Pippen Ain't Easy
Fansided

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 /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
7 of 12
Next
Justin Jackson has the experience that the Chicago Bulls front office likes.
Apr 3, 2017; Phoenix, AZ, USA; North Carolina Tar Heels forward Justin Jackson (44) works around Gonzaga Bulldogs guard Silas Melson (0) during the second half in the championship game of the 2017 NCAA Men’s Final Four at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /

North Carolina’s Justin Jackson

2016-17 season: 39 games played, 18.4 points on 51 percent shooting inside the arc (36.8 percent from 3 on 7.2 attempts per game), 4.7 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game

If there’s a pick in this guide that makes you say “yeah, that’s a Bulls type of pick”, it’s North Carolina wing and reigning ACC Player of the Year Justin Jackson.

Jackson, who won a national title with the Tar Heels this past season, would be the fourth conference player of the year the Bulls have taken since 2014 (’14: McDermott, 2015: Bobby Portis, 2016: Valentine). Remember when we discussed the Bulls liking older, but more experience players that seems that have their game up to speed? Jackson fits that mold.

(Best-case scenario) comparable players (via The Ringer’s NBA Draft Guide): Golden State Warriors wing Matt Barnes and former Bulls wing Mike Dunleavy Jr.

Jackson has good length, an improved offensive skillset, but he’s rather thin for a guy that’s probably going to be a small forward in the NBA. Both Barnes and Dunleavy thickened their frames up throughout their NBA careers. Jackson is going to be guarding some of the best players in the league at the 3. A sturdier frame and Jackson could definitely be a nice 3-and-D player at the next level.

What does Draft Express think of Jackson?

"While Jackson has shown clear skill development, there are still some things he has to address to compete nightly against NBA wings. At 6’8 with a 6’11 wingspan, he has very good size and length for a wing, but is just an average athlete by NBA standards. He’s a fluid athlete, but lacks a degree of explosiveness. His frame is on the thin side at 201 pounds, which is a cause for concern as a 22 year old junior, since he’ll likely always be somewhat lanky. He’ll have to continue to get stronger to handle the physicality of a NBA schedule as a small forward, much less be able to spend any time as a small-ball 4-man, which many teams like to see their small forwards do these days. Josh Riddell, DX"

RELATED: A piece on Justin Jackson and his long-term value from our own Willie Lutz

Home/Bulls Draft