The Game Haus brings you day 15 of NBA draftmas to focus on the Chicago Bulls 2017 NBA Draft profile.
Summary
Fans in Chicago have been protesting John Paxson and Gar Forman for years due to the moves they have made within the front office. There is a common conception that as long as these two men are leading the Bulls, there will be no chance at winning the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Chicago had one of the most up and down seasons in the NBA. The signings of Dwayne Wade and Rajon Rondo during the offseason had created high expectations.
The Bulls never got on a roll and played .500 basketball all season long. There was a trade around late February that sent fan-favorite Taj Gibson, role player Doug McDermott and 2018 second-round pick to the Oklahoma City Thunder. In return, the Bulls received Cameron Payne, Joffrey Lauvergne and Anthony Morrow. This trade left the fanbase, and the rest of the NBA, confused on the direction of the Bulls.
Head coach Fred Hoiberg spent most of the season trying to find a lineup he liked. This left Rajon Rondo in limbo as his role changed from starter to bench player to not seeing the court and back to the starter in April.
Even with all the drama in the Windy City, the Bulls finished the season 41-41 to earn the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.
In the playoffs, the Bulls put the Celtics on the ropes winning both road games to take a 2-0 series lead. Rajon Rondo had been magnificent in the first two games averaging 11.5 points, 10 assists and 8.5 rebounds per game. The Bulls looked efficient and effective as Rondo led the team.
During Game 2, Rondo broke his thumb and it was clear in Game 3 that the Bulls could not win without him. Boston went on to win four straight to take the series and eliminate the Bulls from the playoffs.
Chicago needs to improve its offense by adding some shooting. The Bulls ranked 23rd in scoring (102.9 points per game), 25th in field-goal percentage (44.4 percent) and 24th in three-point percentage (34 percent).
Defensively, the Bulls ranked sixth in points allowed per game giving up just 102.4 points per game. Chicago was in the middle of the pack in field-goal percentage ranking 14th shooting 45.6 percent.
Chicago can become a really dangerous team if they add some more efficient shooters.
Picks & Needs
First Round: No. 16
Second Round: No. 38
Chicago has been searching for a starting small forward ever since Luol Deng left. The Bulls can try and find that player in this draft. Jimmy Butler can play small forward but is really a shooting guard. Denzel Valentine may be able to take on this role as he develops but it is not a certainty he becomes a starter.
The Bulls also need a backup point guard. Rajon Rondo’s injury highlighted that in the playoffs.
What the Bulls need more than anything is outside shooting. As mentioned earlier, Chicago struggled shooting the ball both from the field and from behind the arc. If they can find an efficient scorer at pick 16 then the Bulls need to jump on him quickly.
Robin Lopez is also a decent center but the Bulls could improve there as well. Depending on how the draft plays out, the Bulls may look to take a young center with a lot of promise.
One thing is for certain, Chicago will have many options available to them at pick 16 and depending on what they do, it will show the fans the direction the Bulls are truly heading.
Targets & Thoughts
Pick #16: Justin Patton C Creighton
Most of the players the Bulls truly want will likely be gone by the time they are on the clock. This will give Chicago a chance to make a minor splash. Justin Patton doesn’t fit their need of improved outside shooting but it does give them a young center capable of becoming a star.
Patton has the potential to be a dominant NBA center. He is listed at seven foot and 230 pounds. In his one season at Creighton, Patton averaged 12.9 points and 6.2 rebounds per game while shooting 67.6 percent. He also added 1.9 blocks per game while only averaging 25 minutes per game.
Patton had a player efficiency rating of 25.3 and win shares of 4.3. He could come in and be a solid bench player as a rookie before he eventually becomes a starter. Patton is just 20 years old and still needs time to develop but the potential is there.
Pick # 38: Dwayne Bacon SF Florida State
Dwayne Bacon is all over the place in mock drafts. Most have him going late-first or early-second round and if he falls to the Bulls, they won’t hesitate to take him. There won’t be a good enough shooter remaining to help the Bulls biggest need.
Bacon has good size and length to impact both ends of the floor. At Florida State, in his sophomore season, Bacon displayed aggression on offense and was most comfortable in transition. He could give the Bulls much needed athletism and explosion.
Conclusion
Chicago is in the worst spot to be in the NBA, which is being mediocre. The front office needs to commit to either trying to win a title or rebuilding the team. They seem content with simply making the playoffs. Gar Forman and John Paxson have publicly stated they will be building around Jimmy Butler.
The Bulls play solid defense and need to improve offensively if they want to become contenders. Drafting Justin Patton would give the Bulls a good, young center with the potential to become a star. Selecting Dwayne Bacon would give the Bulls much-needed athletism.
Thanks for checking out the Chicago Bulls 2017 NBA Draft profile and tune in tomorrow for day 15 of NBA Draftmas to see what the Milwaukee Bucks are going to do.
Day 14 Draftmas: Portland Trailblazers
Day 13 Draftmas: Miami Heat
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