Pippen Ain't Easy
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Pippen Ain’t Easy’s 2017 NBA Draft Guide for the Chicago Bulls

By Michael Whitlow

Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Denzel Valentine (Michigan State) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number fourteen overall pick to the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 23, 2016; New York, NY, USA; Denzel Valentine (Michigan State) greets NBA commissioner Adam Silver after being selected as the number fourteen overall pick to the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports /
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John Collins has been seen on a few big boards for the Chicago Bulls.
Mar 8, 2017; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons forward John Collins (20) drives against Virginia Tech Hokies forward Zach LeDay (32) during the first half during the ACC Conference Tournament at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Anthony Gruppuso-USA TODAY Sports /

Wake Forest’s John Collins

2016-17 season: 33 games played, 19.2 points on 62.4 percent shooting, 9.8 rebounds, 0.5 assists and 1.6 blocks per game

If it wasn’t for Justin Jackson and his much-improved perimeter shooting last season for the national champion North Carolina Tar Heels, John Collins would have had a legitimate chance to win ACC Player of the Year in one of the nation’s toughest conferences. Collins was seemingly the entire Demon Deacons offense at times throughout this past season and unlike a lot of bigs you see in the NBA anymore, Collins likes to work on the low blocks.

(Best-case scenario) comparable players (via The Ringer’s NBA Draft Guide): Oklahoma City Thunder center Enes Kanter, Indiana Pacers center Al Jefferson and former NBA journeyman JJ Hickson

I immediately thought of big Al Jefferson watching Collins’ film from his days at Wake Forest. Collins loves being on the blocks. He’s got an old-school feel to his game; just like Jefferson has throughout his entire NBA career. Collins is seen as a dinosaur in a couple of ways: 1) his style of play and 2) he’s not exactly imposing as a four-man at 6-foot-9.5 with a 6-foot-11.25 wingspan.

What does Draft Express think of Collins?

"Collins will need to improve his court vision and decision making to be utilized as a full-time power forward in the NBA. He gets tunnel vision at times, as he tries to score through double teams rather than surveying the floor and seeing all his options, leading to difficult shots through two defenders. He ranked as the second worst passer among DX Top-100 prospects, evidenced by his paltry 4.5% assist percentage assists per 40 minutes and .28 assist to turnover ratio. Power forwards in today’s NBA are asked to make quite a few decisions with the ball in their hands, be it attacking closeouts from the perimeter, finding the open man off short rolls, or in dribble hand-off situations, so improving his feel for distributing would go a long way in helping him carve out an effective niche. Josh Riddell, DX"

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