While Harrison is a solid defender, he does not provide much on the offensive end.Â
Isaac Okoro – Forward, Auburn
I think the best fit here would be Isaac Okoro. Drafting Isaac Okoro would allow the Bulls to hide Lavine on the defensive end. In his rookie season, Okoro should be able to make up for Lavine’s struggles on the defensive side of the ball due to his size and versatility. Okoro averaged 13 points and four rebounds in his freshman season and showed potential that he can be a promising two-way player in today’s league. Best known for his slashing ability, Okoro is not a great shooter as of yet, but this can come over time. Plus, the Bulls already have a few players who can space the floor well enough with White, Lavine and Markkanen. A lineup of White, Lavine, Okoro, Markkanen, and Carter would provide the Bulls with a young and versatile core for the future.
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