Chicago Bulls Draft Review

Current Roster
PG: Kris Dunn/Rajon Rondo/Cameron Payne/Jerian Grant/Isaiah Canaan
SG: Dwyane Wade/Zach LaVine/Denzel Valentine
SF: Paul Zipser
PF: Lauri Markkanen/Bobby Portis
C: Robin Lopez

2017 Free Agents
Unrestricted
G Anthony Morrow

Restricted
G Michael Carter-Williams
C Cristiano Felicio
F Nikola Mirotic
F Joffrey Lauvergne

Who They Drafted
1-7 Lauri Markkanen, PF/C Arizona
The Bulls used the pick they acquired in the Jimmy Butler swindle to draft a Lauri Markkanen, who finally seems like a player Fred Hoiberg might want to coach, unlike the previous players their front office has acquired. And he's not 23 years old! All kidding aside, and if you can get the bad taste of the Butler trade out of your mouth, Markkanen is the type of player you can get excited about in the (hypothetical) pace-and-space offense Hoiberg wants to run. At 7 feet tall, Markkanen will be one of the best shooters in the NBA from day one. He isn't just a spot-up guy either, Markkanen can even be run off of screens and will certainly be a pick-and-pop weapon from day one. Due to Kris Dunn's shooting woes, giving him the gravity of Markkanen to get just the extra bit of space will be huge, as will his ability to draw rim protectors out of the paint. It is quite uncertain whether or not Dunn can be anything but a defensive specialist at the next level but giving him space to operate and get to the rim will be critical. Defense is the question with Markkanen, and while I don't know if he'll be as bad as some think (he is a fairly mobile, fluid mover) but he'll certainly need to improve. Ideally, Markkanen would have a shot blocking big man that can cover a lot of ground defensively beside him, someone in the Nerlens Noel style of defender (or Jordan Bell...) but I'm not sure that Robin Lopez is that kind of player. Markkanen is a pick for the future however, and down the line they'll want to find a better fit.

What They Need Going Forward
Besides a new front office, the Bulls mostly need to get rid of the old, dead weight on their roster. It will cost them but Rajon Rondo and Dwyane Wade shouldn't be on the team by the time the season starts. As long as it doesn't cost them too much, Nikola Mirotic and Cristiano Felicio should be brought back, but Michael Carter-Williams would be beyond redundant at this point. Both Mirotic and Felicio are younger players that would fit the Bulls rebuild timeline better than some other free agents. All their other efforts should be spent trying to find long term talent and acquiring assets, even if it requires taking on a bad contract, it won't matter because they'll be off the books by the time the Bulls are ready to contend again. In the short term, unless Felicio comes back they'll need a center, while they also only have one true small forward on the roster, Paul Zipser. There are some younger forwards that they could look to sign cheaply, like KJ McDaniels, James Young, or Jerami Grant.

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2015 Draft Preview: Chicago Bulls

2015-16 Depth Chart

PG: Derrick Rose

SG: Tony Snell/E'Twaun Moore

SF: Doug McDermott

PF: Pau Gasol/Nikola Mirotic

C: Joakim Noah/Taj Gibson/Cameron Bairstow

2015 Free Agents

SG Jimmy Butler (RFA) 

PG Aaron Brooks

SF Mike Dunleavy

G Kirk Hinrich (player option)

C Nazr Muhammed 

2015 Draft Picks

1-22

Team Needs

Chicago's biggest need is health and time enough to learn their new coaches system to be able to play as a together as a unit. In more of a player personnel sense, a lot will depend on whether Mike Dunleavy is re-signed. Even if Doug McDermott is ready to take Dunleavy's role, Chicago will still need depth and a defensive stopper to compliment him. New Bulls coach Fred Hoiberg is an offensive-minded coach that uses a lot of movement, tempo, and shooting in his offenses, so he'll likely be looking at players that fit that template. Because of their injury issues, depth up-and-down the roster is always a need for Chicago.

Potential Fits

Looking at prospects that might be available when the Bulls draft, Sam Dekker seems like an ideal fit in Hoiberg's offense. He is offensively versatile, able to play either forward position, handle the ball, get out in transition, and (mostly) shoot the ball. Another way Chicago could replace a potentially departing Dunleavy is with Georgia State's R.J. Hunter, who is more of a two-guard but could flip spots with Jimmy Butler and give Bulls some much needed shooting. Any of the power forwards with jump shooting potential would make sense because of Hoiberg's emphasis on spacing the floor. Lyles, Looney, Wood all would fit. Another option would be a point guard, not that Derrick Rose and Aaron Brooks need upgrading, but a deep, versatile offensive backcourt would give them a lot of offensive options, plus Brooks is a free agent and would still need to be re-signed. Notre Dame's Jerian Grant would be perfect because of his size, but he might not be available.

