Ayo Dosunmu played his high school ball at Morgan Park high school in Chicago. Then he went on to play for the University of Illinois in Champaign. The Bulls held the 38th overall pick with a need at point guard. Dosunmu fell into their laps when they had to have no expectation of him being there when they got on the clock. He is now coming home to his hometown Chicago Bulls. What a story.
Dosunmu’s Draft Fall
Dosunmu was projected by most to be a first-round pick. He was one of the best players in the nation this past season, averaging 20.1 points per game, 6.3 rebounds per game and 5.3 assists per game.
Dosunmu was in the running for player of the year, but Luka Garza took that title from him.
While he was one of the best players in the nation, he was not projected to be a top pick. This is due to his advanced age, and not excelling in one real area. Dosunmu is a point guard that does a little bit of everything, but he does not have a stand-out skill. Most teams in the NBA look to their role players to be specialists. Dosunmu does not fit those criteria.
He is a big point guard standing at 6-foot-5. He is a good passer, a solid shooter and has the length to be a good defender in the NBA. Dosunmu plays with a lot of intensity and has shown that he can be a great leader. He has everything teams want in a player, he just is not elite at any one of those things.
How He Fits with the Bulls
The Bulls have been in the market for a new starting point guard. While it is super unlikely that they thrust a second-round rookie into the starting role, Dosunmu could play a valuable bench role with the team. The Bulls are heavily invested in the free-agent point guard market. They are likely to go after someone like Lonzo Ball or Dennis Schroder. If they are to bring in one of these free agents, they will likely start.
Tomas Satoranksy has been involved in some trade talks and will likely be moved. With the signing of one of these free agents and Satoranksy moved, Coby White will likely move to the bench. White will move to his more naturally suited role of a microwave scoring guard commanding a teams’ second unit. A bench backcourt of Dosunmu and White would be a huge bolster to the Bulls’ squad.
Dosunmu and White could play off of each other’s strengths very well on the team’s bench unit. Dosunmu would operate as the primary playmaker and White is free to score at will. Ayo also has the length to take on the tougher defensive assignment between the other two team’s guards.
Conclusion
The last time the Bulls drafted a point guard born and raised in Chicago, they landed themselves the youngest MVP ever, Derrick Rose. This is obviously a different scenario with Rose being the first overall pick and Dosunmu falling to 38th. Regardless of him coming to the Bulls being a great story, this is also a great pick. He provides great value for a second-round pick and will surely play a part in the Bulls’ future.