[Scott42444Participant]

I was hoping you guys could kind of hype me up a bit for what I believe to be the INEVITABLE #7 draft pick by the Bulls.  This is a LONG post, but really I’m just hoping for a bit more excitement than I currently have for what I believe is the most likely scenario come draft night.  For the record, I believe the 2018 NBA Draft will go like this:

1. Phoenix – Doncic
2. Sacramento – Ayton
3. Atlanta – Bagley
4. Memphis – Jackson Jr.
5. Dallas – Bamba
6. Orlando – Young
7. Chicago – ?

So, when I look at the Bulls draft pick at #7, I believe they are going for a wing.  I believe it will come down to Michael Porter, Jr. or Mikal Bridges.  I personally am having a hard time getting hyped for Bridges, even though the logical part of my brain says he would fit PERFECTLY into the "rebuild" the Bulls are putting together.  Defensively, he’s a stud and he’s a guy that can score without needing to control the flow of the offense.  With Lavine (pretty much just a scorer at this point) and Markkanen (who hopefully becomes more ball dominant as he matures) a part of the Bulls roster for the next 5 years, it makes sense to grab a guy that can contribute all over the stat sheet WHILE ALSO BEING ABLE TO SCORE, and having a possible elite wing defender on top of it.  Otto Porter, with better defensive instincts?  A 7’2" wingspan, a potential All-NBA Defensive team member that can shoot over 40% from 3?  

But Michael Porter, Jr. has the potential to be a game changing scoring wing.  The type of guy that can make multiple All-Star games.  It’s been talked about to death, but he would have been a Top 4 pick if he would have put together enough collegiate game film this year.  His potential to be a superstar makes me salivate, especially since the Bulls aren’t going to attempt to tank next season.  They are going to get 2-3 players in this year’s draft and attempt to go with Dunn, Lavine, Markkanen, and <insert #7 pick here> as their core and I feel like Porter Jr. has the upside that allows that plan to realistically make sense in the disturbingly weak Eastern Conference.  Porter Jr. gives them the chance to have everything they need to have a "core", because I truly feel that he has superstar potential.

But, being a Bulls fan, I know that GarPax tend to draft players from major college programs that have success in the NCAA tournament.  Examples?  Sure. I’LL BEAT YOU OVER THE HEAD WITH EXAMPLES! Since John Paxson took over for Jerry Krause prior to the 2003 NBA Draft, they have drafted (or obtained the draft rights to) the following players (give or take a couple and not counting the international guys):

• 2003 – Kirk Hinrich (NCAA Championship Game)
• 2004 – Ben Gordon (NCAA TITLE)
• 2004 – Chris Duhon (NCAA TITLE 2001)
• 2004 – Luol Deng (NCAA Final Four)
• 2006 – Tyrus Thomas (NCAA Final Four)
• 2007 – Joakim Noah (x2 NCAA TITLES)
• 2007 – Aaron Gray (NCAA Sweet 16)
• 2008 – Derrick Rose (NCAA Championship Game)
• 2009 – James Johnson (#4 Seed, Lost to Cleveland State by 15 – ouch)
• 2009 – Taj Gibson (NCAA Round of 32)
• 2011 – Jimmy Butler (NCAA Sweet 16)
• 2012 – Marquis Teague (NCAA TITLE)
• 2013 – Tony Snell (#3 Seed, Lost to Harvard in 1st Round – ouch)
• 2013 – Eric Murphy (NCAA Elite 8 x2)
• 2014 – Doug McDermott ( NCAA Sweet 16 x3)
• 2015 – Bobby Portis (NCAA Round of 32)
• 2016 – Denzel Valentine (Sweet 16, Elite 8, Final 4)
• 2017 – Lauri Markkanen (Sweet 16)

The franchise has drifted a BIT away from Final Four guys a bit lately, although 2 of the past 4 picks (McDermott & Valentine) have been National Player of the Year Award winners (and seniors). Not that it’s super suprising, especially after the 1-And-Done rule was implemented that the Bulls are choosing players that appeared in the NCAA tournament, many franchises do, but they tend to value that type of player (and that type of basketball experience) more than many other franchises.  They don’t seem to go after the "project" type of player.  They want the guy that has an already defined skill set.  Maybe they are just TERRIBLE at player development?  I don’t agree with that.  I think the franchise has developed young players a lot better than they are EVER given credit for.  That being the case, it just seems MORE LIKELY that they go with Mikal Bridges, who won 2 TITLES at Villanova, versus Michael Porter Jr. that played in 2 or 3 games for a team with a 1st Round exit, whose roster possibly had another 1st round talent in his brother.

