Apr 6, 2015; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Duke Blue Devils guard Tyus Jones waves to the crowd after cutting down a piece of the net after defeating the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2015 NCAA Men
With the 22nd pick in the 2015 NBA Draft, the Chicago Bulls select: Tyus Jones, Duke University
Dave Daniels, Co-Editor of Pippen Ain’t Easy (@AllDave_AllDay):
I think the Chicago Bulls should consider drafting a guard in case negotiations go south with Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler in the next couple seasons. Tyus Jones and (Utah’s Delon Wright as well) would both be pretty ideal fits, and Chicago could start their fire escape plan by grabbing on of those two players.
Jones, in particular, would be a brilliant playmaker off of the bench. He has been a proven winner at every level of basketball. His state championship during his junior year of high school was with a team lacking in any other superstars, and he then proved to be a leader on a truly loaded Duke Blue Devils team during his lone season in college. Any player who could be the Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, on a team with Jahlil Okafor no less, is truly worthy of a first-round selection.
I expect Jones to slip in the draft due to his lack of physical size, but he will make up for that in the pros with his oversized heart. Fred Hoiberg would love to coach of a player with Jones’ skill level.
Wright would be a great option as well. Here is an excerpt of his scouting report from DraftExpress.com:
"Wright has excellent size for a point guard at 6-5, albeit with just an average 6-6 ½ wingspan and 179-pound frame. He uses his height to his advantage tremendously as a passer, where he surveys the floor over the top of the defenses, and can make pinpoint passes to cutters and spot-up shooters, primarily in pick and roll and drive and dish situations."
That sounds like a player who could fit in well with Chicago’s planned uptempo style next season. Either Jones or Wright would be brilliant additions to the backcourt in 2015.
Next: PAE's Co-Editor Michael Whitlow selects...