How Bobby Portis Fits With Chicago Bulls Moving Forward

With the 22nd pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls selected this season’s SEC Player of the Year, Bobby Portis. Here’s a look at how Portis can fit with the Bulls moving forward on both ends of the floor next season (and beyond).

Just like most who were tuned into the NBA Draft on Thursday night, the Chicago Bulls war room was flabbergasted when Arkansas forward Bobby Portis was still available when it was their turn on the clock.

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Portis, this past season’s SEC Player of the Year, averaged 17.5 points and 8.9 rebounds per game in 36 appearances last season for the Arkansas Razorbacks.

For the stat gurus, the analytical numbers also looked great for Portis, as he had 29.5 player efficiency rating, a 58.2 true shooting percentage and a 55.2 effective shooting percentage in his sophomore campaign.

When you watch Portis during his time in the SEC, you’ll notice two things:

He was an active part of the Razorback offense. During his SEC POY campaign last season, his usage percentage was almost 27 percent (26.7%). Outside of teammate and draft prospect Michael Qualls (25.3%) in the Arkansas backcourt, no other contributor for the ‘Hogs was used that much.
You’ll notice Portis all over the floor. He’s not one to guard a specific position/player. He’ll guard threes, fours and fives consistently.

Portis is an active player. He’s a good fit for Fred Hoiberg‘s system because of that said activity. In Hoiberg’s system, you have to bring versatility as a frontcourt player. With the second unit this season, Hoiberg can utilize Portis in pick-and-rolls, pick-and-pops, and he’s really good slipping and cutting to the basket. He may not look like with a 6’11”, 246-pound frame, but Portis is a tank that can absorb contact.

His best asset is his offensive rebounding. Portis averaged 4.5 offensive rebounds per game, which ranked fourth on DraftExpress’ Top-100 Prospect board. When Portis gets that high-octane motor going, his energy carries into the rest of his game. (Think of him as a more-skilled Joakim Noah at this point in their careers.)

The only time Portis had problem contributing offensively last season for Arkansas was against Kentucky, but when the shortest player on the floor most of the time is 6’6″ and you’re the top team in the nation, even good players like Portis will struggle against the length the ‘Cats had.

Also: Portis was 14-for-30 (46.7%) from beyond the arc in 2014-15 for Arkansas. He’s not going to win any three-point contests in the near future, but as the ESPN broadcast said in the video above, he’s expanded his range, and with Hoiberg’s direction, Portis could develop into a mini-“stretch-five”.

Defensively, Portis’ defensive numbers won’t jump off the page, but a 96.9 defensive rating in Arkansas’ “40 Minutes of Hell” scheme isn’t a bad look for Portis.

I love this sequence from Portis during their meeting with Clemson last season. Watch how Portis runs his man off the three-point line, switch his man, then beat the defense down the floor for the easy dunk in transition. That’s the kind of activity he can provide for the Bulls in the future.

Along with that high motor, Portis has the feet and lateral quickness to guard the 4/5 positions, on top of some wings at the next level. A big concern for the Bulls under Hoiberg is what the defense will look like moving forward. The Bulls have been one of the best defensive teams in the league for the last five seasons, and with Portis, things could remain the same with the proper development.

Next: Bulls take Bobby Portis with 22nd pick

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