 

 

[Robb_CParticipant]

 Wendell Carter is a good fit to Chicago, He looks very promising as well.

 

[cominup7Participant]

 100% true story—

 A buddy of mine had some extra box suite tix from his job for a Bulls game this season, which happened to be right next to the suite of the Bulls Front Office. Right when the game ended John Paxson comes out of the suite and is basically standing right next to me but in a different suite…so I said, "You should draft Wendell Carter", to which he replied "Nooo" with a sly grin and walked back into his suite.

Take that for what it’s worth, but that’s who I want in a Bulls jersey…he has a lot of Tim Duncan-esque qualities to him, but I think Bamba or Porter Jr would be next up on their big board. I’m praying the Bulls dont draft either of the Bridges

[Robb_CParticipant]

 Paxson loves Duke basketball players, I wouldnt be surprised to see Grayson Allen and Carter both in Bulls Jerseys..

[Robb_CParticipant]

 Wendell Carter is a good fit to Chicago, He looks very promising as well.

 

[ChewyParticipant]

 Carter, Porter or Bamba. I’ll be happy with any of em.

You DO NOT tank for college seniors. You tank for high potential young guys. Back when the Bulls were in the playoffs every year, I was find with getting more NBA ready/ older players. But not anymore. Not with this roster. We need potential.

 

 

[KirkLoweParticipant]

Keita Bates-Diop is taller at nearly 6’9" with a linger wingspan.  He’s stronger and did not have an all-american point guard like Jalen Brunson.  The title game was won by Donte for Villanova.  Skip Mikal Bridges at #7 and take KBD at #22.  An upper classman that scored more and was Big Ten player of the year.

Draft Bamba, MPJ or Sexton at #7.  If the Bulls pick MPJ at #7 then shift to a big like his brother Jontay Porter or McCoy at #22. 

Donte is also a possibility at #22.  See there’s you blue blood program draft pick if you must.  

 

[festar35Participant]

 Jimmy Butler > Rudy Gay

 

 

 

 

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

 Call me crazy but I actually have Bamba slipping to the Bulls at 7. Here’s why:

1. Phoenix will choose between Ayton and Doncic. I think it will be Ayton because he fits better than Luka.
2. Kings: This is Doncic’s spot to lose. If Kings don’t take Luka after the Suns pass on him, I would be very shocked.
3. Hawks: Could use a wing or a Center. This could be a landing spot for Bamba but I think he has too much defense that it wouldn’t really fit well with Collins. One of them would have to develop a jump shot pretty early on and it doesn’t seem smart to ask either one to develop a jump shot especially when they are both so young. So I have deciding between Bagley and Porter. Personally I think Porter isn’t top 3 potential quite yet. And Bagely was dominant this year, and I think he would fit quite well with Collins.
4. Grizzlies would probably select Porter because BPA and he fits their team quite well.
5. Mavs will be looking to replace Nowitzki pretty soon. They won’t find the next Nowitzki in this draft or any other draft for that matter but they need to find a young Four soon, or they will be facing a huge problem once Dirk retires. So this spot belongs to Jaren Jackson Jr.     (Pick 6 and 7 on next post)
6.  

 

[SwatLakeCityParticipant]

6 Magic traded away their young Point Guard to the Suns earlier this year meaning they weren’t too happy and wanted someone different. They did look better with Augustin at point after the trade but they can’t rely on him in the future, so they’d be best to pick a PG similar to him, that’s Trae Young  and it’s no contest. Sexton doesn’t have a shot here.

7 This leaves the Bulls to choose between Carter or Bamba. Carter is very similar to Portis in my opinion. So to me the only way Bulls select Carter is if they plan to trade Portis soon. (Probably draft day trade). And Bamba I think would fit better than Carter would next to Lauri. 

So 7 may seem pretty low for Bamba but I could see it happening because teams before them have more pressing needs. He’s a very smart player but teams above the Bulls will be looking at needs, superior talent/skill, and superior potential over smarts. Bulls take advantage because Bamba is the best fit, and Bulls can still take a 3 in the mid first round or even wait until round 2, although I would take the 3 with the 22nd pick.

 

 

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