Mock Draft

22. Sam Dekker, F, Wisconsin

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Chicago Bulls Draft Review

11. Doug McDermott, SF Creighton Sr. (6-8, 218)

The Bulls has two goals in the draft: save money and get a premier shooter. They undoubtedly succeeded in the latter, getting a career 47% 3-point shooter (on 588 attempts!) with Doug McDermott, and whether the former worked out remains to be seen, it depends in what they do with Anthony Randolph. McDermott is clearly a special shooter, and he can also score in a number of other ways as well, after all you don't finish 5th in scoring in NCAA history just by hitting jumpers. That will really help Chicago, and there couldn't be a better situation for McDermott, who will be put in the best possible situation to succeed as an defensive player, which is the main area of concern for him. If the deal Chicago struck to get this pick worked out to save them money that can be used for Carmelo or another top free agent, then this really would be a win-win for Chicago.

49. Cameron Bairstow, PF New Mexico Sr. (6-10, 252)

Bairstow was one of the best players in college basketball last season and no one talked about it because he played for New Mexico and came into the season basically an unknown. Bairstow has a well rounded offensive game, able to post up, attack off the dribble, and shoot from the mid-range, not that dissimilar to Kelly Olynyk on that end actually. Bairstow is limited by his athleticism however, he moves very well but isn't explosive. It seems unlikely he plays for the Bulls any time soon, but if Bairstow can hone his shooting and improve as a defender in the D-League or overseas, then he has a chance to contribute.

Projected Lineup

PG: Derrick Rose/D.J. Augustin 

SG: Jimmy Butler/Mike Dunleavey

SF: Doug McDermott/Tony Snell

PF: Taj Gibson/Nikola Mirotic

C: Joakim Noah/Greg Smith

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NBA Draft: 5 Perfect Fits in the First Round

A big part of the success factor in the NBA draft is find the correct fit for both team and player, whether it be filling a need, utilizing a skillset, or putting the player in a position to maximize strengths and limit weaknesses. While there may be no "perfect" fits, there are several throughout the first round that would really benefit both player and team.

1. Aaron Gordon and the Sacramento Kings

Since drafting DeMarcus Cousins, the Kings have tried Jason Thompson, Thomas Robinson, and Patrick Patterson at the power forward position and never really found the right fit. While his offense still has a ways to go, Aaron Gordon of Arizona has a knack for doing everything else on the court. He is an excellent defender who can guard both forward positions, blocks shots, and create turnovers. While playing next to Cousins doesn't require a top rebounder, Gordon is also very good on the glass. Offensively, Gordon needs to develop his jumper to space the floor, but his ability to handle the ball, pass, and play unselfishly well help to mitigate that. And Cousins can handle more of the inside scoring load anyway, taking pressure off Gordon early in his career. Also, he is very good running the floor which fits nicely alongside Isaiah Thomas, Derrick Williams, and Ben McLemore. Gordon plays very hard on both ends and is willing to do the dirty work to help his team win. I honestly think he would help any team that drafts him, but the Kings are an especially nice fit.

2. Elfrid Payton and the Chicago Bulls

While most point to the Bulls lack of shooting as their biggest issue (it definitely is one), their main issue on offense is the lack of a shot-creator when Derrick Rose is unavailable. They simply lack players who can take the ball and create a shot for themselves or teammates. Louisiana-Lafayette's Elfrid Payton probably won't help the Bulls lack of shooting much, but his ability to penetrate, score, and pass are exactly what Chicago needs behind Rose, and even alongside him. Payton is also excellent at drawing fouls, (another area the Bulls are lacking in) he shot 293 free throws last season, 8.6 per game. Added to all that, Payton is one of the best perimeter defenders in the draft and averaged 2.3 steals a game. Whether Rose is healthy or not, the Bulls need playmakers and Payton is one of the best in the draft.

3. T.J. Warren and the Atlanta Hawks

The Hawks offense is built around bigs Al Horford and Paul Millsap and small guards Jeff Teague or Lou Williams, and shooters. However, they don't have any big wings who are really a threat to score on their own. North Carolina State's T.J. Warren is an unusual player, but an effective scorer. He doesn't shoot from deep very well instead he scores in transition, with floaters and flips around the basket, and by getting to the free throw line. This scoring ability at 6-8, 220 would give the Hawks a different diamension off the bench and provide a scoring punch when the 3s aren't falling, Warren may struggle defensively, which would limit him to a bench role, where he wouldn't have to guard the top opposing forwards.

4. Cleanthony Early and the Utah Jazz
With the number 5 overall pick, the Jazz will have a terrific opportunity to add to their already considerable young talent base. With that pick, they should take the best player available and not worry about needs. However, they also pick at again at 23, and depending on what they do at 5, they should target a wing player who can shoot for a couple of reasons: first of all, they were not good shooting from 3 last season, hitting on only .344% of their three pointers, good for 25th in the league. Secondly, the status of Gordon Heyward is up in the air and they don't have anyone to replace him or back him up. Also with a big man heavy offense (Derrick Favors, Enes Kanter, Julius Randle? Noah Vonleh?), and the more shooting they have to space the floor, the better. Wichita State's Cleanthony Early not only fits that need (.375% from 3 last season, great looking stroke) but he is very athletic (40' vertical) and at 6-8, has great size for a wing. As a 23 year-old college Senior, he should be able to contribute right away, albeit with limited upside. He also fits the Jazz' MO of taking proven college performers. 

