Bulls 2016 NBA Draft Prospects: How About Jimmy Butler Version 2 and 3?

We are in the middle of March Madness 2016 and fans might be more interested in the Bulls 2016 NBA draft prospects! Expect Jimmy Butler version 2 and 3 if GarPax look at the role player sleepers.

Some marquee players already have their draft stock dropping: Ben Simmons is considered to be an overrated player with the physical skills but not the attitude nor ability to carry his team into the NCAA playoffs. In short, he’s NOT the generation player that LeBron James was when he came in. A lot of write-ups for the top draft prospects tend to be hype.

NBA history has shown more draft busts than success stories. So far the only glaring miss the Chicago Bulls got was 2013– 22nd pick, guard Marquis Teague, mostly for his lack of offense despite coming from Kentucky. Niko Mirotic, Doug McDermott and Bobby Portis are all amazing picks regardless of the rabid media scrutiny of this batch being inconsistent.

After the coaching change and plenty of adjustments, all three are playing well for the Bulls and are delivering all the hoped for offense in Fred Hoiberg’s pace-and-space game. Even power forward, Cristiano Felicio is surprising everyone with his underrated offense and toughness on defense and rebounding while subbing for Pau Gasol.

The Bulls are now pacing themselves for a run at the playoffs. It is in these games that we get to see where the team needs help. Given that there are Bulls players who have become unrestricted free agents, the task for the team now is who to keep, and what hole can be filled by the draft or by other free agents available.

We take an early look at this year’s draft prospects.

Elite Options at 17 or Higher

Draft Express and NBAdraft.net both have different projections for the Bulls. NBAdraft.net chooses 6-9, North Carolina power forward Brice Johnson, an explosive athletic tweener of a big man who can score and rebound in the paint and block shots, might likely will play BIG wing for any small ball running NBA squad.

If those two get picked right away, it might be wiser for Chicago to draft underrated defensive specialists. Ever since Draymond Green shone for GSW, three-and-D players have been a hot commodity in the NBA, and there are two particular sleepers other teams might overlook– 6-8, 225 pound with a 6-11 wingspan, beefy Taurean Prince from Baylor is a tough-as-nails defender who is also a deadly catch-and-shoot (40 per cent at 3.9 attempts in college) wing and shotblocking monster. Prince is a hustle player who chases errant passes and uses his athleticism to attack the rim (66.2 conversion in the paint). He can guard shooting guards and small forwards and will be valued highly.

Maybe even more than top prospect Ben Simmons who has the physical talents but not the drive nor motivation to even carry his college team into the NCAA tournament ( Simmons team did not qualify).

Nigel Hayes is a 6-8, 240 pound bruiser with a 7-3.5 wing span. As a strong wing defender he can guard the P/R very well and stay in front of wings and fours with his athleticism. Nigel is also a 40 per cent three-point shooter who can score effectively in the paint with his wide repertoire of post-up moves. He plays like a more polished Jimmy Butler coming from college with ready-made offense on top of his strong defense. Somebody steal him in the draft!

If GarPax are considering Bench Mob role players who can do the dirty work and who are still reliable for corner catch-and-shoot three pointers these guys won’t disappoint. Taurean even used to play for the U.S. Under- 21 National Team. Either wing players can cover for Doug and Niko’s back when those two are doing Rifle Squad work. Fans know teams can literally buy a 2nd round choice from another team, so if the opportunity presents itself and the Bulls CAN get both defenders it would be highway robbery.

More from Pippen Ain't Easy

The guard prospects are not really interesting in the lower 20s of this year’s draft if the Bulls were still drafting for BEST available player with their low draft pick instead of drafting for NEED. If they win most of their remaining games going into the playoffs, the Bulls get the lower seeded pick going down 20th lower. Given that, even if they get knocked out of the play-offs and get up to the 14th pick, getting Jimmy Butler version 2 and 3 in Taurean and Nigel would affirm that the Bulls FO are smarter than impatient fans give them credit for, and they do have the smarts to pick the best people for Hoiball.