2017 NBA Draft: How the Bulls could attack their needs with the No. 16 and 38 picks

A versatile defender

One of the more hilarious things about the Bulls in the 2016-17 season was that they weren’t as good as the numbers said they were defensively. Despite the sixth-best defensive rating in the NBA this past year, the Bulls found themselves scrambling defensively more often than not and were more fortunate than anything on that end of the floor throughout most of the year.

The main problem for the Bulls is that they don’t have too many players on their current roster that can guard multiple positions, which is so important in today’s day and age of the NBA. Robin Lopez is a solid rim protector, but pick him in pick-and-roll/pop sets and the defense will crumble. Nikola Mirotic has his moments, but struggles on that end of the floor, too.

Paul Zipser has the tools to be a versatile defender to assist Jimmy Butler on the wing, but that’s really about it for the Bulls.

Even it’s a raw project that needs some time, the Bulls need guys that can guard more than one spot of the floor. The less targets for an opponent’s offensive attack, the better for one’s defense.

Here’s who the Bulls could look at to address their need (at No. 16):

• Indiana’s OG Anunoby: I already mentioned that Anunoby was one of my favorite prospects before his knee injury. It was college, but Anunoby could guard all five positions on the floor if you asked him to and with his frame, he could guard each spot effectively.
• UCLA’s Ike Anigbogu: Like Hamidou Diallo, UCLA’s Ike Anigbogu was expected to be seen in next year’s class, but with Lonzo Ball heading for the lottery and Thomas Welsh gone as well, Anigbogu thought the time was now to enter the draft. What makes Anigbogu intriguing is his age (18 years old, almost 19), his outrageous measurables (6-foot-8.5 without shoes with a 7-foot-6.25 wingspan) and his potential as a defender. His offense is basically the mold of Tristan Thompson in terms of cleaning the glass, but his potential defensively has scouts curious.
• Creighton’s Justin Patton: I liken Justin Patton in the mold of Anthony Davis/Karl-Anthony Towns, but more of a diet version of those two. He’s got the body Davis had in college (only a little thicker) and the versatility of a Towns. He’s not as far along as those two were at this point, but his ceiling is high, especially guarding multiple positions on defense.

Next: A take: You can discuss LeBron James' legacy without bringing up Michael Jordan

Here’s who the Bulls could look at to address their need (at No. 38):

• Oregon’s Jordan Bell: A late riser in the current draft class, Bell was a key entity in the Ducks making the Final Four this past season. He’s a dirty work player. Need a rebound? He’ll go after it. Need a stop defensively? Bell will guard multiple guys if he has to. He needs more work than others, but he’s 6-foot-7 without shoes and almost has a 7-foot wingspan.
• Kentucky’s Bam Adebayo: If you’re wondering if Dwight Howard has family members, one played in Kentucky last season. Although he despises the Howard comparison, you can’t help but see it with Edrice “Bam” Adebayo. He moves better than you’d think for his size and his rim protection could be a future asset. Like Howard, his offensive game is limited, but defensively, his ceiling is much higher.
• South Carolina’s P.J. Dozier: How did South Carolina of all teams, as a 7-seed, beat heavily-favored Duke and eventually make the Final Four this past season? Defense. Intense, hard-nosed defense. That’s where guys like Sindarius Thornwell and P.J. Dozier come into play. A 6-foot-5 wing without shoes with a 6-foot-11 wingspan, Dozier was one of the better athletes at the combine.