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Bobby Portis Selection Foreshadows Taj Gibson or Joakim Noah Trade

By Paul Steeno

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The Chicago Bulls selected Arkansas big man Bobby Portis with their 22nd pick in the 2015 NBA draft. Portis joins an already loaded group of frontcourt players, suggesting that the Bulls front office is planning on shopping one of their big men in the near future. Does the Bulls 22nd pick in the 2015 NBA draft foreshadow the inevitable departure of either Taj Gibson or Joakim Noah? 

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Bobby Portis is a 6-foot-11-inch power forward from the University of Arkansas. During his collegiate career, he averaged 15 points per game on 53 percent shooting and 7.9 rebounds in an average of 28.5 minutes per game. He was named the SEC Player of the Year at the end of the 2015 season.

According to ESPN Chicago reporter Nick Friedell, the Bulls had projected Portis to go earlier in the draft and were thrilled when he was still on the board when they picked at number 22.

According to head coach Fred Hoiberg, the Portis pick was a unanimous selection among the Bulls executives.

"Just being in the draft room tonight, it’s not very often when you get to your pick, especially in the 20s, and everyone, it’s a unanimous decision. And that happened tonight with Bobby still on the board. So it’s exciting."

There are a lot of people in Chicago that are thrilled with the Bulls 22nd overall pick. However, this pick puts the futures of two of the Chicago Bulls best players in jeopardy. The Chicago Bulls drafted Bobby Portis knowing that either Taj Gibson or Joakim Noah will not be part of their long-term plans.

Mar 15, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls center Joakim Noah (13) reacts after a score by forward Taj Gibson (22) during their game against the Sacramento Kings at the United Center. The Bulls won 94-87. Mandatory Credit: Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports

Bobby Portis is the latest addition to a very talented [and crowded] Chicago Bulls frontcourt. Former Defensive Player of the Year Joakim Noah looks for redemption after a season plagued by injuries. Pau Gasol had his career resurrected last season in Chicago and will continue to be a mainstay in the Bulls frontcourt rotation next season. Taj Gibson remains a valuable asset, although his recent surgery will likely limit him at the beginning of the season. Nikola Mirotic looks to build on his solid rookie campaign and become more of a consistent contributor moving forward.

If Portis develops into a contributor, it’s unlikely that the Chicago Bulls would keep five productive big men on their roster for very long. Joakim Noah’s current contract expires after next season and Gasol, Gibson and Mirotic all become eligible for new contracts after the 2016-2017 season.

The Chicago Bulls didn’t address an immediate rotational void; instead the Portis selection was a clear nod towards shaping the future of this team.

Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Bobby Portis (Arkansas) hugs family and friends after being selected as the number twenty-two overall pick to the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bulls could have used their pick to address another issue besides solidifying their frontcourt depth With Derrick Rose’s history of injuries and the current lack of viable backup options, drafting a young point guard would have been a better use of their 22nd draft pick. Additionally, Jimmy Butler’s unwillingness to commit long-term coupled with Mike Dunleavy’s uncertain future in Chicago, would have made drafting a wing player another smart option.

However, the Bulls decided to prepare for the future by solidifying their already deep big man rotation. This suggests that one of the big men on this roster isn’t part of the long-term plans of the Chicago Bulls.

Jun 25, 2015; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Bobby Portis (Arkansas) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number twenty-two overall pick to the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the 2015 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The Chicago Bulls may look to move one of their big men as recently as this summer. With an approximate $70 million in committed salary for next season, the Chicago Bulls will try to shed some of that salary and get themselves below the cap line. The addition of Portis makes this possible without sacrificing too much in terms of big man depth.

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Taj Gibson recently underwent surgery to repair his left ankle. The procedure was successful but will sideline the Bulls forward for at least four months. If the Chicago Bulls are looking for an immediate fix to their salary cap dilemma, they would be better served trying to shop Joakim Noah rather than Taj Gibson.

Gibson’s trade value has been temporarily diminished because of his recent surgery. However, if the Bulls are looking at Portis as a long-term replacement option, Gibson would probably be healthy (barring an unforeseen circumstance) at some point next season. Therefore, he would have time to rebuild his trade value and become an asset that the Bulls could use in potential trade packages in the near future.

Apr 25, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson (22) and guard Derrick Rose (1) and center Joakim Noah (13) walks off the court after the Milwaukee Bucks beat the Bulls 92-90 in game four of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports

The Bulls 2015 draft selection emphasizes an out-with-the-old, in-with-the-new transition that is being imposed within this organization.

With Fred Hoiberg at the helm, the Chicago Bulls continue to try to build their roster to include players that will fit within the confines of his system. The Bobby Portis selection indicates the Bulls continued efforts to move on from the defense oriented big men that defined the Tom Thibodeau era, in favor of more new-wave big men that can stretch the floor and score in a variety of ways.

According to Draft Express, Portis has the potential to be a good scorer at the NBA level.

"Portis will get many baskets at the next level solely from his energy, as he runs the floor in transition well to get ahead of the defense, rolls aggressively to the rim, and establishes deep post position. He’s also a relentless offensive rebounder, as his 4.5 offensive rebounds ranks 4th among all players in our top 100. He crashes the glass hard with a great nose for the ball, chases down rebounds outside his area, and proves adept at converting put backs.He’s an improved finisher around the rim in the half court from his freshman year, raising his average from 60% to 64.2% according to Synergy Sports Technology. His lack of explosiveness hurts his ability to finish against rim protectors, so he counters with a quick second jump pursuing offensive rebounds and a quick release to avoid being blocked. He’ll need to continue to get stronger or refine his finesse game to find success at the rim at the next level as he is mainly a below the rim player"

The Chicago Bulls drafted Portis believing that he could develop into a long-term replacement for either Gibson or Noah. The Bulls front office believes that his ability to combine both Gibson’s and Noah’s skillset offensively makes both of these players expendable.

Apr 30, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Chicago Bulls forward Taj Gibson (22) loses the ball during the first quarter against the Chicago Bulls in game six of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Despite some obvious differences, Portis’ game strikes many similarities to the skillset exhibited by both Gibson and Noah offensively. He is a high energy player that crashes the boards effectively and scores largely because of his effort. Draft express describes Portis as having a “solid but not spectacular back to the basket game”. The same thing could be said about Taj Gibson.

Portis is a multi-dimensional and versatile offensive player and this is where he separates himself  on that side of the floor. He can contribute more than Noah and Gibson offensively, making him more valuable than these players in a Fred Hoiberg system.

Portis is essentially a younger prototype of Taj Gibson and Joakim Noah. He resembles both players offensively but brings an extra dimension to the table with his outside shooting. The thinking of the front office is pretty simple. They drafted Portis to replace either Gibson or Noah; both of whom they consider obsolete in the Bulls new offensive system.

Bobby Portis’ skillset and versatility makes him a valuable asset for the Chicago Bulls. However, drafting him comes at an extremely high price. The presence of five serviceable big men on this roster is likely unsustainable moving forward. Franchise cornerstones such as Taj Gibson and Joakim Noah will likely get the ax in the near future as Portis develops as an NBA player.

However, Portis’ presence shouldn’t mean the immediate departure of two players that mean so much to this franchise. The Chicago Bulls must consider what Gibson and Noah bring to the table and realize that the presence of both players is essential for the success of this team moving forward.

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