If the Bulls Draft for Need: Kay Felder or Monte Morris?
Chicago Bulls VP John Paxson has said that the Bulls will always be drafting the best player available in the NBA draft. But, if the Bulls desperately need a point guard to play back up to Derrick Rose and E’Twaun Moore, who would look good for Fred Hoiberg‘s new style?
GarPax stole SEC Player of the Year Bobby Portis with the 22nd pick in last year’s draft. Portis is a relentless and hardworking stretch-four, who can develop into another Kevin Garnett in the future.
But, picking Portis may have cost the Bulls plenty of games this season because of injuries to both Derrick Rose and E’Twaun Moore, while adjusting to a faster pace and a passing game implemented by new coach Fred Hoiberg. The Bulls only have Aaron Brooks left at the guard spot after trading Kirk Hinrich for Justin Holiday (another steal). Brooks is more of a scoring point guard than a passing point guard and is rather undersized to defend opposing All-Star guards of opponents.
Thankfully, the Bulls have stabilized and are slowly working themselves to make this year’s playoffs.
Lets look at the two point guard prospects other teams might overlook, which could lead to the Bulls getting a steal again by picking the best players available at their position. The Bulls draft this year will look interesting, in spite of the supposed weak grade scouts are giving the 2016 NBA Draft.
Monte Morris
If the Bulls would pick anyone to play Hoiball, look no further than steady point guard, Monte Morris from Iowa State. As of this writing, the Cyclones have entered the Sweet 16 in the NCAA Tournament and have a good chance to reach the prestigious Final Four because of the consistent and effective play of Morris as well as their star player: forward Georges Niang. Morris may be the safest pick for a backup point guard slot for the Bulls because he is a true point guard with a pass-first style of play.
DraftExpress says Morris is a steady ball-handler who can read and react well to opposing defenses to find the best attack option for the Cyclones. Morris can pass off penetrations and make post-entry feeds and even lob the ball for the alley-oop.
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Along with solid playmaking and good court vision, Morris creates more assists than mistakes, averaging just 1.2 turnovers per 40 minutes last season; lower than any point guard drafted in the last three years.
Remember that Iowa State runs a frenetic offense that values getting the ball across the line in less than three seconds and their sets were designed by Hoiberg to score within the first 15 seconds of their shot clock.
Iowa State plays like Arkansas and North Carolina’s run-and-gun pace, so Morris’s steady hand should help both guys like Portis, Nikola Mirotic and Doug McDermott as the second unit’s mileage grows in offensive sets.
The Cyclones point guard is also a consistent shooter with deep range, hitting a career 40 percent of his three-pointers. He is not an explosive athlete like the other guard prospects in the draft, but he still has size and length enough to stay in front of his man and pressure the ball-handler. Morris plays the passing lanes well too, with a 2.1 steals per 40 minutes average.
As a young 20-year-old back-up guard, Monte can grow into his role for the Bulls running a system he already knows like the back of his hand and even take over when Derrick Rose decides to hang up his sneakers.
He would be the safe pick for the Bulls draft.
Kay Felder
Does anyone remember the Bulls playoff run in 2013 when undersized point guard Nate Robinson carried the team in one unforgettable game against the Brooklyn Nets? Robinson scored on all sorts of impossible floaters and fadeaway shots, as well as barreling and-one drives to the basket. He even wrote a book about that playoff run. Skip ahead to Isiah Thomas becoming the Boston Celtics starting guard and an All-Star after a prolific scoring career in college. Undersized point guards that deliver game are legit players in the NBA. Spud Webb was never a novelty.
In this year’s draft, we have Kentucky’s Tyler Ulis and Oakland’s Kay Felder as 5’9″ point guards with NBA skills. Between the two, Felder looks the better choice if he ever declares for the draft. NBA teams are looking more to retool their back court rather than upgrade their front line, so expect all guard prospects available to get a shot.
Unlike Robinson however, Kay Felder is an unselfish point guard and looks to pass the ball to the best offensive option, averaging up over nine assists this year. Felder is built like a tank, yet his drives to the basket are not careless and he can take contact at the rim and score. He’s also a pesky on-ball defender and can make it hell on the opposing point guard bringing up the ball.
Felder is underrated right now and may actually be THE steal of the 2016 draft if he declares, given his NBA ready skills. Robinson scored 34 in the 2013 playoffs against the Nets with all sorts of impossible shots. Felder plays that way EVERY game. A high-risk, yet high-reward kind of draft pick. The dynamite Oakland guard might just be the perfect fit for Hoiball.
When the Bulls draft a point guard, they can choose between a steady hand who knows the system like the back of his hand, or an explosive scorer with a passing game who can eventually be the starting point guard for the Bulls. Both guards are adept passers and unselfish players despite their scoring numbers.
Next: Derrick Rose: 'I'm a damn good player'
Which guard would you prefer if the Bulls could draft only one?