The Chicago Bulls finished with the 10th worst record in the league, which would normally give them a chance for excitement in the lottery. The issue is that the Bulls traded away their 2021 first-round pick at the trade deadline. It was part of the package for Nikola Vucevic. The pick is protected though. It is top-four protected which only gives the Bulls a 20.3% chance of keeping it. Because of this, this article will be focusing on second-round targets that could be of good value.
Young players filled with potential
Due to the young nature of this roster, it could be a smart idea for the Bulls to try and risk this pick on a player with high potential.
Point guard Daishen Nix, G League Ignite
Daishen Nix was part of the new G League Ignite experiment this year. Nix, a former five-star recruit, chose the path of playing against professionals instead of the college route. Playing against grown men exposed some of his large weaknesses, but for the most part, he held his own as a nineteen-year-old kid.
His strengths and weaknesses that were discussed coming out of high school are just as prevalent now. He is a big strong point guard with great passing ability who lacks a consistent jump shot and burst. Nix would likely be one of the slowest point guards in the league, but he makes up for it with strength and great IQ. The Bulls need players with good court vision and the ability to create for others. They are sorely lacking that skill from their current guards.
Power forward Isaiah Todd, G League Ignite
A teammate of Nix for the G League Ignite, forward Isaiah Todd is another player who got the opportunity to play against grown professionals at the age of 19. Early on in his high school career, he was ranked as the best player in his class, but as the years went on his peers slowly started to pass him up. That potential alone is something worth taking a gamble on
This past season, Todd displayed his great athleticism which allows him to guard multiple positions. He also teased some perimeter skills that will fuel excitement. He is never going to be a go-to scorer, but he can score off of straight-line drives, cuts, his activity around the basket and potentially down the line be an average three-point shooter. Outside of Patrick Williams, the Bulls severely lack frontcourt athleticism. This would be a nice developmental player for them.
Potential Immediate Contributors
The Bulls could also look at their situation and think they are ready to become playoff contenders right now. Grabbing a player that could help immediately is a great way to deepen the rotation
Small forward Herb Jones, Alabama
Herb Jones is a player that is flying under the radar due to his advanced age and lack of a consistent jump shot. He is already 22 years old, but this should not stop the Bulls from looking at him. This past season he won both the SEC Player and Defensive Players of the Year. He is one of the most versatile players in this class that any team should love to have.
Jones is one of the best defenders in this class with the ability to handle and make plays for others. His shooting is his only drawback on the floor. It is more important than ever to be able to shoot the three at least an average rate in the league today, but there are still players who can succeed without one. It is even possible that he can develop that part of his game in the future due to his encouraging 35.1% from three this past year, albeit on very few attempts. Without that jump shot, he still affects that game in so many ways which a team like the Bulls would love to have.
Small forward Isaiah Livers, Michigan
Still recovering from his foot injury he suffered right before the NCAA tournament, Isaiah Livers still has a future in the NBA. He expects to make a full recovery and this injury should not affect his draft stock. A very much opposite player than the aforementioned Jones, in his four years at Michigan, he showed that he could shoot the skin off the ball. A career 41.2% three-point shooter who is not terrible on the other side of the ball will find a home in the NBA.
Every team needs shooters and that is something that Livers can definitely bring to the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls lack much shooting from their bench rotation. Livers can step in right away and provide the team with some extra spacing due to his man not being able to leave him wide open from deep.
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