5. Shabazz Napier and the Los Angeles Clippers

Darren Collison bounced back after some poor seasons and was great as a backup point guard for the Clippers, posting a 16.21 PER. However, he opted out of the last year of his deal and will almost certainly be signed out of the Clippers price range as a starter. If that is the case, the Clippers will be left with no other points on the roster next season. While they may look for a veteran backup, the cheaper option would be to draft one with their late first round pick and use that money to add quality depth to the font court. One of the reasons Collison was so effective is his uptempo style contrasted with Chris Paul's more deliberate pace and Collison could help carry the Clippers bench offense with his scoring and playmaking ability. Of the options available with the 28th pick, Shabazz Napier of Connecticut best fits the Collison role because he can push the tempo, and score in the halfcourt. With a ton of experience playing in at a high level in college, Napier should be more ready to contribute than the average late-first round point guard.

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He's back!

The buzz after last night's Bulls-Knicks game was all about Derrick Rose. Playing in his first game at home in over a year, Rose struggled for much of the night, but hit the game winner in dramatic fashion. However, there was another return last night, the return to form of Tyson Chandler. After winning Defensive Player of the Year in 2011-2012, Chandler battled through a debilitating bulging disk injury, missed 16 games, lost weight and wasn't nearly the defensive force he had been in previous years. New York was actually better on defense with Chandler off the court last season (.513 eFG on to .502 off) while in his DPOY season, he and the team were much better on that end (.480 on, .493 off). However, in the Knicks opening night game against the Bucks, and even more so against the Bulls, Chandler looked back to elite defensive form, almost always in the right spot, making life particularly tough for Rose who had to contend with his long arms and massive frame all night. Chandler blocked four shots, but hasn't put up the huge block numbers you expect from a top defensive center, never averaging more than 1.8 blocks a game. Instead, Chandler protects the rim with size and elite positioning. Another benefit of this is it keeps his fouls down while allowing him to draw more offensive fouls on opponents. Also, so far this season he has looked like his old self defending pick-and-rolls, which is crucial in today's NBA that uses that as its bread and butter. At least so far, the Knicks offense doesn't look as potent as last years, which means they may have to lean more on a their defense, to which Chandler is crucial. Chandler is almost a lock to miss some games with injury, he's played 80 games exactly once in twelve seasons and has averaged 63 games the last five.* What matters is that he is healthy enough to play at a high level when he does plays and can play at that level in the playoffs. The Knicks, who have floundered in the playoffs the last two seasons, are resting their hopes on it.

Some more thoughts on Bulls-Knicks:

While he isn't as crucial of a player as Chandler, Taj Gibson also looked like he was back in top form after battling a knee injury and missing 17 games last year. Gibson frequently closes out games for the Bulls because he is an elite defender at the power forward position. A healthy Gibson means a lot to the Chicago bench and crunch-time lineups. 

Rose really struggled from the field, but he was getting where he wanted for the most part, he just needs to get everything back in rhythm as he regains his elite finishing ability. It will also help when he starts drawing more fouls, the referees were letting quite a bit of contact go uncalled for some reason. If Rose looks this way in game 40, I might worry. In game 2, he is in good shape.

I liked the posting up of Jimmy Butler the Bulls were doing, at 6-7, 220 he has a distinct size advantage over most two guards. Chicago should get some easy buckets this way, whether though Butler in the post or action off of it.

It was nice to see Andrei Bargnani his some shots, if he can regain his stroke (but mostly his confidence) it should help the Knicks offense, his defense and rebounding are still a worry but that is another reason why Chandler is so important to New York.

*Not including the lockout-shortened season in which he played all 62 games.

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Draft Review: Chicago Bulls

First Round

Tony Snell, G/F New Mexico (20)

I really like this pick for both the Bulls and Snell. Snell is exactly what the Bulls need in a wing player, a really good shooter who also has big time upside. Snell is very athletic and smooth, particularly laterally, giving him shutdown defensive potential. His issues of inconsistent effort aren't a worry in Chicago because if anyone can get him to work hard, it is Tom Thibodeau. Even if Snell never improves, he is still a very good shooter. I would expect improvement however.

Second Round

Erik Murphy, PF Florida (49)

Thr Bulls haven't had a big with three point range in a long time, so if Erik Murphy can not be too much of a negative on the defensive end, he could make this team and even get spot minutes in certain situations. Murphy isn't much of an athlete or rebounder, but he shot 45% from three and is a good passer. Like almost all second round picks, Murphy isn't going to have a huge, if any impact, but he does have a clearly defined skill.

Projected Rotation 

PG: Derrick Rose/Nate Robinson (UFA)

SG: Jimmy Bulter/Kirk Hinrich

SF: Luol Deng/Tony Snell

PF: Carlos Boozer/Taj Gibson/Erik Murphy

C: Joakim Noah/Gibson