Power Forward: Pau Gasol, Nikola Mirotic, Taj Gibson, Bobby Portis, Cristiano Felicio
ESPN.com has five players at the power forward position for the Bulls, and while Pau Gasol and Taj Gibson can both play center, I’m basing the grades from ESPN’s depth chart.
Pau Gasol is 35 years old, but was named the EuroBasket 2015 MVP this summer, as he averaged a tournament best 25.6 points and 8.8 rebounds per game. It’s a little surprising that someone at his age could still dominate the international game, but when you look at what he did last year, it’s a lot less surprising. Last season, Gasol made his fifth All-Star appearance as his career was revived in Chicago. It was his best season in years and the Bulls are excited to see if he can duplicate it, especially after the summer he just had.
Nikola Mirotic was worth the wait, and some. He was an absolute stud during his rookie season, finishing second in Rookie of the Year voting. He was able to average 10.2 points per game and 4.9 rebounds per game, but when he started getting more minutes at the end of the year, his averages rocketed and it got everyone’s attention.
During the 15 games he played in March, he averaged 20.8 points per game on 44.1 percent shooting and added 7.6 rebounds per game. He looked like an All-Star and if he is able to average close to those numbers for a whole season, he should start more than three games and could make an All-Star appearance.
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One reason Mirotic thrived so much during his rookie year was because he was playing alongside Taj Gibson on the second unit. Gibson dealt with a lot of injuries last season and it showed, as he played noticeably worse than the previous year.
Gibson’s game is more defensively-oriented, which is why him and Mirotic compliment each other so well. He only averaged 1.2 blocks per game, the lowest of his career, but that may have been due to his ankle injury. Gibson amazed doctors that he could play on his ankle last season, let alone be a key factor in the Bulls success. His bad ankle for sure limited his jumping ability and caused him to play worse than in previous years. If Gibson can get back to the level he was at a couple of seasons ago, then Chicago’s second team frontcourt is as good as anyone’s.
Bobby Portis and Cristiano Felicio have yet to play an NBA minute. Portis is projected to have a small role in the Bulls crowded frontcourt. However, his college success gives Chicago hope he can one day be a key player. Felicio has a lot of potential and people have said that about him for years. He’s raw and it showed during Las Vegas Summer League play. It’s unknown if he will even be on the Bulls this season, let alone dressing for most of the games.
We went from the weakest position to easily the strongest. Gasol surprised everyone and looked like the Pau of his prime. The biggest reason Chicago’s power forward position gets an A is because of the backups. If Bobby Portis can develop quickly in his rookie season, then this grade could go up to an A+. However, his development may be slowed a little as Gibson and Mirotic both bring a lot to the table for the Bulls and compliment each other well.
Grade: A
Next: Centers